Odd LP.08 unit mark format??
 

A Gent from another Militaria Collector Forum e-mailed me. Asking me to translate this unit mark on a minty 1917 LP.08 that he has. He said he bought it from a well known collection 30 years ago.

It is marked J.R.57 3.K. P.11. It is the 57th Infantry Regiment
3rd Kompanie Pistol# 11.

I have located a couple of similar style markings in Jeff Noll's book. So I believe the format is correct. However, it is stamped opposite of the usual application. It's is read from top down. Reversed from the typical unit mark, stamped from bottom of the grip toward the trigger guard.

Any opinions?

Ron

Ron, I've seen some strange non-Prussian unit marking myself. Otherwise, probably a new rookie armourer, just off "K.P." duty. TH

Hi Tom,

That's what I told him. I told him that if someone tried to fake it, they sure as heck did'nt have a clue as to what they were doing.
I also told him that since the whole thing did'nt conform to regulation. That it was more than likely an armorer that could'nt decipher the orders.

Thanks, Ron

30 years ago was 1975 and the Waffenampt USA did not have as good a source of information as it does today. It would bear a close examination of the letter and number stamps before deciding it was authentic. I saw Luger numbers stamped on holsters in the early 1960's in a sheet metal shop where I worked. Lots of WWII vets and several WWI landsers to tell them what marks should be on their holsters to go with their pistols. Nobody thought of this as "boosting", they were just making their holster "right"

This is the third 1917 LP08 reported marked to the 57 JR. Another is 1917 LP08, sn 3066e, J.R.57.6.K.P.6. This Luger was imported from Canada by Simpson some time ago.

The below LP08 is from the same regiment and is stamped the same other side way.
* 1917 LP08, MACHINE GUN MARKED Jan C Still (1917 LP08, sn 7670f, J.R.57.1.M.G.K P.7)
http://www.gunboards.com/luger/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=631

I would suggest that these three Lugers marked to the 57JR are all correct considering the unusual method of indicating the pistol number and the various source locations and long reported history.
Jan

Thanks Jan. You would have to be either here or on Jan's forum to find that information out!

Thankyou Jan,
I appreciate your assistance. I forwarded this to the owner. I'm sure he will be pleased to know.

Ron