DWM Commercial 1911-1913 (?)
 

Starting with the grips. One is marked with a #5 and the other a #3. The gun serial ends in #51. And if you look at the close-up it almost loos like #51 on grip, but I think this #1 is actually just the wood grain.

Keep this in mind when reviewing the next photos, where #3 and # 5 are stamped on the frame -where the reciever and barrel mate with the frame.

Here is what I was talking about: What do the #3 and #5 mean? What about the P?

photo of gun
 

Look at the one without the grips. That is as far open as the toggle will stay. I con't think it has a hold open.......and if it does it is not working properly.

Frame Stamps
 

Anyone know what these mean?

Photo 1: P RN
Photo 2: E on left and the P RN on the Right
Photo 3: N stamped over an R?
Photo 4: close-up of photo 3
Photo 5: inside frame looks like H

The numbers and the "P" in the frame well are just inspector's marks. Can't tell if it has a hold open or not, would have to see a photo of the top of the frame without the receiver. If it has a hold open, the toggle will not stay back unless there is an empty magazine in the gun. Being an '08 commercial, chances are pretty good that it doesn't have a hold open. Pretty nice looking gun.

I posted my reply before you added the other photos. All of those other marks are also just inspector marks and there is no key to who or what they represent.

Barrel and Receiver underside
 

you can see the halos on the serial number. On the receiver underside there are three letters above the raised portion with#51. Looks like C Z and either F or faint P; on the left of the 51 a greek lower case a (?); and below another Z (?)

Anyone know what these mean?

up close of greek letter (?) and more photos and Lazy c/n

what is the 0 near the trigger mean; A P 1 near the #51 in the fourth photo of the toggle underside

Inside the side place appers to be the #3 similar to that on the grip and inside the frame recess where the receiver fits on top.

Extractor and Front Site
 

Check out the cool mark on the front site. What is it?

No serial # on first mag

On inside letter markings, same answer as before. They are inspector markings. It just means that some inspector (unknown) evaluated some aspect of construction and placed his stamp to indicate that he had looked at it and it was satisfactory.

Good photos, and it is still a nice looking gun. :)

How about a shot of the top of the frame to see if it has a hold open?

very nice photos. I always call them "makers" marks, i.e. like Ron said, parts was made, and checked by someone (could be an inspector, could be a foreman or lead worker in that area).

somethings we'll just never know for sure ;)



Also, although there "could" ber rhyme or reason for some markings i.e. the #3 or #5, mostly likely not if they aren't the last two of the serial number....

Also, although there "could" ber rhyme or reason for some markings i.e. the #3 or #5, mostly likely not if they aren't the last two of the serial number....


Yeah - I thought it was cool how #3 and #5 are on the frame where the receiver fits and also appear to be on grips.


Are the grips walnut? They seem a littler light in color, but I saw somewhere on a post that European Walnut can be lighter than the American species.

sometimes they are beech

Uh, I'm a Luger newby too but don't you have to have a magazine in the pistol to lock the toggle back?

The letters are workerstamps. The reason for stamping such letters was that the DWM in this case wont to know who of the workers was working on the part of the gun. If there would have been some more problems with the (Leerenhaltigkeit in German) same parts on several Lugers they could find out, who of the workers made the problems.
I would be able to give more informations about it but because of my poor English I´m missing the right words. But I hope you will know what I mean.
Regards Klaus

Klaus - Your English is excellent; your meaning is clear. If a problem area on a number of pistols was found to be caused by a single worker, what would be done with the affected parts???

You did just fine, Klaus. Better than most of us would do in German.

FN

Klaus
If I had your luger knowledge I wouldn't care if I was speaking in an alien tongue. You do great. Bill

I think this is the first 5-digit commercial serial w/o letter that I've seen...

Is that odd??? (The serial, I mean...not my lack of seeing)... :D