Import mark

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by Yakman

If it were illegal to remove an import mark, it would seem one could not remove and replace a barrel, for example, if the mark were placed on that barrel. Jack

Excellent point. I have a post-WW1 rework of an Erfurt military pistol. The date was scrubbed and a new .30 caliber barrel installed. Other than the barrel, it's all matching. CAI put their import markings on the underside of the barrel.

[schutzen-jager]

Originally Posted by Doubs

Excellent point. I have a post-WW1 rework of an Erfurt military pistol. The date was scrubbed and a new .30 caliber barrel installed. Other than the barrel, it's all matching. CAI put their import markings on the underside of the barrel.

almost definitely barreled by Century overseas before importation - common practice with them if the work could be done cheaper in some foreign countries -

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by schutzen-jager

almost definitely barreled by Century overseas before importation - common practice with them if the work could be done cheaper in some foreign countries -

I disagree. The rework was done post-WW1 - 1920's - and sold somewhere in Europe as there is no "Germany" stamp. The barrel is far from having been recently installed. The poorly stamped "M23" suggests that it was imported from Finland where it may have been sold commercially.

[schutzen-jager]

used barrel installed before import - Finns were famous for cannibalizing captured foreign pistols + rifles for reissue - you neglected to mention connection wit Finland in your post -post WWI when Finland became independent they acquired large quantities of German pistols including c96 mausers + p08 lugers - in 1923 they standardized them all to 7.65 luger [ broomhandles included ] - Century imported them in late 80's + early 90's - the extremely rare ones are the P08's purchased direct from DWM in 1923 in 7.65 -

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by schutzen-jager

used barrel installed before import - Finns were famous for cannibalizing captured foreign pistols + rifles for reissue - you neglected to mention connection wit Finland in your post -post WWI when Finland became independent they acquired large quantities of German pistols including c96 mausers + p08 lugers - in 1923 they standardized them all to 7.65 luger [ broomhandles included ] - Century imported them in late 80's + early 90's - the extremely rare ones are the P08's purchased direct from DWM in 1923 in 7.65 -

Why would I mention Finland in my original post? They had nothing to do with the import marking on the barrel and the discussion was about import stamps.

Exactly on what "facts" are you basing your conclusions? You're making a lot of claims without proof. There's no way to prove who replaced the barrel or when but thousands of Lugers were re-barreled to 30 caliber with new barrels in the 1920's for sale on the commercial market and that is the most likely explanation.

[schutzen-jager]

Originally Posted by Doubs

Why would I mention Finland in my original post? They had nothing to do with the import marking on the barrel and the discussion was about import stamps.

Exactly on what "facts" are you basing your conclusions? You're making a lot of claims without proof. There's no way to prove who replaced the barrel or when but thousands of Lugers were re-barreled to 30 caliber with new barrels in the 1920's for sale on the commercial market and that is the most likely explanation.

try doing a little research before making definitive statements - try the books by Walter , Hoffschmidt , Berger + others - also search the 1988 + later catalogs published by Century arms - the 1920's barrels were manufactured in Finland by both Sako + Tikka - the small CAI above the faint Finn markings prove that barrel was replaced before import + size + content of import marks are consistant with late 80's early 90's import -

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by schutzen-jager

the 1920's barrels were manufactured in Finland by both Sako + Tikka - the small CAI above the faint Finn markings prove that barrel was replaced before import

First you claim it was "almost definitely" replaced by CAI before import.

Then you claim it was a used barrel when replaced. If the Finns replaced the barrel, it would have been new.

Skipping your uncalled for insults about research, of course the barrel was replaced before import... but WHEN? It's an Imperial Erfurt Luger from 1917 or 1918.

"Faint Finn markings"? WHERE, exactly? No such thing on that barrel. It has only the marks put there by CAI. In the 1990's, CAI imported Lugers from many places with Finland being but one country they came from.

As the Finns didn't adopt the Luger in 30 caliber before 1923 and Germany was prohibited from providing 9mm Lugers at that time - the reason Finland went with 30 caliber to begin with - why is it more likely that the Finns did the re-barrel than the Germans? The CAI stamp is the ONLY about the pistol to even suggest it was ever in Finland.