Rare DWM Luger Model 1902 Pistol-Carbine .30 7.65x21mm Semi-Auto, 1903 C&R
SOLD FOR: $5,000.00
WOA#: WY240316RG005
Make: DWM
Model: 1902 Luger Carbine
Serial Number: 23757
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1903
Caliber: .30 Luger (7.65×21mm Parabellum)
Action Type: Short-Recoil Toggle-Link Semi-Automatic Pistol Carbine, Detachable Magazine Fed
Markings: The front toggle is marked “DWM”. The full serial number “23757” is marked on the bottom of the forend hanger-bar and the bottom of the barrel. The last three digits “757” are marked on the top of the buttstock’s mounting bracket and the inside of the forend. The last two digits “57” are marked on the back of the rear toggle, the bottom of the front toggle, the left of the bolt, the bottom of the barrel extension’s lug, the bottom of the takedown lever, left of the trigger, and left of the grip safety. There is no import mark.
Barrel Length: 11 3/4″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a four-position “U”-notch which slides in a banded base fixed to the rear of the barrel. The positions are graduated from one to three hundred meters with a position between two and three. The sight arm is released with a button on the left of the base, allowing it to be slid to each position. There is no rear sight on the rear toggle link.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood. A hanger on the front of the frame accepts the wedge-secured checkered walnut forend which has a schnabel tip and a sling swivel. The buttstock is checkered walnut with a straight grip, straight comb, serrated horn buttplate and a sling swivel in the belly. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered small nicks and scratches. There are some spots of compressed checkers, but the checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks in the grips. The forend has similar wear with some scattered nicks and a couple of more notable dings at the bottom-rear. The forend’s checkering is well defined and there are no chips or cracks. The buttstock has two cracks on the right at the mounting bracket. There are scattered light nicks and scratches. The wrist checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 16 1/2″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered worm-holes and light wear with generally well defined serrations. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Straw
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and some minor pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There are a few light nicks and scratches. Some strawed parts retain strong finish, the trigger, safety and takedown lever have mostly muted. Most of the balance is in scattered spots of light surface oxidation. There is some minor surface erosion on the left of the barrel in front of the forend and a couple of spots of more notable erosion on the top-right over the forend. There is light wear on the barrel covered by the forend from disassembly/assembly. There is wear on the mounting lug at the bottom of the backstrap. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol-carbine is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel extension has barely perceptible play to the frame. We did not fire this pistol-carbine. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol-carbine comes with a single 8-round wood floorplate magazine.
Our Assessment: The Parabellum-Pistole, commonly referred to as the Luger, was designed by Georg Johann Luger. Luger was an unlikely gun designer, born in 1849 he was the son of a surgeon, Bartholomaeus von Luger, and while attending university he served as a One-Year Volunteer with the 78th Infantry Regiment (Infanterieregiment 78 ein) of the Austro-Hungarian Army. In the 1870s Luger met Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher who recruited him as a sales representative for Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabrik AG (DWM). One of the company’s weapons that Luger marketed was the Borchardt C93 (named after its designer Hugo Borchardt) which was criticized for being too heavy and poorly balanced. Luger decided to rework the design and eventually secured a contract for his new pistol with the Swiss Army which dubbed it the model 1900. After some minor reworking Luger introduced the Pistole 1904, chambered for 9mm cartridges, which was adopted by the Imperial German Navy, the pistol was henceforth referred to as the Luger. A slightly altered version of the pistol with a smaller barrel was adopted for service by the Prussian Army in 1908, hence the designation P08. The P08 would become one of the most iconic weapons of the 20th century. Luger’s pistol would continue to serve the German military during WWII (although the P38 was the Wehrmacht’s standard issue sidearm) and saw service in a number military and police forces after the war.
In addition to their extensive military and law enforcement sales, DWM also marketed the pistol commercially with a number of variations. This is one of the more desirable examples for collectors, a Model 1902 Luger Carbine. Distinctive features include the dished toggle knobs, spring-clip on the right toggle knob, grip safety, leaf mainspring and a portion of the safety panel left in the white to designate when the pistol is on safe rather than a “GESICHERT” marking. With an 11 3/4″ barrel, sights graduated to 300 meters, checkered forend and detachable buttstock, it will certainly allow you to wring all the precision available out of the .30 Luger cartridge while not taking up too much space. Better still, the ATF has designated this model as exempt from NFA short barrel rifle restrictions due to its C&R status, so long as the stock is original.
This 1902 Carbine does indeed have a matching original stock, in fact all of its numbered parts are matching. It is in Very Good condition, retaining much of its original metal finish, a more than decent bore given its age, and strong mechanics. This is a must-have for the dedicated Luger collector and these don’t come available very often. It should also still prove to be a fun shooter for the lucky winner. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
