LugerForum Discussion Forums - Luger importation marks?

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Luger importation marks?

If I was to import a luger from Switzerland does it have to be import marked? If so are there any exceptions?

I don't believe there are ANY exceptions, at least not for normal folks?

ed

Thanks for the info Ed. I think the thing that prompted the question is that there are so many guns around that dont have the marks. I just wondered if there were some exceptions. I have a Dane contract Sig 210 that had to have been brought into the country around 1995 and can find no import marks at all. It was always my understanding that the marks were mandated by GCA 68. The importation marks are one reason that I have hesitated to bring a luger in from Switzerland. Yet there seem to be many lugers at American distributers that dont have them or at least are advertised that way.

Newer inport marks are usually larger than they used to be. Plus, if the marking was very light to start with, it doesn't surprise me that it is "gone", or that there is a slim possibility that it was not marked.

Except for really obvious import markings, it is something I think I think I could live with, but to many collectors in america, they dismiss it as a non-collector piece...

Ed

Hello Dean,

It depends on how it is imported. If the Luger is a military Swiss model, it has to be imported by a licensed importer who should apply his import stamp. If it is a commercial Swiss model, then any licensed dealer can import the Luger using a ATF Form 6 application and no stamps are applied.

I hope this information is helpful to you. If you need further information, you can contact me at Imperialarms@att.net

Good luck,
Albert

Thanks Albert, I didn't know that about commercial models!

Ed

Yes. Thanks Albert for the info. I hadnt heard this before.

Hi Dean,

I could be off on the date, but I think with some 1968 gun legislation...guns began being marked when imported.

Some of the military, Swiss lugers in the USA without the import marks may have been brought in before that 1968 date...I have several Swiss military issue lugers (having the +/V or the +/M inspector stamps) that do not have import markings...so I assume they came into the States prior to that time period.

Regards,

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

This is something I am not sure about. But at some point, lugers were required to be marked with country of manufacture, i.e. Germany on the frame and it is in assorted places. Who marked the germany on the guns anywho? Was it DWM and the like or some importer in the USA?

Yes. Its my understanding that GCA 68 was when they started it.

Maybe for some import marking, but the Germany stamping was on commerical lugers coming into the country during the 30's on.

Ed

Hi Ed,

Maybe I am confused...

The import marks I think were asked about, initially, would be the Importer's stamping...e.g. Simpsons or Interarms or Sarco, etc...occuring only after 1968

The "Germany" is another matter...and you raise a good question. Was the "Germany" stamping done by DWM or others in the receving country ? I think these appeared as early as the 1920's...

Regards,

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

Would you call the germany an export or an import stamping? I thought it was required to be stamped on any guns coming to america, thus an "import" stamping. Different from today, but an import stamping.

Recent discussion on this:

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lugerfo...c;f=1;t=000200
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Also if you look at the "GERMANY" import mark do you see a halo around it?<hr /></blockquote>http://forums.lugerforum.com/cgi-bin/lugerforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_top ic;f=1;t=000088
<blockquote>quote:<hr />All commercial Eagles will be stamped GERMANY.

and

Your Luger has the American Eagle on the chamber and the Germany stamp on the front. It is an 1900 AE Commercial imported into the U.S. for sale to the sporting and gun buying public.<hr /></blockquote>and this one;
http://forums.lugerforum.com/cgi-bin/lugerforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=00 0062

<blockquote>quote:<hr />The pistols were standard Model 1900 Lugers with the Great Seal of the United States on the chamber, but did not have any proofs or the GERMANY import mark.

and

Therefore, if a serious collector wants an undisputable 1900 US Test Trails Luger, find one that falls in the 6100-7100 serial range; it has an American eagle on the chamber; it has the serial number stamped on the right side of the takedown lever; no proof marks; and no 'Germany' stamp.<hr /></blockquote>Ed

Sorry, Ed,...I missed your follow-up comments and questions up to now.

I thought the "Germany" stamps were applied to the lugers leaving Germany and not being sold in Germany. Since they were applied by DWM, I would venture to call them "export" stampings.

Import stampings I would consider such stampings as "Interarmco", etc...those applied by the company bringing guns into the US for retail sales.

Just a WAG...on my part...

Regards,

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

Pete,
The GERMANY stamp occurred quite early on. 1900 American Eagle Lugers were produced starting around serial number 2000 and were stamped GERMANY. You are correct that it is an "export" stamp applied by the maker for weapons destined for an English speaking market rather than an import stamp applied in the US.

I know this must be word semantics, i.e. export or import marking. So I won't read into what others have said about "import" markings.

But, there must be a rule, law or regulation that said that arms leaving germany would be marked germany? I have a german proof marking book at home, will try and look it up (like Ron, the moving bit puts the book collection all haphazard).

Ed