Strange 1920 Commercial
 

Wish I could post scans, but I saw this one at a Gun Show here in Phoenix today and they didn't allow cameras.
It looked to be a very clean & normal 7.65 cal. 1920 Commercial Luger with the serial numbers in the normal places; side plate, take down lever, rear toggle and trigger. The full S/N was 2965 with no suffix. It had the relieved sear bar, stock lug and Crown N proofs you would expect to see on a 1920 Commercial, but the strange part, was that where you would normally find the alpha suffix on the barrel and frame, there was a Crown stamped. The crown was similar in style to the one used in the proofs above the "N", but was 3 times the size. It almost looked as if the crowns had been stamped over the original letters, but I couldn't state that for sure. The owner told me a long tale as to why it was a 1911 Commercial and was worth $1400, but I declined to tell him it might be otherwise. Have any of you encountered these "crown" stamps before???
Thx, Lyn

Lyn, I have owned several of these over the years with the Swedish looking Crown stamp over the suffix letter on the frame (usually and s or t). I'm not really sure of it's origin either, but probably some country's mark of possession. I have even heard of these refered to as "Rif" contract lugers by some; but if you figure it out, let me know. TH

Lyn -

Sorry I can't help with identification, but it sure would be interesting to see pictures of the "proofs" you are describing.

Luke