View Single Post
Unread 08-15-2006, 07:28 PM   #2
Dwight Gruber
User
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,908
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts
Default

Reggie,

Very interesting Luger.

The right reciever mark is an eagle over HZa(something)t22, the stamp of a Heeres Zeugamt or Army weapons depot. The stamp identifies which depot performed modifications to this Luger, and its location. Without knowing the unreadable letter it is impossible to determine location, and it may not be possible in any case--Heeres Zeugamt is an evolving study.

The e/355 is a WaffenAmt inspector mark, not necessarily having anything to do with Mauser.

This, then, is originally an Alphabet Commercial, sn 25r, which made its way to the government arms depot HZa(x)t20, where, at some time, it was rebarrelled (I am presuming it is in 9mm) and number re-stamped in the military--exposed--fashion. The takedown lever was replaced (it does not bear its bottom-edge number). It is interesting that the barrel is WaA stamped, rather than having a 42 Mauser relacement part stamp.

Some other questions come to mind which might help pin down this Luger's circumstance, or at least tell a bit more of its story. What are the marks on the bottom of the barrel? Is the rear toggle pin serial numbered? Might the unreadable letter in the HZa stamp be J?

--Dwight
Dwight Gruber is offline   Reply With Quote