This 1899 Parabellum sold for a huge amount of money today...

Ron Wood · 08-22-2009, 07:55 PM

Neither. The chamber marking was created using 18 (not sure of the number off the top of my head) individual stamps for the rays, The "dot" in the middle of the cross is thought to be an indexing point for the fixture that held the ray stamps. The pattern was repeated around the cross until the starburst was complete. Several earlier references speak of "hand engraved" on these early pieces but a lot has been learned since then. It is also a tip off on fakes that do have engraved chambers.

08-22-2009, 07:55 PM	#9
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,052 Thanks: 1,124 Thanked 5,289 Times in 1,729 Posts	Neither. The chamber marking was created using 18 (not sure of the number off the top of my head) individual stamps for the rays, The "dot" in the middle of the cross is thought to be an indexing point for the fixture that held the ray stamps. The pattern was repeated around the cross until the starburst was complete. Several earlier references speak of "hand engraved" on these early pieces but a lot has been learned since then. It is also a tip off on fakes that do have engraved chambers. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction