Luger Stamp Question
 

Well, I just got another Luger today and there is a question I hope someone can help me with. The pistol is a 1942 dated Banner Police in 97-98% condition, all matching except magazine. It is a standard Police Banner just as described by Still, and the serial number is "74xx y".


Mow for the question. On the botton of the locking lug on the receiver, there is a stamp which is "St". This is a well done stamp and does not appear to be a factory control/inspection stamp. The abbreviation in the Police manual for "Stetten", a town/province in Prussia, is the "St". Since Lugers were not coded during this time, is it possible that this is what the "St" means?


I will attempt to attach a photo of the stamp. If it does not work, I will somehow get it into another post.


boards.rennlist.com/upload/PoliceStamp.jpg


Marvin C.




http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/PoliceStamp.jpg

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Hi Marvin,


I don't think that a german police organization would mark on the INSIDE. Mebbe a Polish police organization...Grin.


Tom

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Marvin; these must be some kind of inspection stamp as my Mauser Lugers have some type of mark here too.


Lonnie

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Hi Marvin,

I looked at a few of my Banners and I believe the "St" is just an inspectors mark or production mark of some kind, and has nothing to do with the police. I looked at a 1942 in the low 3000y and it did not have this mark and was blank, but everything above the 5000y had the "St" mark. I looked at one 42 two digit Banner also and it also had the "St" stamp. This was just a random sampling, but if anyone has a higher numbered 1942 or 42 without this mark, I will look at more of mine and report. My guess is that you are going to find the "St" on all of the higher numbered 1942 Banners. Also, from the picture it does not look like your barrel is witness marked to the receiver -- are my eyes playing tricks on me?

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Nice picture Marvin. It is a good stamp but in a strange place. It seems to me that I have seen inspection stamps in this location. In looking at the picture you posted (and this may just be the photo) it appears that the index mark does not extend onto the barrel from the frame. Is that my imagination?

witness/index mark
 

Those two posts were within seconds of each other..

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Marvin; don"t get any gun grease on that nice Nazi battle flag!!


Lonnie

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Dear Marvin C - well, my 1918 DWM has the letter N in the place where you have the letter combination St. By the way, the place in Saxony is called Stettin, not Stetten, at least it was when I served there in the British Military Mission to the Group of Soviet Forces Germany.


Regards


TF

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Bill,


Thanks for looking this up for me; I was hoping you would do this as I know you are a Police expert. I only have one other Banner Police and it is 1939 pistol, and did not have this mark. I thought at first it was just an inspection stamp, but in Walter's book, "Luger" he states the "St" was for "Stettin"(Terry, thanks for the correction in spelling). If this had been the case, I also wondered why it would have been stamped internally. I guess this will put this question to bed.


I also noticed the witness mark was not there, but the E/N stamp is on the front sight so the barrel is correct. Do you have any other thoughts about this?


Marvin C.

Witness, Index mark
 

Hi Marvin,

To my knowledge all Mauser Military and Police Lugers should have this mark. Without it, something is wrong. There are no exceptions to this.

Re: Luger Stamp Question (may not apply)
 

I just opened my 1906 AE,ser # 55X51 and the underside of the and the underside of the lug is "51" as are all other matching part no's.

for what its worth,

ViggoG

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Checked my S/42 (s/n 4xxxo) and no St.


Then looked at your pic. No wittness mark and I don't see the s/n - only what appears to be the bore spec. New barrel?

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

I have seen some new barrels but none with bore specs. I don't think that new barrels have any stampings (that has been my experience). I would think that only an armory of some kind would have reason to stamp land/groove data on a barrel. This would be similar to a proof or acceptance mark..manufacturers of new barrels don't normally care about that since it serves no purpose to them.

Re: Luger Stamp Question
 

Hi,

Nope, not a new barrel, but an original one. The 1942 Banners are different than your S/42 military model. Typical to have no serial number on these. Should have a witness/index mark and indicates something is wrong -- refinish, grinding, barrel removal ect..