Earliest LP-08 Pistols...?

[Pete Ebbink]

Was reading in Mauro Baudino's new book on Artillery Lugers that early evaluations of the LP-08 occurred in the first half of 1913 and was formally accepted by Captain A. Fisher in the June-July 1913 timeframe...

Any agreed-upon thoughts as to what LP-08 pistols were used for these evaluations in 1913 ? How many pistols were involved in the evaluations ? What serial numbers, if known...

Would these LP-08's have been un-dated pistols (maybe like the 1st. Issue P-08's) or would they have had an earlier chamber date (i.e. 1913) or did they have 1914 chamber dates ?

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[mauro]

Hello Pete,
Gortz wrote in his book that 20 pre-production LP08 were sent to the Kriegsministerium in date 5th february 1912.
Kenyon have analysed the pre-production LP08 number 37 in "The Gun Report". According to him:
- the chamber is undated;
- the numbers (1..8) in the rear sight are
engraved;
- the diameter of the adjusting screw is
larger than the screw used in the
production;
- the serial number is placed on the frame
under the barrel;
- the rear sight is tuned in a different
way wrt the production model;
- the military proof are not struck on the pistol.

One of this pistol is also present in the Kenyonâ??s book â??Luger the Multi-National Pistolâ?� with some accessories.
I hope this helps

[Pete Ebbink]

Hello Mauro,

This is exactly the info. I was looking for.

On page 94-95 of C. Kenyon's 2nd. book...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[P. Ristan]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by mauro:
<strong>Hello Pete,
Gortz wrote in his book that 20 pre-production LP08 were sent to the Kriegsministerium in date 5th february 1912.
Kenyon have analysed the pre-production LP08 number 37 in "The Gun Report". According to him:
- the chamber is undated;
- the numbers (1..8) in the rear sight are
engraved;
- the diameter of the adjusting screw is
larger than the screw used in the
production;
- the serial number is placed on the frame
under the barrel;
- the rear sight is tuned in a different
way wrt the production model;
- the military proof are not struck on the pistol.

One of this pistol is also present in the Kenyonâ??s book â??Luger the Multi-National Pistolâ?� with some accessories.
I hope this helps</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">What are the serialnumbers/suffix on theese guns?

[mauro]

Hello Peter,
as far as I know only two or three pre-production LP08 are reported. The LP08 analysed in the "The Gun Report" by Mr. Kenyon is numbered 37.
I am abroad in vacation, as soon as I go back to home I will try to collect other information concerning this interesting topic.
Ciao

[Imperial Arms]

I would like to add some additional information to Mauro's observations:

The rear part of the frame is not reinforced proving that these pre-production pistols were made from earlier P-08 frames.

The highest serial number so far reported in #56.

Cheers,
Albert