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Doubs · 04-26-2020, 01:06 AM

The 1920 chamber date may be the date of production or a Weimar Republic property mark.

If it's a date then it was produced for the military or police. If it's a property mark it is also a military or police pistol.

So many guns were going missing from government stores after WW1 that all small arms were to be marked 1920 to show that they were government property. That led to many "double date" Lugers with the original date of manufacture (1915 for example) plus the 1920 property mark.

There are examples of undated first issue Lugers as well as commercial Lugers that also carry the 1920 property stamp.

Then there were new production Lugers with a 1920 date stamp.

Sometimes if the 1920 is the only mark, it's difficult to know if it's a date or property stamp. Most often the property stamp was done at unit level by an armorer and the numbers aren't even or the font will differ from a factory date stamp so it's reasonable easy to tell. Knowing the differences between early and later Lugers also helps.

Sharp, detailed pictures will help members here ID what you have.

04-26-2020, 01:06 AM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,735 Thanks: 819 Thanked 1,767 Times in 584 Posts	The 1920 chamber date may be the date of production or a Weimar Republic property mark. If it's a date then it was produced for the military or police. If it's a property mark it is also a military or police pistol. So many guns were going missing from government stores after WW1 that all small arms were to be marked 1920 to show that they were government property. That led to many "double date" Lugers with the original date of manufacture (1915 for example) plus the 1920 property mark. There are examples of undated first issue Lugers as well as commercial Lugers that also carry the 1920 property stamp. Then there were new production Lugers with a 1920 date stamp. Sometimes if the 1920 is the only mark, it's difficult to know if it's a date or property stamp. Most often the property stamp was done at unit level by an armorer and the numbers aren't even or the font will differ from a factory date stamp so it's reasonable easy to tell. Knowing the differences between early and later Lugers also helps. Sharp, detailed pictures will help members here ID what you have.