Newbie with 1st Luger 9mm
 

Greetings. New to Lugers and this forum. What a great resource this place is! I have long wanted a Luger, saw my first one as a young-un when Lt. Col Henry Arps, a WW2 P-47 pilot, showed me his German pistol collection. I recently ran across one at an Ohio gun show, the seller said he had shot it and it was in working order - plus it was within my budget. I have no expectations that is anything special, it does not have much in the way of markings - just a HK in a circle on the top of the receiver, 7714 stamped on both sides and what looks like 7 on the inside of the side plate. Came with a holster, I can see no markings on that. I would like your expert opinions on just where & when it might come from. I have uploaded 11 pics - please let me know if there is anything else I can provide. I received no history from the seller, he acquired it in a trade.
Thanks!
Mike

It has certainly been buffed and reblued.
I'd like to see good photos of the markings; front numbers, right, left, bottom and top.
Thanks, and welcome aboard!
dju

Buffed and reblued for sure. The mag is Swiss. The holster not sure what it is . It looks similar to an Astra 400 holster. Not a military luger holster. Should make a great shooter. Welcome and enjoy. Bill

I have a holster just like it, Bill. Isn't it one of the variations of the "Bulgarian" holsters we see?

Mine has lots of miles on it, although it's still very sound. Unfortunately, it has a hole in the toe where the muzzle has juuust worn through. I keep one of my stainless Aimco-made Lugers in it, since with that pistol I don't need to worry about rust!

By Chance, did you get this one at the gun show in Maumee OH? I saw this exact Luger (or one that is incredibly similar) there in late March and had decided to pass it up since it had no visible toggle stamp or other proof marks beyond that "hk" in a circle on the receiver. Otherwise I too look forward to more answers on this topic since I was researching it the rest of the day and could find nothing for these markings.

Thank you David. There are no front, bottom or top numbers or dates. Just 7714 on the right side of the barrel extension and the left side of the frame. and what is either a 1 or a 7 on the inside of the trigger cover and on the bottom of the receiver. I have uploaded pics of what numbers there are.

Must be the same Luger, I first saw it at the Lima show. The HK in a circle is the only thing I may have found a reference to, but there should be other markings in conjunction with it or so I have read.

From another forum:
"Heinrich Krieghoff was a gun maker who was known to use a back to back “H” and “K” that looked something like the Russian letter Zhe Ж”.

Thanks all for comments and thoughts.
Mike

Oh neat, you’re also on this side of the state then. My dad works in Lima, my family lives a little south of Lima.

I think you can be sure the small circle HK was added during refinish and has nothing to do with the German concern of H. Keighoff.

You'll probably enjoy our Luger Forum FAQ document. Download the PDF from here:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

Obviously buffed and reblued but it you only wanted a shooter those things don't matter.

There are no front, bottom or top numbers or dates. Just 7714 on the right side of the barrel extension and the left side of the frame. and what is either a 1 or a 7 on the inside of the trigger cover and on the bottom of the receiver. I have uploaded pics of what numbers there are.

There is no serial number with letter in front of the trigger, just under the barrel or on the bottom of the barrel itself?
dju

Thanks!

10-4

Attached some close-up pics.

Such a small world that we were looking at the same pistol....

It is really hard to be certain from the photos, in-hand would be preferable, but it looks like somebody has removed all the markings, acceptance stamps, maker's crest, and serial numbers, and crudely re-stamped a number. I don't know if doing so is legal or not.
But what you have, IMHO, is a shooter, plain and simple. If it works correctly it will be the star of the shooting range, if not, then it will probably be for sale again soon.
Sorry that I can't offer much else. Any specific questions that we may be able to answer?
dju

Thanks David,and everyone else for your thoughts and answers.