Magazine and pistol different serial numbers
 

Hi, im new to here and to Lugers. I inherited a 1918 one a few years back and noticed the serial# on the pistol 5509 doesnt match the magazine(6509) is this common ? is there a place to look to trade mine mag for the one that matches ? Also i noticed an X next to the serial # on the pistol, looks to be crudely added. What does this mean , if anything?
Thanks
Tom

Photos of your pistol and magazine will help in answering your questions.

Some pictures

To answer one of your questions, a mismatched magazine is more common than not and is not a big deal. It will not detract from the gun's value. An original matching mag, however, will add value.

The X may or may not be the mark used by Russians to show capture by them. Your pictures do not show enough to offer an opinion. We need close-up shots of the right and left side markings as well as the front of the frame and under the barrel.

One thing I can tell from your pictures is it's been refinished.

A few more pictures and thanks, I had an idea it was refinished.

Under barrel

Thank you for the new pictures. Your Luger began life as a DWM manufactured Artillery Luger with an 8 inch barrel. The rear sight at it's lowest setting would have recessed into the notch on the front of the receiver. DWM only notched those Lugers that were to be made into Artillery models.

Following WW1, the barrel was replaced and so was the back toggle as the Artillery back toggle lacked a sight. Otherwise your Luger seems to be matching serial numbers. I don't see a suffix letter on the front of the frame but if there is one, it's part of the serial number. Record the following for your records: 1918 DWM, 4" barrel, serial number 5509 & suffix letter, 9mm. The reason is that in 1916 and 1917 there is likely a DWM Luger with the same serial number and suffix letter. Keep your pictures for even better identification.

Your Luger appears to have been captured by the Russians during WW2. The Russians had a habit of dip bluing captured pistols before selling them to importers. That's why yours looks refinished.

If it has a decent bore, you have a good shooter. There's no collector value but it's still worth a nice amount as a shooter.

Thanks for all the info, its very interesting!

Since imported, someone has "improved" the looks by polishing the blue off the safety lever, mag catch, and the trigger.

Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your Luger.

When Lugers are refinished, they lose collector interest, yet still make great pistols for shooting. l

We have a FAQ available here that you probably will enjoy for reading and reference.

Just use the "FAQ" link at the top of every page to find the posting and download the PDF file.

FYI
The magazine appears to be from 1936. As was stated, most Lugers do not have matching magazines.

More parts that came with it. Not sure if they are spares or belong to a different pistol entirely.

We know you meant to say "straw"!:rolleyes:

No, I meant blue; that pistol was "dipped" by the Russian's and when imported was all blue- well at least 99+% chance it was. ;)

any chance those grips have numbers on the other side?