unmarked luger
 

about to purchase a p08 no ser# no anything except u 4 on the toggel & initials on front gripstap.otto spindal police holster black (1942)owners name stamped on rear right of holster.2 mags alum bottom no ser# tool no #

Keny,
Pictures are a must! And I'm pretty sure it is illegal to own a pistol without a serial number! That would be a BIG no no!

Bob

Serial numbers were not required on firearms in the U.S. until 1968. If the serial number has been ground off or altered, run away from it. If it was never numbered to begin with it's not a problem.

Sounds interesting. Post some photos..

I concur with Ron Smith... if the gun had numbers and there is evidence that they have been removed. Be Afraid... be very afraid and stay away from this gun. If on the other hand, the gun appears to have been unmarked when it left the factory except for the marks you have mentioned, it will be a very interesting piece to examine. Please post clear focus photographs of both sides, the top and the underside of the barrel and the front of the frame above the trigger guard... Then we can tell you more about this Luger.

Photos are best taken outside under overcase conditions to avoid flash and to allow good photos to be taken.

Welcome to the Lugerforum.

I have seen P.38s without serial numbers. They were most likely made up of left over armorers parts, probably post war. But I can't imagine how you can register a pistol without a serial number? Not in my state of New York!!!

The U4 marking is also interesting! I hope to see some photos!

Bob

Well, outside places like New York we don't register pistols. There are thousands of firearms out there with no serial numbers. Rifles like the proprietary little .22s Sears and Montgomery Ward used to sell often were not serialized. There are many low end shotguns and pistols without numbers as well. Serials were originally applied as an assembly, inventory, shipping and quality control measure, not as a means to track their ownership. Guns here in the US were not required legally to have a serial number until the Gun Control Act of 1968, but any guns made prior to this are grandfathered in. Any gun transferred which does not have a serial number simply requires a "N/A" in the serial number box. I have done this numerous times with no issues. Issues arise, as John pointed out, if an existing serial number has been damaged or defaced in an attempt to conceal it.

We don't register them in Connecticut either! Years ago, my brother in law ran into a nice pistol with no serial number at a local gun shop. Anyway, the gun shop called up the state to reassure my brother in law that it was ok to sell it to him. They verified that it was indeed legal & advised him to just sell him the gun which they did.