1910 Luger barrel question
 

About 20 years ago, I picked up a luger at the local gun show for $225.00. It was my first luger and has a 1910 date on the receiver. The numbers are matching except the toggle which is marked S/42 with a big "X" over the number. I didnt buy it for collectability, just as a shooter. I was looking it over the other night and noticed a couple of things on the bottom of the barrel. The barrel is NOT marked with the serial number of the gun, but does have a CROWN N on it. In addition, there is an import mark about 1/2 way up the barrel from the importer in "Alexandria, VA"??
My question is were the barrels in 1910 serialed to the receiver as there were in later years? I am now wondering if this could be the original 9mm barrel (not bad bore) that was simply roll marked with an importer mark? If anyone has thoughts, I would appreciate them.

Thanks,
Mark

Commercial guns do not bear a chamber date, therefore the receiver on your gun is military. All original Lugers have the barrel serial numbered to the gun. The Crown/N is a commercial proof, so it is a replacement barrel.

A real shame that the gun is not all matching, cause the 1910 variety is not very common.

This is a bit of post war / cold war history, in fact.

Judging from the descriptions it is probably one of a batch of East-German VoPo pistols that was sold to Interarms (hence the Alexandria/VA marking) as an attempt to secure some hard American cash. Since East-Germany was 'the enemy', a lot of cover-ups were needed to hide the fact that an Eastern-Block country was selling guns to an American reseller.