Circle S
 

So my fiend at the lgs calls yesterday and tells me they just got a Luger in on consignment. He tells me it is 1918/1920 dated, has CR on the left side barrel extension and a non matching serial number back of frame. I drive over there and sure enough it is a all matching 1918/1920 DWM with sear safety, deactivated mag safety, no police markings on gripstrap, no re-work stamps anywhere, and 1 matching Haenel magazine. Other than the chip on the left grip it is a pretty decent example. While I was looking at the Luger he says I should take a look at this(last pic)..

Looks fiendish! Did you buy either?

.45 cal large frame [pre-N frame?] S&W...Old... :)

What's he want for it???

The circle-S looks familiar; but not through the serial number...I don't recall what it means, someone here will know... :thumbup:

Yes, I bought both of them.

It's a S&W 1917 Commercial, not very many of these around. I plan to get a letter on it to see when and where it was shipped from the factory.


The jury is still out on the Circle S Lugers, there doesn't seem to be very many of these around either.

I'm about to retire from a very large telco after 34+ years, thought I would treat myself to a retirement gift before I start my next career.

Excelletn buys

that is one of the nicer Circle S (circles) I have seen, many times the circle was stamped more to the left and it looks a bit off :)

of course the number on the rear is likely a 'rack' or weapons number.

Very nice example and I still am of the opinion that the Circle S is police related, although there are almost as many with out sear or mag safeties.

Ed

Both are nice acquisitions, but that Smith is a real treasure...beautiful condition.

About the mystery of S circled Lugers there is an interesting thread dated 2007 in Jan Still Forum.

luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?10252-Circle-S-Marked-Lugers-Interim-Report

Sergio

I've got one of those. Yours seems in a little better condition than mine expecially the grip panels, mine is also missing the lanyard ring.

Attachment 45004

The most current update to this topic, including detailed photographs and data table, is found in "Police Lugers" (2012) by Ed Tinker and myself.

--Dwight

I fear that I would have responded exactly like you did, had they been offered to me. Congrats!!

I have always wondered about these, the strange thing is it does not have your typical rework stamps that you see on imperal to police conversions. My other 1918 has them, it was previously an artillery though. This one just had the mag/sear safety added. Would this be the correct time period when spandau was repairing weapons?

Thanks, it was a hard decision to make but how often do you have a couple nice pieces, and at the right price, come your way?