ORION marking
 

Hi!

I bought a P 08 made by S/42 (Mauser) in 1937.
The pistol was (IMHO) in duty in the former GDR (Crown ower N) but without "VoPo-Star" (it seems not in East Germany police duty).

At the left side, at the system, not the grip, under the weapons no. there is a weak stamp "ORION".

Do somebody know, what it should be?

(Sorry for poor English, I�´m German)

Tank you in adavance!

Sorry, It should be: "Thank you in advance!"
(In this forum is no possibilility to edit the own post?)

Your English is excellent, and yes, you can edit your comments on this forum. Just click on the edit icon in the lower right corner of your post. http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/edit.gif

Steffen,

If this Luger was in the U.S. I would guess that "ORION" was the name of the importer. I don't know if Germany requires that importer's marks be applied or not. Or even allow importation of firearms.

Ron

@All: Thanks!

@Ron:
Yes, indeed, but I guess, thus gun didn�´t leave Germany.

I try to add a picture.

Sorry, something is wrong.
There is no EDIT-button ???

Hi,

There is, it's somewhat concealed.

Try hitting this one:

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

Your pistol was probably imported from former Eastern Germany around or slightly after the fall of the wall. The proofs on the pistol are East-German Suhl proofs and Orion is probably the West-German importer.

I once had a former VoPo which was imported by Klett in 1989.

"Orion" is a trademark of Hege.
http://www.hege-arms.com/

Thank you very much!!!

Die Welt ist klein.....

:cheers:

Juergen, glad to see you back, so doubly :cheers:

:)

ed

I was lurking, as I didn't have much to contribute - at least no Luger acquisitions.
This might change quickly, as I'm now holding a collector's permit,
taking away some limitations - except the bank account.
I've been pretty active in the FN/CZ/Walther/Mauser/Dreyse area.

Here is one crossed marking on the top of pistol.

Here:

Do somebody kwows, what that should be?

Hi,

It's simply the last 2-digits of a former serial number that have been X-ed out. The crown/N on the toggle and the reblueing of the gun, together with the sear safety slot without sear safety points towards an Eastern German DDR 'VoPo' rebuilt pistol, again.

Parts not numbered to the gun were frequently crossed out. These were parts cannibalised from other guns.

Thanks - now I see a X-ed out "42".

I know, this gun is reworked in GDR (Crown oven N, for instance - new barrel as minimum)
But there is no VoPo star, indeed.


(I do not collect guns, I�´m a sports shooter - but I very want to know the history of the guns I own)

Possibly reworked but never issued?

--Dwight

Hi,

It appears that the VoPo guns can be found in several configurations. The police guns had the star, the guns of the regular armed forces hadn't.

Dwight is correct that there also was a considerable amount of unissued guns in storage, that were sold off at several moments during the 1970's and 1980's and after the reunion of both Germanies.

Since we have a few German members here ( Ich bin auch Deutsch aus Frankfurt a/M) I have a question for you? What happens if you find a pistol or rifle from WW2 that still is in working order like hidden somewhere. Who would you report it to and can you keep it if you have a permit? Can you export a personal weapon? Any information would be appreciated.
Bernd