This is an example of a WWI Imperial German Army Artillery Luger manufactured by the DWM factory. These were standard WWI lugers issued to artillery crews for use as a substitute in lieu of the long barreled Gew 98 rifle or 98a carbine. Many thousand were manufactured with most being reworked after WWI in compliance with the Treaty of Versailles. This example has a 1917 dated chamber area with the "DWM" monogram on the front toggle. It has the distinctive 8 inch artillery type barrel with the barley corn, type front sight and the adjustable tangent rear sight graduated from 1-8 (100-800 meters), both with the fine tune adjustments. The barrel extension has the standard three "crown/script letter" proofs, followed by the Imperial Eagle firing proof on the right side of the barrel extension with the same firing proof on the right side of the barrel. It is numbered in the military fashion with the full serial number (7861) on the frame, barrel and barrel extension with the last two digits of the serial number (61) on the on the various small parts. It has the standard "GESICHERT" and "GELADEN" marked upper safety area and extractor and is fitted with a set of light colored, unnumbered, checkered walnut grips. It comes with one WWI, tin-plated magazine with the wooden base that is stamped with a small Crown/script letter proof.

Very fine as partially refinished (grip straps) with balance retaining 95% of the blue finish overall with edge and high spot wear overall. The smaller parts retain 98% of their straw colors fading slightly. The checkered grips are both in very fine condition with nice sharp checkering on both sides with only very minor handling marks. It has matching numbers except the magazine and grips as noted above. Mechanically excellent.