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Originally Posted by DavidJayUden
Silly question: What makes it an " Alphabet" model?
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This was the phrase that Jan Still made up, as it made more sense than the old 1920 commericial...
An alphabet luger is one with serial number and suffix like a military model from WW1, i.e. there is serials from (for example) 1966l (small L) to 1966u ; then production started with Mauser and they started the G & and then the K dates, then the 1936 dates, etc.
There were also 5 digit lugers made for the commercial market made at the same time.
Alphabet lugers are generally considered to be military and police; you have to be aware that WW1 had suffixes too and you must look close at them for proofs etc to determine which is which....
I should add this explanation to the FAQ, this is what is there now (a quick look by me)
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41. All Comercial model Lugers up to the end of the war in 1918 had 5-digit serial# and lazy c/N proofs. Production ended around sn74722.
Late 1919 Commercial production started again, continuing the 5-digit serial numbering beginning around 74745. Guns have upright c/N proof. This is new designation 1920 DWM (formerly 1923 Commercial).
Mid-1921 the commercial serial# series reached 92000. DWM converted commercial production to the military convention of numbering, four digits with letter suffix. Numbering began with letter suffix i , guns have upright c/N proofs. This is new designation Alphabet Commercial (formerly 1920 Commercial). (Not all sources agree with Still about the changeover beginning at serial# 92000.)
1929 DWM production began the move to Mauser. Serial# suffixes s, t, u are produced this year under disputed circumstances. This is new designation 29 DWM (formerly Sneak).
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Ed