1912 Military
 

Tripped over this ad.
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=14740236

All the military pieces I've looked at have a 4 digit serial number with a letter. This one has 2 digits only.

Is it simply number 82? Or is something else afoot?

He sure thinks highly of what looks like a tired piece.

Well simoon, I have a 3 digit, but the numbering started off at 1, then went through 10,000 and started over 1a, then 2a, etc.

It does seem you see a heck of a lot more 4 digets, but then there are 1-99's, then 1-99a etc., but then there are 1000-9999, so 8,999 of four digets.

Does that make sense?

Ed

Yes.
I'm a computer geek... guess I was expecting leading zeros or something!
The obvious usually escapes me.

I'm still in disbelief of his "sell" price of $2100. It looks like a shooter to me. What am I missing? Does the serial number have value?

As usual, thanks for the education!

I completely agree with Ed Tinker, Simoon. Though two digit serials are unusual, they are not rare. One digit serials would be on the rare side. Single digit serials occurred ten times out of 10000, throughout the entire luger production. In any event, $2100 appears over priced to me, what with no matching clip nor holster.

DWM built fewer Lugers in 1912 than any other of the WW-I years, about 10,000 according to Jan Still's book, "Imperial Lugers."

Still reports serial numbers in the range of 599 to 9974, all without a script suffix. I own a 1912 DWM in excellent condition with a 3 digit serial number. So, it does not seem unlikely or "rare" that guns in the range of 1 - 99 would have been produced that year.

Have to agree that this "rare" 1912 is seriously overpriced by the seller. His gun is well worn, even if matching; while my 1912 which is also matching and in excellent condition was purchased for considerably less a couple of years ago.

But, someone will probably buy it.

Luke