Serial number suffix
 

Guys
What is the significance of the suffix letter that sometimes follows the serial number?
I have a 1916 DWM that has a lower case A or alpha stamped into the very front of the frame below the four digit seial number and also on the area of the barrel flange underneath the 8.82 bore size stamp.
I'm just curious.
Thanks
Ken

Ken, Lugers were numbered in lots of 10000. They then started over with the number 1 but added the a to indicate the second lot of 10000, then went on to b, c, up to z if the contract was that large. This suffix is a part of the serial number and it is important that it be included in any mention of the serial number.

Ken, I'd like to add a little to Herb's fine answer. When documenting your pistol's serial number, be certain to annotate that it's a DWM, 1916, serial number xxxx a and barrel length. It's a safe bet that there are other year DWM and Erfurt Lugers out there somewhere with your serial number and suffix letter. If only the serial number and suffix letter are used, there could be half a dozen Lugers - or more - that match.

Thanks guys
A goldmine of information as usual.
Cheers
Ken
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />