P08 krieghoff 1923
 

At a local gunshop I've seen a Krieghoff Luger dated 1923. I'm trying to become more of an expert on P08 (but I think I've got still a long way to go) What confuses me most is the date, 1923, how is possible 1923 when if I'm not wrong Krieghoff started manufacturing Luger pistols only after Simson production was stopped in 1933 wa. I've always believed that in 1923 there were only BKIW (ex DWM since 1922) and Simson (ex Erfurt since 1920 although:banghead: production started only in 1925 I think) I'm a bit confused with these dates, is there some P08 guru to help me a bit please?

http://forum.lugerforum.com/graemlins/banghead.gif

Kreighoff was also a retail seller at that time and marketed many firearms , not actually manufacted by kreighoff.

A 1923 date on a Luger ranges from extremely unusual to impossible. The Kriegoff-marked DWM pistols date from 1921.

It would be really interesting to see detailed pictures of this pistol if you can come up with them.

--Dwight

I cannot post photo, unless I'll find one on the site of the gunshop, ok I'll try but it won't be a very good photo.

Here you are two photos taken from the gunshop commercial. I hope they can be useful.

An Alphabet Commercial pistol. Why would you think it is a Krieghoff dated 1923? It is numbered in the Military open exposed number fashion. Is there any photo of the chamber (date) or the toggle top DWM-likely or Krieghoff logo?

You are correct, Krieghoff didn't get the tooling to manufacture new Lugers until Simson was shut down after 1933.

If "Kriefhoff" was engraved across the back of the frame near the receiver, it was sold by them.

Marc

Marc is correct..it may have the Krieghoff marking like he says but that still does not explain the 1923?

This appears to be a military P08 proofed in the Suhl civil proof house after some (unknown) modification for sale in the commercial marketplace. Because Krieghoff was located in Suhl, the double c/N civil proof is commonly (erroneous "conventional wisdom") attributed to Krieghoff.

Chamber dates and acceptance/proof marks are often removed during commercial modification. There does not appear to be a stock lug, it is not clear whether this is original, a removal, or a result of photo processing.

The 'Krieghoff-Suhl' marked Alphabet Commercial pistols made in 1921 have hidden serial numbers, DWM toggle marking, and the upright c/N receiver proof

Thanks for showing us the pictures. The pistol still cannot be fully identified.

--Dwight

According to the gunshop, it is: quote "a KRIEGHOFF "REWORKED" with the tipical KRIEGHOFF small markings" unquote

(?)

I thought that too but where is the 1923 coming from? the serial number and suffix? why would it have military serials ? looks like an imperial dwm. can you get pictures of the top and left side of barrel extension?

Maybe they are still using the "old" nomenclature "1920 Commercial" (now called '20 DWM" / "1923 Commercial" (now "Alphabet Lugers").

Sos these are the only photo available, so the mystery still remains.