white letters and numbers
 

the letters and numbers, have they been always white on all kinds of lugers? (specially Erfurt 1918 and K-date-mauser).

has there only the manufacturer and the year of prod. been white? or also the proof-marks and the endnumbers on every part? wich white do you use? it seems not to be only white colour, is it a little bit grey or yellow?

Re: white letters and numbers
 

As far as I know the only letters that were done by the factory were the Gesichert Markin! All others you see in pictures have been added by the owners of the pistols. Thor

Re: white letters and numbers
 

Yup, only the 'safe' (in whatever language) is originally white. Serial numbers, proofs, gripstrap ID and other stamps are filled in sometimes by collectors to highlight some characteristic of the pistol. Many people do this just to photograph the gun and then remove it. While I personally find it more attractive than a 'Dymo-labelmaker' I still think that it detracts from the appearance of the gun. "White-on, white-off"..that's the secret!

Re: white letters and numbers
 

White is also used to cover up or hide fake markings or counterfieting, so beware when you see them.

Re: white letters and numbers
 

Billm, boy, I can drink to the possibility of faking the numbers under the white. White stick looks cool but it also hides fakery.

Big Norm

Re: white letters and numbers:How?
 

Hi,How is this done and what should one look for?MC

Re: white letters and numbers:How?
 

Hi,

I really do not understand your question, but this is what I think you are looking for. When a faker puts proofs, numbers, or property markings on a Luger, the metal is sharpe or fresh from the fresh stamp, and not buffed over like the originals. To hide this, they fill them in with "white" paint, or marker. That is why you want to be very careful when looking at Navy property markings or very rare marked guns when they have white in them. Original ones did not have white on them. Hope that is what you were looking for?

Re: white letters and numbers:How?
 

Hi,Sorry for the confusion but thats what I wanted to know!Thanks,MC

Re: white letters and numbers
 

but the letters "gesichert" are always white??? from every producer? (in my case: erfurt 1918 and mauser 1934?

Re: white letters and numbers
 

Yes, always painted the white or an off white almost ivory color, but I have noticed that the safety painting on the older WWI DWMs a lot of time look tan. I am not sure if this is from the original paint color or from years of overlying oils discoloring the original. All the WWII Mausers I have seen look lighter in color than the DWMs. ~Thor~

Re: white letters and numbers
 

Thanks Thor, great help.