Got this today at a show

[Edward Tinker]

yes, there are 1920/1920 and also 1920/1921 and 1920

the 1920 by itself is the date, but see the FAQ for 1920 property markings.

I would not call it a 1920 'reissue' as that is a misnomer, but call it a new made 1920 DWM that went into police service, likely in 1920, but perhaps later.

The sear and magazine safety were added in the 1930's.

Any markings on the front of the frame? These might be unit markings, such as L.Sta.112

The last two of the serial number is on many areas (see FAQ) and the front of the frame will have either a suffix letter or no suffix and is considered part of its actual serial number.

Ed

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

yes, there are 1920/1920 and also 1920/1921 and 1920

the 1920 by itself is the date, but see the FAQ for 1920 property markings.

...???...So how do you tell a single-stamp 1920 date from a 1920 property stamp???

Do you have one of each side-by-side somewhere???

(BTW: Searching the FAQ for "1920 property markings" does not turn up anything)

[Edward Tinker]

#40 What is a double date?

Here is another area that is brought up, especially in the GunShow circuit. Double dates. True double dates are fairly rare, and what most folks call a double date is really a Reichswehr 1920 property stamping. I quote Jan Still:The 1920 stamp was added sometime between August 1920 and April 1921. It is a Reichswehr property stamp applied to identify the Luger as German Army property to prevent theft. Civilians were paid a bounty for turning in their unauthorized weapons to be destroyed. The Army feared the theft of its unmarked Lugers for the bounty.(Weimar Lugers page 20-23)

See the date is 1917, while the 1920 is NOT a date, but a property stamping.

A 1920 date will have dove type acceptance stamps and 1920 property stamps on a pre-1920 will usually be a WW1, so will have crown acceptance stamps on the right.


Ed