VONO luger
 

I need help from the forum i saw a unusual luger marked VONO on the right side of the reciever, there was some writing on the left side but i could not really make out what was stamped.
the barrel was marked 7.65 any comments would be appreciated, the gun was about 85%.
thanks Nick

VONO (an anachronim for a name I can't remember off the top of my head) is a company that reworked older Lugers between the wars for the civilian market so it's common to find them in 7.65mm. Their name - in script as thought written - is often found over the chamber area. Proofs are likely to include commercial proofs; possibly the E/J & E/N stamps. VONO is recognized by collectors and the pistol will have some collector value although not nearly as much as an untouched "as-issued" pistol. That's pretty much what I recall off the top of my head.

VONO = Von Nordenheim

John Walter, in his book "The Luger Book" on page 179, provides this additional info :

"..This gunsmithing business handled some commercial parabellums, generall blank-toggle 'sneaks', in the early 1930's. The guns are usually seen marked W.P.V. Nordheim over Zella-Mehlis on the front side of the receiver, together with the script "Vono" trademark over the chamber and often with 'Kal 7,65' atop the barrel..."

On page 283 he also mentions that sometimes a marking of two swords, crossed over each other inside a circle are also found on the chamber.

Regards,

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