Strange markings on my lugers "loaded indicator"
 

Hi.

This is my second thread. I introduced myself and my luger to the forums a month or so back and have a question regarding my lugers "loaded" indicator.

I own a 1917/1920 dated unit marked DWM luger. All numbers match with the exception of the bolt assembly. I recently noticed that the loaded indicator, witch to my understanding would read the german word for loaded seems to display what looks like russian letters.

Ive tried to take a picture using the close up option but its just too small. I wonder if anyone out there has come accross this before and can shed any light on this??

Thanks for looking. James

In all probability your Luger has a bolt assemby from a 1908 Bulgarian contract Luger. A large number of those guns came into the surplus market in the 1960s and have been used for spare parts.

Thanks for that info. Would you say that it then adds historical value to the pistol or erodes it away slightly?

Regards. James

Hi James,

Luger collectors most highly value Lugers in the state that they left the factory.

Any changes, including refinishing and replacing parts, tend to reduce historic and financial value.

Marc

James
Since your bolt asssembly is already a mismatch it really doesn't matter what is on the extractor. As far as value it was a shooter class when you got it. So enjoy it . It looks very nice. Bill

Thanks for the input chaps. Further research ive done indicated that the bolt assembly may have been replaced when the pistol was overhauled in 1920. As I understand it, all lugers that were allowed to be kept by germany after
WW1 were date stamped 1920 and re-conditioned. Pics attached. The SS jacket and luger pic may not be historicly acurate, but it looks great

One more..

Your Luger is probably a Vopo East German Police pistol.

Note the electro-penciled "54" sear bar. The East Germans were equipped with Russian captured Lugers after WWII. They were often assembled from a mixture of parts, with some parts re-numbered or force matched with an electro-pencil.

Thats interesting ron. All other numbers are non forced and matching. Its also regimentaly marked for 1st field artillery regiment. Is there anything else i could look out for that would indicated it being an east german police luger? James

Hi James,
The term 'doubledate' is a misnomer. 1920 is not a date. It is a property stamp which was used to indicate Reichswehr property. It has nothing to do with it being reworked or not. Actually most "doubledates" were not reworked.

Thanks mike. So maybe a capture pistol as others have suggested.