Used from 1939, followed by 'byf' in 1941 and 1942. These codes were assigned to Mauserwerke Oberndorf as the manufacturer. Serial number range for the 1939 S42's is from around 4100n through 3700q. You will find the full serial w/ suffix on the front/underside of the grip frame.

I have a Gesichert German Lugar that has been in our family for many years that I am trying to find the value of. It has the numbers 58025 stamped on Side and Bottom of the Barrel as well as on the face of the Trigger Guard. The # 25 is also stamped several places. The word Geischert is stamped under the safety lever.

Stamped on the top of the action is some scrolling that appears to be the letters (DWG) I could be wrong on reading this though. On the front of the Hand Stock is stamped (S. 1202.) On the top of the Barrel is stamped 1920 & 1918 with the numbers 1920 being larger than the numbers 1918. On the right side of the Barrel are 4 small Hieroglyphic symbols; I have no clue what they represent. I hope the pictures that I am attaching are viewable and help someone determine the value for me.

Thank you, Scott. Hi Scott, I am by no means a luger expert, but I think I can clear up a few things. First, the maker of your luger is indicated by the scroll letters DWM on the toggle, which stand for Deutsche Waffen & Munitions Fabriken (German Arms and Ammunition Company). The word Gesichert means 'Safe' or 'on Safety' in German and simply indicates whether the safety is engaged or not. Yours is a military luger made in 1918 and reworked in 1920, probably at the Erfurt arsenal, so this model is known as a Double Dated DWM.

The small marks on the side of the frame are german military proof marks. Pictures are not clear enough to determine condition, but there does seem to be some finish wear. It appears you may have a complete rig (gun, holster, tool and 2 matching magazines). If the serial numbers on the magazines match the gun, it enhances the value significantly. I would hesitate to estimate a value without clearer pictures. Hope this helps. The gun was made for the German military in 1918 by DWM.

In 1920, after the war, military caliber (9mm Parabellum or 9mm Luger) pistols were banned unless they were owned by the police or the small military force (Reichswehr) allowed by the Versailles treaty. All those Lugers were marked 1920 to show that they were state property and legal under the 1920 law. Possession of a '1920' pistol by a private individual was illegal and a serious crime. Collectors call those guns 'double date Lugers' or '1920 Lugers.' The marking 'S.W.I. 1202' is a police property mark, indicating the gun was owned by the police in Wiesbaden; 1202 is their gun number. Police pistols rarely have matching holsters or magazines, but it is common for the magazine(s) to match the police number (1202 in this case) rather than the serial number.) It is impossible to make even a guess at value without better pictures.

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