This is a fine condition and all matching WWI German Model of 1914 Luger manufactured by DWM in early 1917, along with a fine condition and original WWI Luger Holster dated 1915.

The end of the 1890s and early 1900s saw great international military interest in semiautomatic weapons, particularly handguns. The famous Borchardt design and the Mauser C96 pistol are both examples of this interest at the turn of the century. The German Army ultimately settled on the Borchardt-based Luger design for its armed forces. 

Initial military production of the Luger pistol, in 9mm Parabellum caliber, was limited to the Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM).  The first German military organization to adopt the new Luger design was the German Navy, which approved the Model of 1906 pistol on May 12, 1905.  Although the German Army tested the Luger design as early as 1901, it did not officially adopt the Luger as the standard Army sidearm until August 1908, which gave the weapon the designation Model of 1908.  Initial Model of 1908 Lugers did not have chamber markings but the year of manufacture began to be marked on the chamber in 1910.

By directive on May 6, 1913, all Model 1908 Lugers were to be produced with the hold-open device and all existing Lugers were to be retrofitted for the device.  Additionally, all Lugers delivered after August 4, 1913, were to have the stock lug added.  Approximately 17,000 DWM Lugers were manufactured with a 1913 date.  With the stock lug and hold-open device now standard, the model was changed to the Model of 1914.  Approximately 35,000 DWM Lugers were manufactured with a 1914 date, 105,000 with a 1915 date, 140,000 with a 1916 date, 90,000 with a 1917 date (when this Luger was manufactured), and 118,000 with a 1918 date.  Approximately 505,000 Model 1914 DWM Lugers were manufactured. 

This particular DWM Luger was manufactured by Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) in early 1917 and is serial numbered 3399c. The Barrel on this Model 1914 Luger is its original 4-inch long barrel and it retains 98% blued finish.  There is only slight wear near the muzzle and on the high points. The bore has strong rifling but there is considerable frosting in the bore.  The most wear on the entire pistol is on the muzzle and front of the front sight base and blade, which exhibits some minor pinprick pitting.  The bottom rear of the barrel has the full matching serial number “3399/c” and the muzzle diameter of the barrel in millimeters, "8,83."  The top, rear of the barrel has the Imperial German Army Test Eagle proof stamp.  The bottom rear of the barrel has a witness line that aligns perfectly with the corresponding witness line on the bottom, front of the receiver.

The Receiver has the matching serial number "3399" on the left side and it retains 95% plus of its beautiful blued finish. The Sear Bar retains the majority of its original blued finish and is serial number matching with the partial serial number “99” stamp.  The Sear Bar Spring retains 98% of its beautiful and vibrant fire blued finish. The Chamber Date is crisply marked "1917," and the face of the chamber is very clean. The Ejector retains a faded straw finish and the spring, which is still very strong, retains traces of the original straw finish. The right side of the Frame has all of the correct proof marks crisply stamped, including the large crown over eagle German Army Proof Test mark and three crown over gothic letter German Army Inspection Stamps.  The bottom lug of the Receiver, and adjacent to it, have numerous inspection and assembly stamps including a serif "N" stamp as well as a serif "T” and “6” stamps.  The bottom rails and the interior milled surfaces of the Receiver are all correctly polished to the white.

The Breech Block has the matching serial number "99" on the left side below the German Army Test Eagle proof stamp and it retains 95% of its blued finish with wear noted on the side rails. The face of the Breech Block is clean and retains 99% of its original blued finish. The Breech Block Pin still retains considerable original fire blued finish.  

The Center Toggle Link has the script "DWM" stamp and matching serial number "99," and it retains 95% of its blued finish. The bottom side of the Center Toggle Link has sans serif “H” and a “0” assembly stamp.

The Rear Toggle Link has the matching serial number "99" stamped on the rear slope and retains 95% of its blued finish.  The Coupling Link moves freely and is still in the white.

The Extractor is serial number matching with "99" stamped on top with 98% of its blued finish remaining on top with the sides of the Extractor still correctly in the white with the left side marked "GELADEN" or “loaded” on the side.  The Firing Pin Spring Retainer is very clean and remains in the white as does the Firing Pin Spring. The Firing Pin itself remains in the white and is serial number matching with "99" stamped on the side. The Rear Toggle Pin exhibits remnants of the original fire blued finish and fits flush on both sides.

The Front Sight retains the vast majority of its original blued finish and has 13 serrations on the rear face.  The base also retains the vast majority of its original blued finish and has 8 serrations on the rear face.  The base and stud have the correct stake mark on the right side.

The Side Plate is serial number matching with "99" stamped on the outside and it retains 75% of its blued finish with wear noted on the sharp edges. The Trigger/Sear Lever Arm is correctly in the white and the Lever Arm pin is still correctly blued.  The inside of the side plate has a serif “I” inspection stamp.

The Frame itself has the full matching serial number "3399/c" on the nose and retains 95% of its blued finish. The Lanyard Ring is fully secured at the rear. The internal surfaces of the Frame are correctly polished to the white. The Front Grip Strap retains 95% of its blued. The Back Strap retains 95% of its bluing with edge browning and wear exhibited on the shoulder stock milled portion. The Magazine Well is polished on both front and rear.  The Main Spring retains considerable original straw finish.  The Main Spring Guide still retains the majority of its original blued finish.  There are several inspection stamps on both sides of the frame in the grip panels recesses.  There are also numerous inspection stamps in the barrel lug recess.

The Magazine Catch retains traces of its original straw finish and operates smoothly. The Mag Catch's external band spring retains most of its original fire blued finish.   There is no wear on the Magazine Catch’s checkered surface.  The Trigger is serial number matching with "99" stamped on the top left side and it retains traces of its original straw finish with browning in the back, milled out section. The Trigger Spring remains in the white. The Hold Open Latch and integrated spring is serial number matching with "99" stamped on the top and it shows considerable original fire tempered finish. The Mainspring remains in the white. The Safety Bar is serial number matching with "99" stamped on the front and it remains in the white. The Safety Lever is serial number matched with "99" stamped on the top flat and it retains traces of its original straw finish. The "GESICHERT" or SAFE marking still retains the majority of the original white background paint.  The Takedown Lever has lost most of its original straw finish but it remains very clean and has the matching serial number “99” on the face and the checkering on the thumb piece exhibits no wear.

Both Grip Panels are in very fine condition and are serial number matching. Both Panels have their original finish and have only minor flattening in small sections towards the bottom but there are no cracks or chips noted and both Panels fit securely to the Frame.  The left grip panel has the “99” serial number stamp on the back.   The right grip panel also has the matching serial number “99” on the back.  Both original grip screws are present, and both retain the majority of their original blued finish with no marring to the single slots.

This pistol comes with its original WWI Magazine.  The Magazine is the correct WWI wrap-around, tin-plated magazine with the correct wood base.  The base is stamped with the serial number “2231” with a script “s” suffix with the Erfurt Royal Armory stamp at the bottom.  The Follower and Follower Spring are still strong, and it fits securely in the magazine well of the Luger and releases smoothly.

This Luger comes with an original WWI German leather Luger Holster that is in fine condition.  The only thing missing is the removal strap.  All of the original stitching remains tight.  The disassembly/loading tool pouch is in place in the flap.  The original buckle assemble is present as is the tie end.  The extra magazine pouch remains tightly stitched to the side of the holster.  Both original belt loops are present on the back.  The leather is still supple throughout.  The back of the holster has the maker’s stamp, “”141 / B.D.III / 1915,” in a rectangle.  The B.D.III stamp is the Bekleidungs-Depot des III, Bayerischen Armee-Korps (Clothing Depot of the III Bavarian Army Corps), based near Nuremburg, and the holster was made in 1915. 

This is a fine condition WWI DWM Model of 1914 Luger from early 1917 that is all matching with an original 1915-dated brown leather Luger Holster.   This pistol functions perfectly.