VOPO luger, or what?
 

Dear Experts

Can anyone make an educated guess as to what the provenance/history of this Luger on Gunbroker might be?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=157839535

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff, a "classic" Volks Polizei refurbished luger with vintage from WW1. I've seen several of these. Many have light import marks stamped on the right side of the receiver from an importer in New Jersey. They were refinished roughly and had WW2 mags in them. An obviously lower line gun for the East German police.

Interesting proofs on this VoPo. For one reason or another they chose not to replace the barrel during the 1953 rework, but it seems that the condition of the barrel was bad enough for them to do a test/inspection proof to see if it would hold out...

Like the guys said, it ain't pretty. But if it is a good shooter, that's a good price. I wouldn't go too much over that.

Thank you all!

Jeff

Again good opening price

Why would the East Germans use Crown/U proof marks instead of their seemingly normal Crown/N? Do you think that the obliterated markings to the left of the Crown/U proofs are VOPO starbursts?

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff, I dont know the answer to your question, but I too have seen this. A couple of before and after pics of a VOPO TDJ (total doll job) I did for Dok, a moderator on this forum. Dok is from Center Custom Cases but is currently on hold from the Luger case making. Dok calls this Luger "Jewel". Notice in the before picture this Luger had the horizontal Crown over U on the left receiver and the left frame flat area. He did not have any engraving to keep the frame marking and it was obliterated by the restoration polish. We could of kept it but he decided not too do that. This is a Luger that was a shooter before and a shooter after but much nicer. It was not a restoration in the true sense but more of a transformation into a nicer shooter as they were never issused polished and finished like this. Also, this one had the starburst on the left frame rail.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKBEFORE.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKTDJA.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKTDJ.JPG
:typing:

Jeff,

It all has to do with proof laws (and the cost of proofing, even in a DDR people's republic).

The crown/U is an inspection proof, used for existing weapons at request of the owner when there is doubt about the functionality of the gun or parts of it.

The crown/N is an official test proof, required by law for all new parts.

This really helps! And what beautiful work on the TDJ!

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff, Most of these DDR reworks have some "force matched" parts, so most folks consider them as low priced shooters. I feel that with the DDR proofing and most had 2 DDR made matching mags, that these are "collectables of the future", when you consider that Weimar era reworks and postwar made Kreighoffs are doing. TH