LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - H E L P - Please. British Markings on a WW-I Luger

Johnny Peppers · 04-12-2002, 10:33 AM

The information concerning the proofs and how and when they were applied is a matter of British record. Anything else would be pure speculation, but with your receiver bearing a 1917 chamber date and military style serial numbers I would have a strong feeling that it also had German acceptance marks at one time. Speculation again, but the German proofs and acceptance marks may have been scrubbed to "clean it up". The fact that it does not have GERMANY but does have British commercial proofs indicates that it came to the US during the '50's or 60's.

I agree that the surplus military Lugers sent to the US during the 1920's are not 1920 Commercials. All you have to do is read the Luger advertisements of the day to see that they were selling used military Lugers as well as new Lugers. The GERMANY stamp was applied to all pistols whether new or used that were coming to the US.

04-12-2002, 10:33 AM	#16
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: RE; British Markings, one question remains The information concerning the proofs and how and when they were applied is a matter of British record. Anything else would be pure speculation, but with your receiver bearing a 1917 chamber date and military style serial numbers I would have a strong feeling that it also had German acceptance marks at one time. Speculation again, but the German proofs and acceptance marks may have been scrubbed to "clean it up". The fact that it does not have GERMANY but does have British commercial proofs indicates that it came to the US during the '50's or 60's. I agree that the surplus military Lugers sent to the US during the 1920's are not 1920 Commercials. All you have to do is read the Luger advertisements of the day to see that they were selling used military Lugers as well as new Lugers. The GERMANY stamp was applied to all pistols whether new or used that were coming to the US.