[Thor]

Thanks to Don Hallock for the following response about the Mauser Hump, specicially on Banner commercials. I got this info from him yesterday via email! Thanks DON!!!!

"These are my opinions
1. Collectors must totally understand that Mauser had two separate divisions. A. the Military production and B. the commercial production.

A. Military - WaA Inspectors were all over the place checking all the Luger parts for tolerances, etc. The rejected parts went to the commercial division. The evidence being found on the Banners with Military parts.

B. The commercial side had no WaA Inspectors. Look at it this way, once assembled it's fired three times they stamped a Crown U or Eagle N proof and shipped out.

History seems to point out that parts for 5000 pistols came from DWM (BKIW) to Mauser - Oberndorf in 1930. Lets proceed with that thought in mind.

7500U and beyond were most likely Mauser assembled from DWM parts. I feel this may be factual due to the grips. In the past, many collectors felt the sharp barrel band was Mauser. I don't think so. Research of late DWM barrels may lead one to believe this evidence was really a DWM tune up of the barrel machinery in the late 1920s prior to the sale to Mauser.

#1v - 399v These were the pistols that many identified as a 1920 commercials many years ago. You might mention 244v, If the owner of 244v happens to read your contribution to the Luger forum, he will have a great story to tell. 350v to 399v were the numbers of the peruvian contract. All with a DWM toggle

400v - 522v were all three line Stoegers. if the pistol was actually shipped to stoeger it will have the word "Genuine" on the right frame rail. If the pistol was never exported, there will be no "Genuine". Obviously the "Genuine" was installed in the US by Stoeger, note the aspect ratio. All with a DWM toggle

525v - 632v This range was a combination of Swiss and Stoeger Lugers. All with a DWM toggle.

637v - 1517v Most of these pistol were the "Oberndorf" pistols. Easy to recognize because of the high polish toggle train. All with DWM toggles.

1519v is the lowest numbered Banner that I have ever recorded. This pistol can be dated to 1935 because it has a few K-Date scriptic - S - parts. This pistol is also made up from a DWM frame because the frame is shaved and renumbered. No Mauser hump and no Mauser dimple on the stock lug.

Most K-Dates have the Mauser hump. I would suggest these pistols were Mauser manufacture. The no hump pistols may be old DWM frames. One needs to hunt for the Mauser dimple on the K-Dates without a hump, this certainly would be a useful research.

1534v This is the second lowest Banner serial number that I have recorded. This pistol is exactly the same as 1519v except it has no evidence of K-Date parts. Shaved receiver, no hump and no dimple.

1921v - 2541v Portuguese GNR contract. This may not be the exact serial number range of the contract, only the ones that I have recorded. Some collectors feel this is a duplicate serial range. This does not float in my data base because I'm yet to record a duplicate serial number in this range. Although these pistols had the Mauser Banner, it's my opinion these are still DWM frames. Serial number 2327v has a shaved receiver.

3001 - 3450v apparently went to Latvia.

3453 - 3591v are reported as Thailand pistols. I never had one to examine - maybe this can be an issue in your forum discussion, maybe we can get some in depth detail concerning the Mauser hump, dimple and toggle.

This information will more answer your question

4023v 1936 Banner This pistol has the Mauser hump, the frame is not shaved and has the Mauser dimple on the side of the stock lug.

3661v 1936 Banner this pistol is the same as 4023v. Hump, dimple and no shaved receiver.

5023v, 5024v and 5025v 1937 Banners. All the same, receivers not shaved, they have the Mauser hump and the stock lug dimple.

6392v 1937 Banner same as the others not shaved, Mauser hump and stock lug dimple,

2288 (no suffix) 1937 Dutch Banner same as the other 1937 dates, not shaved, hump and Mauser dimple.

1938 Banners and beyond are all the same and have the Mauser hump just like the Military pistols.

1938 - 1939 and 1940 Dutch are a new ball game. I have all of these pistols but could write a page on each.

I have the following and they all follow the commercial standards. 1938 Eagle K, 1939 Eagle K, F, C and L Also the hard one to find a 1939 Eagle F with a - v - suffix. 1939 commercial Banners in 9mm and 7.65. 1940 Commercial and Police Eagle C and L. Actually too many more to mention. If you want all the serial numbers, etc, I will mail the info.

As you can see the Commercial production did not follow in step with the Military. Re the hump on the 1936 and 1937 banners.

All numbered pistols are from my collection so there is no chance for error."