Need help with my 1916 DWM Luger.

CavScoutEurope · 12-27-2010, 02:35 AM

I'm hoping someone in here can identify the mark that is on the left side of my Lugers frame under the serial number. I couldn't get a good photo of it so I'm going to include a hand drawn image of what it looks like. Any information would be appreciated because I don't really know anything about Lugers as this is my first one.

Lugerdoc · 12-27-2010, 10:58 AM

CSE, The symbol show is East German VOPO inspector's marking, indicting that the weapon had been inspected and was servicable. TH

CavScoutEurope · 12-27-2010, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the info! I have just one question, what is VOPO?

John Sabato · 12-27-2010, 03:44 PM

Volks Polizei (the People's Police from East Germany)

pitsword · 12-27-2010, 04:48 PM

Very nice VOPO. How and where did you find it? Thanks for your service.
pitsword

CavScoutEurope · 12-28-2010, 11:22 AM

My wife and I actually live here in Germany at the moment and some service member abandoned it when they went home to the states so I bought it from the Rod and Gun Club over here.

It's amazing to look at all of the stamps that are on this Luger! It tells the history of the weapon, really. There are the Imperial stamps from when it was made, then the VOPO stamp when it was in East Germany, then on the underside of the barrel it has the stamp from the re-unification of Germany, and soon it will have a stamp for when I take it to the states.

I have one other question... does this VOPO stamp indicate that it was an actual Polizei issue side arm?

I'm also going to attach more photos of the old girl here.

Thank you so much for the information on this Luger, guys!!!

John Sabato · 12-28-2010, 12:17 PM

Nick,

It was very likely actively carried by members of the EG VOPO, the stamp indicates it was part of their inventory... There is no way to prove that it was carried however and could have been a warehouse queen... Either way, it is a nice shooter with a lot of history. Make sure you research all that is necessary to bring it home to CONUS. I would hate to see it confiscated because you overlooked some obscure Army regulation or BATFE procedure.

CavScoutEurope · 09-01-2011, 02:22 PM

Well after five months of waiting my Luger has finally arrived in the United States!! I was starting to get a little nervous about it all. I don’t actually have it yet as it is up in Minnesota with the importer clearing customs. Now I just need to find a dealer here so I can have her mailed down to Virginia!

12-27-2010, 02:35 AM	#1
CavScoutEurope User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 86 Thanks: 102 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Need help with my 1916 DWM Luger. I'm hoping someone in here can identify the mark that is on the left side of my Lugers frame under the serial number. I couldn't get a good photo of it so I'm going to include a hand drawn image of what it looks like. Any information would be appreciated because I don't really know anything about Lugers as this is my first one. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

12-27-2010, 10:58 AM	#2
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	CSE, The symbol show is East German VOPO inspector's marking, indicting that the weapon had been inspected and was servicable. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-27-2010, 03:44 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Volks Polizei (the People's Police from East Germany) __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-28-2010, 11:22 AM	#6
CavScoutEurope User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 86 Thanks: 102 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	vopo My wife and I actually live here in Germany at the moment and some service member abandoned it when they went home to the states so I bought it from the Rod and Gun Club over here. It's amazing to look at all of the stamps that are on this Luger! It tells the history of the weapon, really. There are the Imperial stamps from when it was made, then the VOPO stamp when it was in East Germany, then on the underside of the barrel it has the stamp from the re-unification of Germany, and soon it will have a stamp for when I take it to the states. I have one other question... does this VOPO stamp indicate that it was an actual Polizei issue side arm? I'm also going to attach more photos of the old girl here. Thank you so much for the information on this Luger, guys!!! Attached Thumbnails

12-28-2010, 12:17 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Nick, It was very likely actively carried by members of the EG VOPO, the stamp indicates it was part of their inventory... There is no way to prove that it was carried however and could have been a warehouse queen... Either way, it is a nice shooter with a lot of history. Make sure you research all that is necessary to bring it home to CONUS. I would hate to see it confiscated because you overlooked some obscure Army regulation or BATFE procedure. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-27-2010, 02:40 PM	#3
CavScoutEurope User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 86 Thanks: 102 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Thanks for the info! I have just one question, what is VOPO?

12-27-2010, 04:48 PM	#5
pitsword User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 459 Thanks: 3,964 Thanked 103 Times in 83 Posts	Very nice VOPO. How and where did you find it? Thanks for your service. pitsword

09-01-2011, 02:22 PM	#8
CavScoutEurope User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 86 Thanks: 102 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Well after five months of waiting my Luger has finally arrived in the United States!! I was starting to get a little nervous about it all. I don’t actually have it yet as it is up in Minnesota with the importer clearing customs. Now I just need to find a dealer here so I can have her mailed down to Virginia!