To 'GL' or not to 'GL' - that is the question!
This subject may create some debate probably resulting from the lack of reliable information available. We have discussed a few interesting Lugers such as the two M1900 Argentine presidential Lugers (deAlvear and Roca); the real British Test Luger #26; and a cased 1900 Commercial shown displayed on â??The Land of the Borchardtâ?? web site. The use of a 'GL' hallmark creates a few interesting questions such as which Lugers could normally have a â??GLâ?? and which ones are fakes or likely incorrect.
To the best of my knowledge, there is only one M1902/06 â??GLâ?? carbine (cased) known to exist which was offered to a president (in Latin America) who was President Diaz of Mexico; I do not know any M1900/02 pistol which was offered to another world president which was originally hallmarked â??GLâ??. There may exist a few (cased) M1900/02 Lugers which were chamber marked with a presidentâ??s initials, but those Luger would not necessarily have to be hallmarked â??GLâ?? simply because it was offered to a president of a country. In order for an early Luger to be hallmarked â??GLâ??, it would have to be given to a person who was very significant and/or important to DWMâ??s financial interest. If Theodore Rooseveltâ??s 1900 cased Tangent Sight Carbine was not â??GLâ?? hallmarked, why should an Argentine president receive a â??GLâ?? Luger?
In regards to Luger pistols with personal chamber initials, I have never encountered a M1900 in a retailer/factory case which is also hallmarked â??GLâ??. Furthermore, none of the Lugers offered in retailer/factory cases shown in LMP book are â??GLâ?? hallmarked. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to examine in Germany a near mint cased M1900 Luger which was offered and chamber marked to Prince Franz Josef (before he became Emperor of Austria), and believe it or not, that pistol was NOT â??GLâ?? hallmarked.
So, which Lugers could have received a â??GLâ?? hallmark? In my opinion, those Lugers most likely to have a â??GLâ?? would be:
1. Those used in a special trail such as the Swiss, Dutch, British and specific US trials, or those offered to a member of a testing commission;
2. Lugers with very special features or calibers;
3. Presentation Lugers given to royal figures or very important figures in big corporations. There may be one or two special exceptions, but they would probably be unique cases.
Considering the corruption and greed by unscrupulous dealers, and the simplicity to stamp this hallmark on the rear of a toggle, it could easily tempt those people to add a â??GLâ?? hallmark on any Luger which might meet certain requirements for accepting this hallmark to make an extra $10k-$15k profit.
Any Luger with a â??GLâ?? hallmark should be studied very carefully and have a strong provenance to confirm that it is genuine. My opinion/hypothesis is based on many years of experience as well as the examination of a number of â??GLâ?? Lugers.
Albert
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