1939 Mauser Luger serial number digits
 

Hi,

I recently acquired a 1939 42 code Mauser Luger s/n 4451x.

The s/n stamped into the front of the frame is curiously uneven, with the first digits stamped stronger than the third digit and the fourth digit deeply stamped.

I don't have any other 1939 vintage Lugers with the "4" or "5" digits and would like to compare to others, if someone has one they can post.

Has this uneven s/n stamping been observed?

I've posted some profile pictures that show the frame and the receiver edges and the radius of the frame area. It doesn't appear to have been altered, but I'd like opinions.

Thanks, Marc

More pictures
 

Additional pictures:

Here you go Marc.
Regards, Norm

Norm, thanks for the reference pictures.

Looks like the narrow "4" with the open vertical stroke is the correct die...

I wonder if this was just a bad day on the line? I have another from 1936 with a double stamp in one of the digit positions.

Perhaps I'm ending up collecting variations like error printed stamps in a stamp collection...

Marc

luger by Mauser 1940
 

I got a 1940...

Thank you for posting Asle!

Marc

I believe that some irregularities in the numbers from the stamping and polishing process is normal.

Adrian, thank you for posting. Beautiful examples.

Do we know the process order? Shaping, bluing, polishing, sn stamping?

Marc

Here's a photo of mine.

Mike

Yeah.. I am also curious on this.

From pictures, 4451 on barrel looks like being applied after bluing. On Norme's barrel, 4770 was before bluing.

I believe the barrel number should be applied before bluing. Just like C96. But I don't know that can be applied on Mauser Luger or not....

Marc,

Here is a 39 S/42 n block with a 5 digit at the end, hope the pic is clear enough to give you little bit more to compare with.

I don't see a problem. Most of the serial numbers seem to be uneven. They were I believe stamped individually and evenness was up to the person doing the stamping. Bill

Thanks to all for assistance on this one.

Bill, This is the second Mauser made wartime Luger that I have with serial number anomalies. The other one has an overstruck first digit where the worker initially stamped the second digit in the first digit position.

Much as we admire the quality in Lugers, there were Mondays and Fridays in the factory.

Marc