Assuming that...
 

Assuming that this is an original bring back what about the clips? Is good example though of WWII bring home personalization of souvenirs.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temNum=5065229

rk

Stamped Germany on the front above the grip?

Import, had military serial numbering?

Ed

Doubt that this is a vet bring back. I've seen several post WW1 reworks imported into this country with "GERMANY" stamped in front of the frame, on the right side of the receiver and on the frame above the safety lever. A 1917 dated Erfurt, rebarreled to 7.65mm and stamped "GERMANY" on the frame above the safety lever is for sale at a loacl gun shop here.

Ed,
Guess it could be a 9mm, but the serial number and "o" suffix make it more likely a 1920 Commercial in 7.65mm. Could also be a late 1914 9mm military DWM with the chamber shaved. Some of those, I have a couple, escaped having a sear safety installed before they were issued.
Lyn

"Germany" sez its an exmport. A bit of image processing brings out what may be a Crown/N on the left receiver, also the C/N is fairly clear on the left breechblock. Bottom picture--muzzle view--of barrel shows pretty clearly that its .30 cal.

So what we have here is a "1920 Commercial"/Alphabet Commercial. At the moment it seems to be going for a pretty reasonable price.

--Dwight

Agree completely its an commercial, but was it commercial imported or Vet bring back? Possible that a .30 could have been in use in WWII? And what about the clips? To me this is a classic vet bring back that most likely wasn't. Or was it? More specifically, what are the chances of this item with holster & accessories being a bring home from Germany post war?

rk

:rolleyes: I believe a commercial import, with fantasy holster added much later. The white mag bottoms are the Franzite white plastic made during the 50's & 60's. They were to match the white grips made by the same company. The grips are not original, check the fit at the top and front grip strap. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

Doubt very much that a "GERMANY" stamped exported piece after WW1 would have found itself back in Germany for WW2. Possible, but not probable.

IMO, Hugh is correct..... a commercial "alphabet" Luger of the mid-1920's. The letter suffix which I believe to be "o" would be correct and the lack of military serial numbers on the sideplate and locking bolt plus the commercial C/N proof on the left and no military proofs on the right side all point to it being exactly what Hugh says it is. Not to mention the "GERMANY" stamp. The grips are replacements as Hugh points out and I also think the holster is a later addition. Finally, even though the ad says 9mm, I'm willing to bet that it's a .30 caliber.

At best it's a good shooter-grade pistol.

Gotta love that holster "ornamentation"...though... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Regards,

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

Ref the holster, we've heard of those guys who dumped their pistols in the harbor upon arriving at the US due to custom threats. Vet brought back a rig, dumped pistol, then found another a gun to replace it and made the story match. Then we have another "Vet Bring Back".

rk

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Roadkill:
<strong>Ref the holster, we've heard of those guys who dumped their pistols in the harbor upon arriving at the US due to custom threats. rk</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">A friend of my father's once told him that before leaving Europe he had accumulated a duffle bag full of Leica cameras and accessories and a large number of Lugers, P-38's etc. The word was put out that all bags would be inspected and any soldier caught with more than "X amount" of anything would be courts martialed so he sold, gave away or threw away almost everything. They didn't look at any bags whatsoever!

I've mentioned this particular soldier before. He carried a BAR and was in the first wave at Normandy where he knocked the front sight off. He carried the BAR like that through to the war's end. He said that when something happened it was so quick and close that using the sight wasn't normally required.

He died 2 Oct., this year; age 81.