Luger Longevity!!
 

It amazes me just how many lugers survived, some in good condition. Where there more lugers than men? Were worn out parts replaced in the trench? What part or parts need replacing the most! What common repair parts where easily available! Were they scavenged from the fallen? Which models lasted the longest? One final, what was the actual process on unit marking. At what phase were the applied? Did each unit have their arms so marked and in what number. Why were most left unmarked? Has this data ever get recorded? Were other Germans firearms so marked ie Walther P38s. When did unit marking cease. Tks Eric

Lugers were sold around the world and were popular, so extra parts were made. These parts, with worn out frames, dug up parts and damaged pistols, allow many to be resurrected into finished pistols. Then there are those making parts and some doctoring them to make 'shooters' look like 'collectors', the monetary incentive is certainly there. I find it very interesting, that you can still get your P-08 made into a carbine. The popularity is still there. Then add forgotten guns in closets and arms warehouses, and countries entering the international market, like China and there are sales that will continue. Also factor in older collectors that pass them on to family that want to sell them off and you never know what will turn up. I remember when Broomhandle Mausers showed up from Chinese surplus and Martini-Henrys from Nepal. Who knows what deals are in the warehouses of Interarms, Russia, the old Warsaw Pact nations and others.

As for unit ids, that was WWI, so you won't find them in later Lugers or P.38s. So most will be unmarked. That is one of the reasons I like the old warn out veteran Lugers, they can be traced to units.

Thank You Dave! You sure know your luger history! Very informative! Each is like their own novel waiting to be read and displayed for other hungry collectors! I researched my 1920 carbine. I found article on the 1920 'parts' gun! It has a hidden import "Germany"! Its all matching. The rear sight is unusual and that one reason I love it!

1920 luger carbine parts gun!
 

The P.38 was in use long after they stopped unit marking firearms.

I imagine that they stopped the practice because it shared intelligence with the enemy whenever a firearm or a soldier with a firearm was captured. You knew what unit was or had been in what location!

There was a hierarchy of armorers deployed by military units. Everything from the armorer that traveled with the troops to unit and higher level repair centers. The higher level units had more specialized tools and capabilities, and thus could accomplish more complex repairs. At the lowest level, they could do the more common and basic repairs.