Um...a bit of pedantic detail here...
There are a number of different Crown/N
and C/U conventions.
The 1892 German proof law specified three markings, Crown/B, Crown/U, and Crown/G, to be used. C/B and C/U were stamped on the barrel, receiver, and breechblock of 1900-1906 Lugers; the C/B signified power-proof, C/U (for Untersuchung) signified inspection. C/G was only found on the barrel, G (Gezogen) meaning rifled.(Costanzo, p.196 & 206)
In 1906 a new proof law was introduced, Crown/N replacing the C/B,U,G marks. C/N signified nitro proof. This proof was applied to Lugers until 1930. (Costanzo, p.201)
Crown/U was the DWM/Mauser Oberndorf commercial proof found on Lugers manufactured from 1930-1933. A C/U with a different crown was used as the Mauser commercial proof from 1934-1939. (Costanzo, p.192 & 193)
In 1950 the East Germans instituted a Crown/U as an inspection mark at Suhl, and a Crown/N as the Suhl nitro proof. (Costanzo, p.164 & 203)
Although there is a lot of correspondence with N and U, the crowns are all quite different and can be differentiated in the context of the pistol on which it resides.
--Dwight
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