^Lot 1438 GERMAN WWI DWM "1917" DATE LP.08 SEMI-AUTOMATIC

PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 2970a. Bbl. 7 7/8". LP.08 semi-automatic pistol mfg. by DWM under contract for the Imperial German military during WWI. Top of the bbl. extension is marked "1917" over the breech, with DWM arsenal proofs marked on the right. Toggle is marked with the intertwined "DWM" monogram. Metal components exhibit a rust blue finish overall, with some some small parts including the takedown lever, trigger, safety lever, and ejector exhibiting a straw finish. Ejector has been reheated at one time. Frame is mounted with 2-piece later production grips, marked with Mauser style large block numbers on the interior. Dovetailed fine tune blade front sight and tangent V-notch rear sight graduated 1-8. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, takedown lever, sideplate, trigger, safety lever & bar, hold-open latch, bbl., front sight, rear sight assembly., bbl. extension, trigger bar, breechblock, extractor, firing pin, as well as the toggles. MAGS: 1 non-matching blued WWII production mag. with aluminum plug marked "2831/ y" above an Eagle/63 proof. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original arsenal blue finish, exhibiting areas and scattered spots of light to mild wear and thinning that is fading to gray patina, as well as some scattered spots of light surface oxidation and pitting. Bbl. exhibits 2 wrench/vice marks forward of the rear sight assembly. Grip straps exhibit a consistent scattering of light surface oxidation. Strawed parts retain trace to fair amounts of their original finish, exhibiting areas of wear fading to gray patina and scattered spots of age related discoloration. Rear sight slide has faded to a gray patina with light pitting. Bore exhibits consistent dark moderate pitting in the lands and light to mild pitting on the grooves, while retaining fair rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Grips show mild smoothing, as well as some scattered superficial marks, with the left panel exhibiting a chip in the usual area, at and to the right of the safety lever. (25-6564/MLW). CURIO. $1,200-1,800.