Serial number alignment
 

So, I might buy a luger that looks to be all correct other than one thing I'm not sure about. The two serial numbers on the sideplate do not align. The second number is higher than the first. I was wondering if this was a common thing?

Fairly common.
But it would be smart to post more pictures in case there is something else that looks odd or good!

Thanks for your input. I posted more pics with this post and it also looks like the rear toggle doesn't have a serial number, but I'll have to see it in person. All else seems to be correct. It's a g date navy. Navy g dates have been seen in the d, e, and f series. I'm going to take a stills book with me when I look at it.

A G date navy is a nice find.

Hi Stan,
Welcome to the forum! I don't see any red flags in the posted photos. The area on the rear toggle where the numbers are stamped is very under-exposed (black) and you will likely see the numbers when you handle the gun in person. G dates rarely have numbered grips, but the numbers look legit.
Regards, Norm

Thanks guys, I did have a g date years ago which has numbered grips, but had to sell it during my divorce. Stills book is being shipped and will get to me on Oct. 2nd. I'll see what the book says about the grips and take it with me when I go look at the gun to check out everything else.

>> but had to sell it during my divorce

So, money can be parted? Divorce is rich Americans' favorite game, and should be avoided if possible.

There were pictures printed in some publications showing German used hand tools to apply some markings digit by digit, or symbol by symbol. Those inspector stamps were applied that way. s/n on some parts were also applied that way. Very low tech, so misalignment was common.

Thanks Alvin, I did see somewhere that is more common in earlier lugers (k and g date). Wanted to bring it to this forum and get some opinions.

I agree divorce should be avoided if possible. She left me bc I can't have kids so nothing I could really do about that. Had a g date and a black widow which I sold to help me buy her out of the house.

It's not uncommon to see anomalies in the stamped markings on these pistols. I have one from 1936 with an overstamped first serial number digit that is factory. An inattentive technician picked up the wrong die (the second digit's die) then overstamped it with the correct first digit. This passed inspection.

Check the inside of the trigger plate to see if it is blank, has "20" stamped inside or "21" stamped inside.

Maybe not...

Which is correct? Blank, 20, or 21? Thanks for the info.

I have to check the reference material for the "G" date, but it's one of the three. Early on, their production process was still in flux, it might be any of the three for a given block. I'm not near my copy of Don Hallock and Joop van der Kant's book "The Mauser Parabellum" right now.

G date Lugers do not have internal side-plate numbers.
Norm