Letter 'K' on Persian Contract Luger Magazines
 

I recently bought a Persian Contract Luger, and although the magazine does not match, it does have a serial number in Farsi Script.
What puzzled me is the Farsi letter for 'K', which is under the serial number.

This arose my curiosity, so I checked my copy of 'The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols', but could not find a reference to the Farsi letter 'K' on the magazines of the Persian contract Lugers.

So I did some research on the internet and found an example of the Persian Luger, listed as being sold, by Phoenix Investment Arms with all three original magazines.
All three magazines appear to have the Farsi letter for 'K', as well as two of them having the + symbol.

Does anyone know what is the significance of the Farsi letter 'K'?

The Luger has the Scriptic "S" on the 2nd toggle, which I believe is one of the proofs from the 1934 "K-Date" Luger, indicating these parts were proofed and then used in the commercial contract. So I was wondering if there was any link to the Farsi letter 'K's on the magazines.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas,
Richard

Look at seller!!!!!

The guns were accepted by the Farsi letter "tha" preceding the serial number on the left side of the receiver and the Imperial Persian crown on the right side of the receiver following the Farsi term for "Model 1314", which is the year 1314 in the Muslim Calendar.

The magazines have only the serial number in Farsi and the Farsi letter K which is their inspection/acceptance mark.

Persian contract Lugers are notable for the fact that you will not find the usual Mauser interim assembly and inspection marks. Only the + sign was permitted to be used. All markings had to be in Farsi. Including as you may notice the Manufacturer's mark on the toggle. One normally found the Mauser Banner on Export contracts.

Although, it is common to find mixed parts used on the 50 cutaway guns delivered with the contract, I must admit that I have never seen mixed parts used in the main production. But, I cannot exclude the possibility of anything. The question is: Given their Farsi only policy, would the Persian inspectors accept a scriptic S or any non-Farsi character or number.

Having said that however, the artillery models were NOT Mauser's usual cup of tea and they did use left over DWM artillery barrels.

I will not comment on the magazines you have shown. Others already have.

Hope this helps.

John

Thanks for the replies, all of which are appreciated.

So if I understand correctly, the Farsi letter in question, is an inspectors marking, so that clears that question.

Best regards
Richard

So the "k" is not in the usual location as the suffix, ie under the numbers on the front of the frame?
dju

The suffix, appearing beneath the serial number on the front of the frame of military and some commercial production at Mauser is a part of the serial number of the gun.

The Farsi characters to which I referred are inspection/acceptance marks of the Persian Empire.

The Persian series consisted of approximately 3000 or so Lugers divided into two variations; a standard 4 inch barrel and an artillery model, plus 50 cutaways. The last, not subject to proofing and acceptance because they were non-firing.

The Persian contract guns were serialized in Farsi characters without the need for any suffix to the serial number. The volume was small. Suffixes came about to accommodate hundreds of thousands of guns being produced by DWM and Mauser. Producing them in blocks of 10,000 with suffixes was a much more manageable way to keep track of them.

The THA and K Farsi characters are analogous to the acceptance marks found on Mauser German military production, e.g DE63, which was in use at Mauser during the same period of time. Note that the Persians did not do proof testing themselves. Persian guns are Crown U proofed as were other Commercial guns produced by Mauser at the time.

Thus a properly inspected, proofed and accepted Persian contract gun had marks of the German Proofhouse, plus the Persian acceptance marks on the gun and magazines referred to in my previous message.

John

Thank you for the clarification.
dju

Here are some pictures of the Farsi serial numbers / markings and the Latin 'letters' , including the Scriptic "S", which are hidden until stripped.

Crossed swords on the left hand side, are the British Proof House Deactivation markings.

Richard

Richard,

Thanks for the photos.

Well, the Crown, THA and K are all in place as are the last two Farsi numbers.

It sure looks like a 1934 component snuck in there somehow. But not unthinkable, as gun manufacturers NEVER throw anything away. Besides, the artilleries were not standard P.08 production and were special built for this contract.

Nice arty. Better than most.

BTW, here is mine.

John

John,
That is very nice, I am now looking for a holster rig for mine.

Richard

such beautiful rigs.. one day!!!!