LUGER P08 - DWM 1916

Item Description

FIREARM HISTORY AND FEATURES:

The Luger P08 (also known as the Pistole Parabellum or Parabellum-Pistole) is a toggle-locked, recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol that was produced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1949.
Designed by Georg Luger, is was first made by the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), chambered in 7.65×21 mm and was known as the Modell 1900 Parabellum.

The Luger was officially adopted by the Swiss military in 1900.
Following a change in caliber from 7.65×21 mm Parabellum to 9×19 mm Parabellum, the Luger was adopted by the Imperial German Navy in 1906 and later by the German Army in 1908 (with a name change to Pistole Modell 1908 – P08).
The Luger is well known for its wide use by Germany during World War I and World War II, along with the interwar Weimar Republic and the postwar East German Volkspolizei.
It was the standard service pistol of Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Brazil, Bolivia, and Bulgaria, and was also widely used in other countries as a military service pistol and by police forces.

The Luger was produced by many different manufacturers in different countries over its service life, in a number of variants and models.
They were manufactured in Germany and Switzerland to very close tolerances and exacting standards using the highest quality materials of the day, and original pistols were known for having a long service life.
The Luger pistol is still sought after by collectors both for its sleek design and accuracy, and for its connection to Imperial and Nazi Germany.
It is one of the most collected pieces of militaria, with collectors purchasing them for prices ranging from $34,500 to $1,000,000.

YOUTUBE VIDEO: HICKOK45 – LUGER P08
YOUTUBE VIDEO: SOOTCH00 – THE GERMAN LUGER P08 GUN REVIEW
YOUTUBE VIDEO: FORGOTTEN WEAPONS – DEVELOPMENT OF THE LUGER AUTOMATIC PISTOL

FIREARM CONDITION:

This gun is in good, original, used condition (for its age). It is mechanically sound and functional.
The overall original finish is still good with some light holster wear to the edges of parts of the frame and the control parts as well as around the muzzle and front edges of the barrel.
There are some very light, small tarnish marks to the trigger, disassembly lever and safety lever, but really nothing significant at all.
The original wooden grips are in very good to excellent condition.
It has all matching serial number parts, excluding the magazine.
It has ‘1916’ stamped on top of the chamber, as well as the DWM logo on top of the toggle and DWM Military Receiver Proof marks for that period.
The action is still smooth and clean.

FIREARM SUITABILITY:

This firearm is suitable as a collectors piece due to its historical significance.

While technically this firearm could be used for self-defense and sport shooting purposes, I would not recommend it due to it collectiblity and relative scarcity of spare parts and accessories.