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Dwight Gruber · 10-12-2008, 05:41 PM

Jarkko,

Thanks for the additional pics.

From the placement of the serial numbers, the breechblock proof, and the nature of the commercial proofs, this Luger can be identified as a military P08 which has been commercialized after the war (and properly has no grip safety). The chamber date and military proofs on the right receiver appear to have been removed.

I will opine differently from my friend Lugerdoc's conclusion about it's rework origin. Many small shops were capable of reworking Lugers; the position of the c/N proofs indicate only that the gun was re-proofed in Suhl (rather than Berlin) after having been re-barrelled. The absence of a c/N stamp on top of the breechblock is unusual.

The play of light reflecting on the frame below the serial number suggests that a letter suffix has been removed. It is the sheerest speculation to suggest that the 9 might be stamped to serve in its place.

I would say that the stock lug has been skillfully removed from the frame. The surface profile of the rear grip strap has been artfully formed and smoothed to disguise its removal. Several of the details of the removal can be identified by an experienced eye (if I can find the photographic comparison I did awhile back I will post it), but one obvious clue is the sharp juncture of the finish at the top of the grip strap.

The original presence of a stock lug indicates production after late 1913; the unrelieved sear bar indicates production before early 1916. It is not possible to identify the origin any closer, nor to know when the conversion was made.

--Dwight

10-12-2008, 05:41 PM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Jarkko, Thanks for the additional pics. From the placement of the serial numbers, the breechblock proof, and the nature of the commercial proofs, this Luger can be identified as a military P08 which has been commercialized after the war (and properly has no grip safety). The chamber date and military proofs on the right receiver appear to have been removed. I will opine differently from my friend Lugerdoc's conclusion about it's rework origin. Many small shops were capable of reworking Lugers; the position of the c/N proofs indicate only that the gun was re-proofed in Suhl (rather than Berlin) after having been re-barrelled. The absence of a c/N stamp on top of the breechblock is unusual. The play of light reflecting on the frame below the serial number suggests that a letter suffix has been removed. It is the sheerest speculation to suggest that the 9 might be stamped to serve in its place. I would say that the stock lug has been skillfully removed from the frame. The surface profile of the rear grip strap has been artfully formed and smoothed to disguise its removal. Several of the details of the removal can be identified by an experienced eye (if I can find the photographic comparison I did awhile back I will post it), but one obvious clue is the sharp juncture of the finish at the top of the grip strap. The original presence of a stock lug indicates production after late 1913; the unrelieved sear bar indicates production before early 1916. It is not possible to identify the origin any closer, nor to know when the conversion was made. --Dwight