1917 DWM P08 Polizei WW2?

[Aquilah]

Hello,

I have this lovely P08 I inherited from my father:
It's a 1917 DWM luger with matching numbers (even 1 of the mag's)
History: My father traded this gun in 1952 with another officer in the army against a Webley revolver. (fair deal IMHO )

What I didn't know right after my father died and the gun went to me is the fact that this luger has been re-used during the 1933-1945 period
Two proofs for that:
1) The typical polizei-added sideplate removal security
2) The matching N° Mag (spare mag because 2) has a Nazi marking with it.
3) The gun very nice Reichsmarkings (WW1) but the canon tough same serial has a Weimar type 'Adler' stamped in and has a slight different type of blueing.

I'd like to know these things: Is this gun a rework of an artillery or navy P08?
Can I trace it somewhere to which police unit it belonged? (no regimental markings at al traceable)
and... is this gun worth keeping or just a common? I'd like to know because it's on
a NON-AMMO licence right now, but with always changing laws in terror-struck Europe, I risk one day they come get my piece of heritage.
In that case I'd like to sell it and for what price?

Thanks in advance, Jesse

[Johnny Peppers]

Beginning in late 1916 the Erfurt P.08 had a relief cut at the top front of the receiver for the LP.08 tangent sight which the DWM P.08 did not have. Being a 1917 DWM with the relief cut indicates that it was originally a LP.08. The Navy sight was on the rear toggle, and did not have a relief cut as mentioned.

With no markings it would be impossible to know where it was assigned. A personal decision as to what to do with it, and have no idea of European market.

[AndyB]

Strange is the Eagle /F for police acceptance on magazine, it was done on new weapons not only refurbished are there any new NS period reproofs? or only normal DWM marking, any strap marking on handle. How is marked the magazine? could be NS period replacement, that was later serialed to the gun. b.r.Andy

[Aquilah]

Strange is the Eagle /F for police acceptance on magazine, it was done on new weapons not only refurbished are there any new NS period reproofs? or only normal DWM marking, any strap marking on handle. How is marked the magazine? could be NS period replacement, that was later serialed to the gun. b.r.Andy

Hello, first of all thanks both of you for the replies.
Well i've included the markings now.
But in my opinion there is nothing more recent then 'Wheimarish or after war???' markings on the canon and the WW1 military acceptance proofs for DWM lugers?
except on the magazine as noticed.
The /f marking could be right as the pistol has clearly been used/modified for police use. But Strange is how did it end up here in Belgium? - Must have been a 1940 begin war leftover, and remained out of german hands during the war?

As said before: My father acquired it during his military service in 1952-1954 = shortly after the war.
Another possible theory is: occupying German forces confiscated this WW1 piece here in Belgium from a civilian and re-used it for local / German occupying forces police which could explain the /F stamped mag and added safety, Plausible theory?

[AndyB]

Hello i am not expert on P08, anyway the pistol has imperial proofs and no additional proofs like seen on police pistols, when Weimar used mostly have doubble date 1918/1920 for army or police property arm, some units stamps etc, the Schiwy secure lever is a police added in period post 1930, so the magazine could be a WW2 period made as Eagle/F is of late police acceptance and reserialed, is there any other stamps on magazine? thanks.b.r.Andy

[tiapat]

Luger

No mystery here with 2 scenarios: The magazine with an Eagle/F was for a Mauser Banner police issued in 1939 (the only year for E/F). The mag was definitely a blank bottom when new; as a replacement mag for a 1939 weapon. However, WW1 Lugers were in service at that time for the police departments, so this mag may have been numbered to the 1917 in question, instead of an original 1939 Banner. Magazines were sub-contracted from Oberndorf, and the armourers never let anything go to waste.

The other scenario is that someone took a blank bottom Eagle/F magazine and added those numbers post-war. The font looks ok, but the numbers are not lined up properly regarding quality control.

take your pick

cheers