Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this HIGHLY DESIRABLE semi-automatic pistol today for a penny-start auction; this is the DWM P.08 Luger!
This DWM P08 Luger is a historically significant sidearm, brought back from World War II by none other than Ben Schwartzwalder—a decorated American hero and legendary football coach. Schwartzwalder, who served with distinction during the D-Day invasion and several key engagements throughout the war, brought this pistol home as a wartime souvenir. Before the war, he was a standout athlete at West Virginia University, playing center at just 146 pounds and earning recognition as an all-campus wrestler. After the war, he went on to become the head football coach at Syracuse University, where he mentored future NFL greats such as Jim Brown, Ernie Davis—the first African American Heisman Trophy winner—Larry Csonka, and Floyd Little. A member of the Syracuse University Hall of Fame, Schwartzwalder left a lasting legacy both on and off the battlefield. This example of his wartime experience is accompanied by a framed handwritten letter from Ben detailing the pistol, original Airborne Division patches that belonged to him, and a copy of Night Drop: The American Airborne Invasion of Normandy, a book chronicling the brave efforts of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions during the pivotal D-Day operation. Together, these artifacts form a powerful narrative of courage, leadership, and American history.
This example features the desirable all-matching serial parts and is double-dated 1917 and 1920. It also has German Imperial military proofs. This would indicate the gun was initially issued to the German military in 1917 and was later returned to governmental control (Weimar) in the 1920's!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: DWM
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial: 7620
Date of Manufacture: 1917 & 1920 (Double Dated)
Caliber: 9mm
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 4"
Optics/Sights: Serrated Blade Front with V-Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Fully Checkered Wood
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The barrel extension is marked “1920 & 1917” on the chamber ring, the left is marked “7620”, the right has German proof marks. The bottom of the barrel is marked “7620 / 8,82”. The sear is marked “20”, found again on the toggle pin, the top of the extractor, left of the breech-block, top-rear of the front toggle, back of the rear toggle, left of the firing pin, takedown lever, trigger, sideplate, safety, and the magazine. The top of the front toggle is marked “DWM”. The Front of the grip is marked “S.D.V.18.R.II”.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Most commercial, contract, and military Lugers through the end of World War I were manufactured by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), a company formed in 1897 through the merger of Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik of Karlsruhe (DMK) and Ludwig Loewe. While the Karlsruhe branch continued producing ammunition, the Berlin-based operation focused on firearms, including Georg Luger's iconic pistol design. DWM produced all Lugers from the pistol’s inception until 1908, and from 1908 through the end of WWI, it manufactured more than half of all military P.08 Lugers. Though Simson & Co. was the only official Luger supplier to the Weimar government post-WWI, DWM continued to produce large numbers of commercial Lugers and reworked military models. In 1930, DWM ceased to exist as an independent entity when it merged with Mauser Werke, and by 1934, Mauser had fully taken over Luger production, making visible changes in finish, markings, and serial numbering. Altogether, DWM produced nearly one million Lugers—roughly 38% of all Lugers ever made. DWM Lugers were known for their high-quality craftsmanship, with beautiful blued finishes, precise mechanical operation, and excellent fit—even on military-issued models. After the war, Germany faced widespread firearm possession among returning soldiers, prompting the Berlin government on August 1, 1920, to order all military weapons marked with the date "1920" to distinguish government property and prevent the illegal resale of military arms. To encourage compliance, a bounty system was implemented on August 7, 1920, offering 100 Marks for each turned-in firearm until October 10th, after which the reward dropped to 50 Marks. Amid economic turmoil and civil unrest, many Germans exploited this system by repeatedly turning in stored weapons, leading to the widespread appearance of the "1920" stamp on Weimar-era Lugers.
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial: 7620
Date of Manufacture: 1917 & 1920 (Double Dated)
Caliber: 9mm
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 4"
Optics/Sights: Serrated Blade Front with V-Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Fully Checkered Wood
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard / The barrel extension is marked “1920 & 1917” on the chamber ring, the left is marked “7620”, the right has German proof marks. The bottom of the barrel is marked “7620 / 8,82”. The sear is marked “20”, found again on the toggle pin, the top of the extractor, left of the breech-block, top-rear of the front toggle, back of the rear toggle, left of the firing pin, takedown lever, trigger, sideplate, safety, and the magazine. The top of the front toggle is marked “DWM”. The Front of the grip is marked “S.D.V.18.R.II”.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Most commercial, contract, and military Lugers through the end of World War I were manufactured by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), a company formed in 1897 through the merger of Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik of Karlsruhe (DMK) and Ludwig Loewe. While the Karlsruhe branch continued producing ammunition, the Berlin-based operation focused on firearms, including Georg Luger's iconic pistol design. DWM produced all Lugers from the pistol’s inception until 1908, and from 1908 through the end of WWI, it manufactured more than half of all military P.08 Lugers. Though Simson & Co. was the only official Luger supplier to the Weimar government post-WWI, DWM continued to produce large numbers of commercial Lugers and reworked military models. In 1930, DWM ceased to exist as an independent entity when it merged with Mauser Werke, and by 1934, Mauser had fully taken over Luger production, making visible changes in finish, markings, and serial numbering. Altogether, DWM produced nearly one million Lugers—roughly 38% of all Lugers ever made. DWM Lugers were known for their high-quality craftsmanship, with beautiful blued finishes, precise mechanical operation, and excellent fit—even on military-issued models. After the war, Germany faced widespread firearm possession among returning soldiers, prompting the Berlin government on August 1, 1920, to order all military weapons marked with the date "1920" to distinguish government property and prevent the illegal resale of military arms. To encourage compliance, a bounty system was implemented on August 7, 1920, offering 100 Marks for each turned-in firearm until October 10th, after which the reward dropped to 50 Marks. Amid economic turmoil and civil unrest, many Germans exploited this system by repeatedly turning in stored weapons, leading to the widespread appearance of the "1920" stamp on Weimar-era Lugers.
Floyd Burdette Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 – April 28, 1993) was a football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained future National Football League (NFL) stars such as Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Floyd Little, and Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. He is in the school's Hall of Fame. Schwartzwalder was also a hero of the D-Day invasion and several other important engagements of World War II. He played center at West Virginia University, despite weighing only 146 pounds, and was an all-campus wrestler in 1930 in the 155-pound weight class. He was captain of the football team in 1933.
Schwartzwalder was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He coached high school football for six years in West Virginia — a year at Sistersville High School, followed by the Parkersburg High School Big Reds football from 1936 to 1940 — and Ohio — a year at Canton McKinley High School — and won two state championships. In 1941, he was the coach of Canton McKinley High School in Ohio when, even though he was in his 30s, he was commissioned in the US Army and fought in World War II. As a captain in the 82nd Airborne (CO of Company G of the 507th), Schwartzwalder earned a distinction during the invasion of Normandy and battles that followed in the last days of the war. He played key roles in the capture of the La Fière Causeway and Sainte-Mère-Église, crucial points of entry into France during the D-Day invasion. By the time the 507th reached the battle for Hill 95, they had suffered more than 65% casualties. Schwartzwalder continued his campaign all the way into Germany and acted as military governor of the town of Essen for a period of six months. He was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, four battle stars, and a Presidential Unit Citation, and was promoted to the rank of Major for his actions during the invasion. When he was personally decorated by General Matthew Ridgway, the General said, “Ben, I never expected to see you here to receive this award.” Even as a paratrooper, Schwartzwalder remained focused on his football career. He organized an athletic league among the soldiers being assembled in England in preparation for D-Day in order to keep the troops motivated and fit. He coached the 507th PIR football team, leading them through a ten-game season in which the 507th was never defeated and never even scored upon.
After returning home, Schwartzwalder began his college coaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he went 25–5. He coached at Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, compiling a 178–96–3 record and winning one national championship in 1959 while going undefeated with an 11–0 record. The 1959 team was an unprecedented powerhouse with both the toughest offense (313.6 yards rushing, 451.5 yards total, and 39 points per game on average) and the toughest defense (giving only 19.3 yards rushing, 96.2 yards total per game on average) in the country. This remains Syracuse's only football national championship to date. Schwartzwalder's teams went to seven bowl games and won four Lambert Trophies. In 1959, he also won the National Coach of the Year award. During his 25 years as head coach, Syracuse teams outrushed their opponents by more than 22,000 yards. Schwartzwalder had a knack for developing excellent running backs through their college careers, including Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, and Larry Csonka. Schwartzwalder had a significant history of recruiting and developing black players during the 1950s and 1960s when many other major programs refused to do so. He coached the first African-American to win a Heisman Trophy and maintained team unity and cohesiveness in a racially charged environment to defeat the all-white Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic and win a national championship.
In 1967, Schwartzwalder was elected president of the American Football Coaches Association. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. On September 23, 2023, prior to the game against Army, his name was placed in the Ring of Honor in the JMA Wireless Dome on the campus of Syracuse University. The coach is also remembered through the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy, which goes to the winner of each game between West Virginia University (where he had played as a college student) and Syracuse University. The trophy was established in 1993 and was sculpted by Syracuse sports hall-of-famer Jim Ridlon.
Contents:
This example will ship with the framed handwritten letter from Ben about this particular pistol, the Airborne Division patches that belonged to Ben, the book titled “Night Drop; The American Airborne Invasion of Normandy” (Story of the men of the 82d and 101st airborne divisions who parachuted by night into Normandy, and fought for the success of D-Day), the leather holster, and the lock pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
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Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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