What is this notch?
 

What is this notch for?

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfuploa...otch_copy1.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugerserial.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/1918luger.jpg

(this post edited for photo display by Admin-JS)

dittamedia,
If the notch you are referring to is the one directly behind the barrel flange on the front top end of the chamber, then this notch was a standard manufacturing step during this era to allow the frame/receiver to be used for either a standard issue pistol, or an Artillery Model. The notch was necessary for the rear sight blade/base of the artillery model to clear the receiver in the lowest position.

I hope this helps...

Thanks John.
One more thing, is that a 't' below the serial number, and what's the significance of the letter?

I think it is a "t", need a closer shot.

Take a look here on the forum for examples, it is under the tech section.

It is a suffix, and lugers were made in blocks of 10,000, so there was 1 (no suffix), 2, 3, --- 9999, 10000 and then 1a, 2b, up to the t blocks.

Ed

David,

Somewhere through the WWI run...maybe 1916 or so...Erfurt (I think your luger is an Erfurt...with the proof marks shown in your photos...) started milling the receiver "notch" into all of their receivers...regardless if the pistol was to be a P-08 (4") or a LP-08 (8"). Just because your luger has the notch does not necessarily prove it was a LP-08 converted to a short barreled version...

Can you post a close-up photo of the "witness marks" underneath the bottom of your receiver...where the barrel screws into the receiver ? Take your barrel/receiver off the frame before taking the photo. This might yield a clue if your gun was rebarreled or not.

p.s. I missed your posting from a few months back, sorry...I live in the East Bay. LF member, Doc Fisher, lives in the Bay Area as well. We get together from time to time, as our work schedules allow. Drop me an email at "pebbink@pacbell.net" if you would like to catch up with us during our next luger outing...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

I concur with Ed Tinker... this small character shown as the serial number suffix is a lower case "t" that was not strongly stamped...