1917 DWM luger with unit markings and London proofing

Bill_in_VA · 02-27-2019, 10:56 PM

Reivers gotta reive, as they say.

Nice find; did you get that after I left?

Mark1 · 02-28-2019, 02:28 AM

Don,
It's a nice looking Luger and as you say there is some interesting history behind it.
The proof marks are the London Proof House and the .752" cartridge length plus the 13 tons (psi) date the marks from 1955.
Perhaps the owner got it back after Home Guard service and had to submit it for civilian proofing in order to keep it ?
Mark

DonVoigt · 02-28-2019, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark1

Don,
It's a nice looking Luger and as you say there is some interesting history behind it.
The proof marks are the London Proof House and the .752" cartridge length plus the 13 tons (psi) date the marks from 1955.
Perhaps the owner got it back after Home Guard service and had to submit it for civilian proofing in order to keep it ?
Mark

Mark,
thanks for the input.
I found one reference that said the "tons" designation was used up to to WWII, I'd like to find a reference with more info. Can you point me at a reference or book? I'm no expert on Brit proving.

I do wish its "travels" were better known, a bit of a mystery for sure, how it came to be finished in Suncorite and re-proved.

Mark1 · 02-28-2019, 05:48 PM

Don,
My usual go-to is "The Standard Directory of Proof Marks" by Gerhard Wirnsberger, published by Jolex. It covers all of the European Proof Houses with a very good German section and a very good summary of the British proofs.
My comment is slightly in error. The marking of the cartridge length became a requirement from 1925 and the marking of the service pressure was a requirement from 1955.
Interestingly, the German proof marks were accepted with no additional marking by the British proof authorities until that recognition was cancelled in 1946.
With the standardizing of proof testing by the CIP in the 1970's both Germany and Britain have mutually recognised proof standards now.
Mark

DonVoigt · 02-28-2019, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_in_VA

Reivers gotta reive, as they say.

Nice find; did you get that after I left?

Bill,
I got it the first day, I showed it to several guys- you must been out
prospecting at the time- besides it wasn't an Erfurt.

02-27-2019, 10:56 PM	#1
Bill_in_VA Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 413 Thanks: 835 Thanked 636 Times in 228 Posts	Reivers gotta reive, as they say. Nice find; did you get that after I left? __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

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02-28-2019, 02:28 AM	#2
Mark1 User Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 72 Thanks: 332 Thanked 74 Times in 25 Posts	Don, It's a nice looking Luger and as you say there is some interesting history behind it. The proof marks are the London Proof House and the .752" cartridge length plus the 13 tons (psi) date the marks from 1955. Perhaps the owner got it back after Home Guard service and had to submit it for civilian proofing in order to keep it ? Mark

02-28-2019, 05:48 PM	#4
Mark1 User Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 72 Thanks: 332 Thanked 74 Times in 25 Posts	Don, My usual go-to is "The Standard Directory of Proof Marks" by Gerhard Wirnsberger, published by Jolex. It covers all of the European Proof Houses with a very good German section and a very good summary of the British proofs. My comment is slightly in error. The marking of the cartridge length became a requirement from 1925 and the marking of the service pressure was a requirement from 1955. Interestingly, the German proof marks were accepted with no additional marking by the British proof authorities until that recognition was cancelled in 1946. With the standardizing of proof testing by the CIP in the 1970's both Germany and Britain have mutually recognised proof standards now. Mark