Question - 1920 Luger Ammo

C

Col Parker

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I inherited a 1920 Luger pistol - serial # 5827.
Is there an easy way to know if the caliber is 9mm or 7.65?
How can you tell?
Thanks for any assistance.
 
Not meaning to sound snarky, but look at the muzzle. It should be easy enough to roughly measure.

If you have a 9mm round, stick the bullet in the muzzle, if it goes in nearly to the case, its a 9mm, if it only goes 1/3 of the way in (or so) its not a 9mm.

I think my Luger book is buried behind the Christmas tree, so I can't help with the markings right now.

make a list (nice clear pictures, if possible) of all the markings on the gun, and someone here should be able to id it fairly well.

Luger serial numbers run in blocks, starting over with a letter suffix, so the plain digits alone are not a lot of help, without a letter, means the first production block of that year, usually.

I think the 1920 commercial guns were in both calibers, but until I dig out the book, am not sure, sorry, not a Luger experten.
 
Welcome to TFL!

Merry Christmas!

Found my Luger book! :)

A quick glance shows 3 or 4 (maybe more) military Luger variants that could have a 1920 chamber date. All in 9mm.

The 1920 Commercial model was in 7.65mm.

Sorry, no more help until you can give us more details about the gun and its markings.

Welcome to TFL!

One other bit of advice, if it is a 9mm, DO NOT shoot +P ammo!!!! (or anything hotter!, damage is likely)
 
Was the commercial (7.65mm) version mainly made in one barrel length? Might narrow the spectrum some.

A sharpened #2 pencil will fit just inside a 7.65mm barrel, with very little "wiggle room". The same pencil fits easily within a 9mm barrel, with LOTSA "wiggle room".
 
Kosh75287 said:
Was the commercial (7.65mm) version mainly made in one barrel length?
Click to expand...
Yes, mostly around 4" (I don't recall the precise length), but this is not universal, many Lugers have been modified with non-original parts, and IIRC military 9mm guns also may have this barrel length.
Kosh75287 said:
A sharpened #2 pencil will fit just inside a 7.65mm barrel, with very little "wiggle room". The same pencil fits easily within a 9mm barrel, with LOTSA "wiggle room".
Click to expand...
Also, the 7.65 barrels have a much more pronounced taper, giving the gun a less "fat" look than a 9mm. Luger experts (of which I am not one) can often discern the caliber from across the room.
 
Here's a pic of my 1920 commercial Luger in 7.65 cal. Note the bbl. taper.

There is no caliber marking on the gun to my knowledge.

HTH's Rod

 
1920 Commercials were made in virtually every Luger configuration.
Mine is a 3.75" .30, but there are 9mm "Navy" 1920s, too.
Lots of them have been rebarreled, so guns that were manufactured as .30s are 9mms today.
 
It appears to be a 3 3/4" or 3 7/8 barrel, and the word "Germany" stamped on the frame rail would pretty much indicate that it is a 7.65mm gun made for export after WWI.

Take any .30 calibre bullet (not cartridge) and stick it into the muzzle. If it only goes partially in, then you have a 7.65. If it falls through, then it's a 9mm.
 
Even better, take it into about any gunshop and ask them. They'll check it out for you. Don't sell it to them !

It's an easy check, but they know the definition of 'loose' better than you might, be a shame to buy a box of ammo and discover it's the wrong stuff.

Remove the magazine, clear the chamber, put it a bag or case and take it in.
 
1920 Luger Ammo - Question .2

Thanks for the help.
Inserted bullet in muzzle.
Bullet fits tight right up to the cartridge casing and #2 pencil is slightly sloppy in the barrel, so I'm calling it a 9mm.
I'll let you know if it blows up in my face when I fire it - kidding.
 
You'll know or sure if you try to chamber a 9mm and it doesn't allow the breechbolt to close all the way.
 
Chambers and ejects well, we'll see what happens at the range.
Click to expand...

Excellent. Enjoy.

BTW: Make that #2 pencil a dedicated dry firing tool. There is a trick that allows you relieve tension on the firing pin spring, but it's just easier to put the eraser end of the pencil against the breech face and pull the trigger, allowing the firing pin to be cushioned by the eraser.:)
 
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