Fat Barrel AE To Watch...
 

This one looks Phat...as the youngsters say :

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=53462250

If I am not mistaken, I don't think this is the first "go round" for this piece. Notice the Navy magazine with it!

Pete & drbuster;

Any thoughts on this one? I don't see the Germany export stamp and the numbers in the serial on the front of the frame are out of line. I don't know much about Fat Barrels, other than I love to own one if I could afford it. It did get me to thinking about how I would spot a fake, and I wasn't sure what to look for. Suggestions from the Forum would be appreciated.

Bob M.

Hi Bob,

It is hard to tell from the photos, but my guess is that this one has an old refinish.

The "343" stamping on the front of the frame that looks newer than the "22" in front of them does seem to indicate the "343" might have been restamped if the original numbers were sanded down too much and had to be restamped. I think the "343" fonts look a bit more modern that the fonts of the "22".

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/fb_1_copy1.jpg

Maybe the Germany was lost during the rework.

I think that it is very likely that the entire number was re-stamped. The style of the font is OK, but looks a bit larger than original. Mine is stamped with a fairly small font (haven't measured it) and all in line straight as an arrow with none of the numbers slanted. It is also runs parallel across the frame and not canted as this example.

The BUG proofs on the barrel of an '02 are struck before final finish and are very light. So if this one has been re-done, the proofs probably are gone just like the GERMANY stamp.

As you have guessed, it probably is an old refinish. Still a scarce gun and worth having if the price reflects the refinish.

Hi Ron,

What are your thoughts about the "why & when" of 3-digit serial numbing of small parts came to be ?

I have heard three theories :

1. A 3-digit part is a replacement.

2. 3-digit parts started being stamped (versus 2-digits) when the commerical serial numbering rolled over into the 5-digit range.

3. When DWM may have had more than 100 guns running through their production line at the same time; the 3-digit parts were so stamped to keep them separate and matched to the other parts belonging to a 2-digit gun. For example... let's say one week guns # 2510 through # 2620 were being produced. Gun # 2510 would have its small parts commerically stamped as "10" while gun number # 2610 would have its small parts commericall stamped as "610"...so they would not get mixed up during that batch run.

Pete,

I havenâ??t the slightest idea.

I would rule out #1 since I have seen early Lugers with the sideplate, rear of the toggle, and recoil lug numbered with three digits. That would be a lot of replacement parts on one gun.

The second option doesnâ??t seem likely since there are a lot of 5-digit Lugers out there with only the last two numbers on the small parts.

I guess that leaves us with #3 for the time being, unless someone with real insight into the workings of DWM can give us a better explanation.

I think the magazine bottom photographs were added later and show "Cal 9mm" stampings, which combined with concentric circles, make the magazine from a commercial Navy luger, a rarity in its own right and certainly worth more than just a "common" Cal 9mm stamped plain bottom magazine!

Doc,

I would worry some about the magazine with this FB...it does not look quite right.

Here is that photo and two others from the Navy Cabal guys posted in the past :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/9_mm_mag_1.jpg

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/9_mm_mag_2.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/9_mm_mag_3.jpg

I agree, Pete. There are many "repro" Cal 9mm magazines out there but This would be the first with concentric rgings that I have seen. Still an easy task to perform for WaffenfabrikUSA.

I wouldn't touch either the mag or the pistol. They both have the stink of the neighboring state "the Land of a Thousand Fakes".

George, the reek of this stink has reached as far west as the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia!

Here is another photo that shows a good magazine :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...mmerical_2.jpg

And the repro junk sold as original on e-Bay :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...ag_2_copy1.jpg

Should the word "Germany" be under the serial number? It is hard to tell from the pics.
Tony S.

Tony,
Yes, it should be marked GERMANY under the serial number on the front of the frame.

Hi Guys, I will be looking at a Fat Barrel later this week... the owner doesn't know when it was made.. is there only an 02 version or could it be and 06 fat barrel? Thanks

It is easy to tell the difference between an '02 and an '06 9mm Luger. An '02 has the old model flat mainspring and dished toggle knobs. The '06 is a new model with a coil mainspring and flat toggle knobs. Also, the '06 barrel is not "fat".

Do you mean ..not as fat, or it was not made in a fat barrel arrangement?

Or do you mean ... not as Phat!

Pete, Ron, Drbuster, Tony, et all;

I have been out of the country and just got back. I had trouble with my computer and didn't have full access to the net while I was gone. Just wanted to thank you all for the information on the FB. It will be a while before I try to purchase one of these unless I hit the lottery (and to do that I'd have to buy a ticket), but I do appreciate the information.

Thanks again,
Bob M.