Japanese Luger Story in AutoMag...

Ron Wood · 03-11-2003, 10:50 PM

There is absolutely no record of any "contract" Lugers being produced for Japan, so the addition of the marking some time after it was produced can be considered a dead certainty. John Sabato's and others observations that the markings are post factory are, in my opinion, very valid. Ed Tinker's reference to the chrysanthemum being a very restricted marking is an opinion that is held by advanced Japanese militaria collectors, some even going so far as to indicate that it would be a punishable offense if performed in Japan. But, that doesn't mean that it couldn't have had official "imperial" authorization and records have not survived. It is just a big unknown. As to my personal opinion, I believe I will just remain mum on the issue.

03-11-2003, 10:50 PM	#11
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	There is absolutely no record of any "contract" Lugers being produced for Japan, so the addition of the marking some time after it was produced can be considered a dead certainty. John Sabato's and others observations that the markings are post factory are, in my opinion, very valid. Ed Tinker's reference to the chrysanthemum being a very restricted marking is an opinion that is held by advanced Japanese militaria collectors, some even going so far as to indicate that it would be a punishable offense if performed in Japan. But, that doesn't mean that it couldn't have had official "imperial" authorization and records have not survived. It is just a big unknown. As to my personal opinion, I believe I will just remain mum on the issue. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction