My first Luger! What did I get?
 

Hello,

I am new to the world of Lugers. I have always wanted one and finally bought one. The numbers match except for the magazine.

http://i41.tinypic.com/103trpt.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/334nfyt.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/8x10fm.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/j7xgsm.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/317d1s2.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/14e1mhi.jpg

I am worried by the red 9 on the grips. The grips numbers on the inside of the grips actually match the serial number. From what I have seen the red 9 was on later artillery pistols. The barrel numbers match as well.

Can anyone help a new guy identify what he has? I love this thing already. Thanks in advance.

hker71

very nice , congrats on your first one .

The "Red 9" was normally used on the C96 pistol. During the 1st World War, there were C96's (broomhandles) in two calibers, the 7.63 Mauser and the government contract 9mm. The original government contract Red 9 C96 pistols left the factory with unmarked grips. To avoid confusion, armorers were ordered to mark the C96 pistols in 9mm with a red "9". Later gov't contract broomhandles were marked before they left the factory. That's why you see a great variation in the grip marks of early contract C96 pistols (unit armorer applied), and later pistols with a standardized marking (from the factory).

Anyways, story is that many unit armorers marked all 9mm pistols with a red 9, even though they were not required to do so. This may be the case with your luger.

Welcome to the forum.

The unit mark on the grip strap appears to be for a Truppenübungsplatz (Troop Training Center) although not marked to regulation.

If so, they may have had both, 9mm and 7.65 (.30 Luger) pistols in inventory. This would account for the Red 9 grips, which look correct and legitimate.

All in all, a nice find...

Ron