A pair of Lugers

Patrick Sweeney · 12-24-2012, 05:12 PM

OK gents, I had a rare and wonderful experience a couple of weeks ago; I got to trawl the vaults of a major military museum, paw through the racks and drawers, and photograph to my heart's content.

I found a pair of Lugers that will make you drool. (Photos as soon as I can wrangle the hosting site for them.)

Both are DWM, made in 1911, 4" 9mm.

One is serial number 782, the other 808. Both are unit marked;

782 is marked B.1.T.S.2.93

808 is marked B.1.T.S.2.73

Both have barrel bore markings of 8,82.

So, 100+ years after they were made, we have a pair that traveled a long time in near proximity, and rest today in the same drawer.

As I said, photos as soon as I can get them up. Yes, including the proof marks on the right side.

Edward Tinker · 12-24-2012, 05:21 PM

Sounds cool, you can post them here and not host them anywhere?

Ed

George Anderson · 12-24-2012, 11:29 PM

I'd like to know if the serial numbers are suffixed. They will almost certainly be in the e block.

Patrick Sweeney · 12-26-2012, 12:03 PM

OK, my old German gothic script is a bit rusty, but they could be an "e" if you make it a script e with a little tail going off to the lower left.

Patrick Sweeney · 12-26-2012, 12:42 PM

OK, as promised, photos.

Here you see the serial numbers, along with the barrel bore gauge measurements;

Next, the top of the receiver, with the date;

The frontstraps, with the unit marking (please decipher);

And finally, the proof marks, on the right side;

George Anderson · 12-26-2012, 01:18 PM

The suffix is an e. Your two pistols fall right in a cluster of nine 1911 DWMs, serial numbers between 521e and 1190e that are all marked either B.1.T.S., B.2.T.S. or B.3.T.S.

Jan C Still · 12-27-2012, 01:24 AM

Patrick
Your two 1911 DWM Lugers:
782e is marked B.1.T.S.2.93;
808e is marked B.1.T.S.2.73;
are an historic and rare find.
Thanks for posting!!
Jan

Patrick Sweeney · 12-28-2012, 04:23 PM

OK, who or what was B.1.T.S?

And 1,2,3?

Clearly the last digits are the individual weapon number for that unit.

George Anderson · 12-28-2012, 05:02 PM

Patrick, the unit marking on your pistols indicate that they were issued to Bayerisches 1. Train Battalion, Sanitaets Compagnie 2: Bavarian 1st Train Battalion, 2nd Ambulance company. It was an ambulance and combat medic unit. The 1, 2, 3 relate to the battalion number in which case they would correspond with the Army Corps numbers. In this case the three Bavarian army corps. Your pistols would have seen service within the First Bavarian Army Corps.

12-24-2012, 05:12 PM	#1
Patrick Sweeney User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 50 Times in 25 Posts	A pair of Lugers OK gents, I had a rare and wonderful experience a couple of weeks ago; I got to trawl the vaults of a major military museum, paw through the racks and drawers, and photograph to my heart's content. I found a pair of Lugers that will make you drool. (Photos as soon as I can wrangle the hosting site for them.) Both are DWM, made in 1911, 4" 9mm. One is serial number 782, the other 808. Both are unit marked; 782 is marked B.1.T.S.2.93 808 is marked B.1.T.S.2.73 Both have barrel bore markings of 8,82. So, 100+ years after they were made, we have a pair that traveled a long time in near proximity, and rest today in the same drawer. As I said, photos as soon as I can get them up. Yes, including the proof marks on the right side.

12-24-2012, 05:21 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	Sounds cool, you can post them here and not host them anywhere? Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

12-24-2012, 11:29 PM	#3
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	I'd like to know if the serial numbers are suffixed. They will almost certainly be in the e block.

12-26-2012, 12:03 PM	#4
Patrick Sweeney User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 50 Times in 25 Posts	OK, my old German gothic script is a bit rusty, but they could be an "e" if you make it a script e with a little tail going off to the lower left.

12-26-2012, 12:42 PM	#5
Patrick Sweeney User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 50 Times in 25 Posts	OK, as promised, photos. Here you see the serial numbers, along with the barrel bore gauge measurements; Next, the top of the receiver, with the date; The frontstraps, with the unit marking (please decipher); And finally, the proof marks, on the right side;

12-26-2012, 01:18 PM	#6
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	The suffix is an e. Your two pistols fall right in a cluster of nine 1911 DWMs, serial numbers between 521e and 1190e that are all marked either B.1.T.S., B.2.T.S. or B.3.T.S.

12-27-2012, 01:24 AM	#7
Jan C Still User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Box 240188, Douglas, Alaska, 99824 Posts: 463 Thanks: 0 Thanked 52 Times in 32 Posts	Patrick Your two 1911 DWM Lugers: 782e is marked B.1.T.S.2.93; 808e is marked B.1.T.S.2.73; are an historic and rare find. Thanks for posting!! Jan

12-28-2012, 04:23 PM	#8
Patrick Sweeney User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 50 Times in 25 Posts	OK, who or what was B.1.T.S? And 1,2,3? Clearly the last digits are the individual weapon number for that unit.

12-28-2012, 05:02 PM	#9
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Patrick, the unit marking on your pistols indicate that they were issued to Bayerisches 1. Train Battalion, Sanitaets Compagnie 2: Bavarian 1st Train Battalion, 2nd Ambulance company. It was an ambulance and combat medic unit. The 1, 2, 3 relate to the battalion number in which case they would correspond with the Army Corps numbers. In this case the three Bavarian army corps. Your pistols would have seen service within the First Bavarian Army Corps.