1916 DWS Luger for Review

[Mp40Bran]

Hello everyone! I have a 1916 DWS luger for review. Please let me know what you think. Do you think in its condition its worth buying for $1200? Thank you everyone for your help!

[Forssmann]

It's a DWM, not DWS. As far as worth, its Hard to tell without more pictures. Is there anything else you can tell us about it? Is it advertised as all matching?

From these pics the magazine doesnt look original, but I would need more pictures to be sure. The finish is original, I see proper halos around serial numbers. From what I can see, parts are matching, but obviously there are parts we cant see.

[Mp40Bran]

Thank you for your help. It's advertised as all matching. It has a 4” barrel and has the lug for the shoulder stock. Also, the left grip has a small chip out of it and the left side trigger guard is peened a bit. I will post more pictures.

[oldcorps]

Color is right but even rust blues like this one are being duplicated. Close-ups of the proof marks on the side of the barrel would be a plus. Decent traces of straw, the chip in the left grip behind the safety is unfortunate but fairly common, Assuming the internal numbers match and the bore is in the same condition as the rest of the gun, $1200 is a fair price.

[Mp40Bran]

pictures of the mag.

[Mp40Bran]

proof marks on the side barrel.

[Forssmann]

If everything matches....grips, small parts, mag...then $1200 is a decent price. However, a couple more hundred could get you a nicer example. I got a TREMENDOUS deal a while back by starting a "want to buy" post on luger gunboards

https://luger.gunboards.com/forum.php

You wont find lugers for a more fair price than that forum.

[Mp40Bran]

Thanks for your help!

[ValhallaMilitaria]

In that condition I would want to be into it for a thousand. Very common to find them in that state.

[oldcorps]

1916 was a high production year at DWM but their quality of fit and finish remained high throughout the war. This appears to be a solid example that I would retail in the $1400 range with no problems. The chip by the safety usually occurs during negligent reassembly. I was fortunate to find a local cabinet maker who would replace and checker the missing grip portion quite reasonably which I disclosed to the buyer. Occasionally, these are found with a chip on one side of the extractor and since this is a numbered part, replacement/repair would have to be factored into the price. Assuming everything but the mag matches, the bore isn't pitted or excessively worn and the grip chip is the only issue, the Luger is an investment-grade piece. If you intend to shoot it, remember that the recoil spring is 100 + years old and replacements are inexpensive.. Wood bottom mags dry out and are prone to cracking so I use a 1929 Swiss as a substitute but probably any aluminum or plastic base mag that fits and feeds would be preferable along with 115 gr. standard velocity ammo. Original accessories are still reasonably plentiful.

[Douglas Jr.]

From the pictures posted the finish looks original.
However, the photo showing the upper gives the impression that this gun is missing the center toggle pin (you can see what looks like a small hole). It may be a deceiving effect of the camera or lightining but I would check first.