LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Witness Marks Report--Revised and Expanded

Dwight Gruber · 09-07-2003, 09:17 PM

Jim,

I agree with a couple of things you say, although not, perhaps, for the reason you say them.

There is no evidence that witness marks were necessary--or even used--in the manufacture of Lugers, and yet the marks were required to be struck once the pistols were finished. The reasons for this requirement are unknown, and certainly perplexing.

Many more Lugers are seen with slightly misaligned and mismatched witness marks than with perfect marks. Obviously some of these represent rebarrelling; we have been presented with one explanation for this, and can imagine similar reasons for others. What vexes me is the lack of an authoratative dynamic explanation for minutely misaligned marks.

--Dwight

09-07-2003, 09:17 PM	#23
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Jim, I agree with a couple of things you say, although not, perhaps, for the reason you say them. There is no evidence that witness marks were necessary--or even used--in the manufacture of Lugers, and yet the marks were required to be struck once the pistols were finished. The reasons for this requirement are unknown, and certainly perplexing. Many more Lugers are seen with slightly misaligned and mismatched witness marks than with perfect marks. Obviously some of these represent rebarrelling; we have been presented with one explanation for this, and can imagine similar reasons for others. What vexes me is the lack of an authoratative dynamic explanation for minutely misaligned marks. --Dwight