View Single Post
Unread 09-29-2002, 04:31 PM   #4
Pete Ebbink
User
 
Pete Ebbink's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The USA
Posts: 5,919
Thanks: 0
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Post

Hello Peter,

Good question about sideplate serial numbering...

From Pages 102-105 in R. Gibson's book, The Luger Parabellum, here is my limited knowledge :

1. Up to serial # 2500, HK lugers were serial marked in the Early numbering style; there after the Late Nubmering style. But since HK took guns out of sequence in the production, this # 2500 is not very "black and white".

2. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Early style should have the last 2-digits of the serial number on the outside and the first part of the serial number on the inside.

3. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Late style would only have the last digits of the serial number on the inside only.

4. On page 105, R. Gibson does mention a "Late Variant Numbering Style"; that is guns in the Late style that show some traits of the Early style. He mentions HK lugers # 3950 and # 4080, that do have exterior side plate serial number stamping.

The last option for this gun on the auction site might be that it has a replacement sideplate, which just happened to have the correct "42". All HK sideplates should have an HK LWaA proof mark on the inside surface...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />
Pete Ebbink is offline   Reply With Quote