Reichs gendarmerie lugers

[Jan C Still]

REICHS GENDARMERIE LUGERS (2011 update of 2003 thread)
BACKGROUND/HISTORYThe French Provinces Alsace (German: Elsass) and Lorraine (German: Lothringen) are located along the Rhine River between Germany and France. These were occupied by Germany after the Franco-German War of 1870-1871 and made into a German province. It was administered under a pseudo military occupation. The Reichs-Gendarmerie was raised from the Prussian Police or other police within Germany for law enforcement and security purposes within Elsass-Lothringen. The Reichs-Gendarmerie became government officials of the Imperial Reich.

The Reichs-Gendarmerie was organized under military lines. It was formed into a Brigade, headed by a Brigadier his adjutants, 5 district officers, 21 Oberwacht Meisters and 410 mounted and foot Gendarmeries. The mounted Gendarmerie were called Berittenen

Bayonets, Reichs revolvers, and Lugers were marked by the Elsass-Lothringen police with an R.G. followed by a weapons number. Wotka suggests that the mounted Gendarmerie (Berittenen) received the Lugers engraved with the R.G. xxb, the b signifying Berittenen. Assuming that the property numbers are consecutive, it is estimated that the mounted police (Berittenen) received approximately 136 Lugers ( R.G. 14b to R.G. 136b) and the unmounted police received approximately 272 Lugers (R.G. 27 to R.G. 272). Based on this analysis the total Luger procurement would be about 408. If each Reich Gendarmerie was P08 armed, the estimated total would compare very well with the documented number indicated by Wotka of 410 mounted and foot Gendarmerie..

At the start of World War I the Germans moved some of their forces out of Elsass-Lothringen to set a trap for the French who were anxious to free the occupied territory. The French forces retook part of Elsass-Lothringen. They battled bravely, but fierce German counter attacks soon forced the French out. (Undoubtedly the Reichs-Gendarmerie took some part in the August 1914 battle for Elsass-Lothringen.)

In 1919, French forces again occupied Alsace Lorraine. It is of interest that all or almost all of the reported R.G. marked Lugers do not show signs of post 1918 German military or police rework or markings (post 1918 police or military unit markings, Weimar Era acceptance stamps, 1920 stamp, sear safety, etc).

Sources: Reinhard Kornmayer, documents published in 1908 (3 April 1982 personal correspondence); Gortz (1997, page 130); and Joe Wotka,1914 dated documents (correspondance,1982). Still Volume I, 1982, page 101 to 104., Imperial Lugers 1991 page xxi-xxii, page 26, 57 and 58.

REICHS-GENDARMERIE ( R.G.) MARKED LUGERSSome 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Lugers have a R.G. prominently engraved above the left grip. These are reported in the 60385 to 61821 (1908) and 73882 to 74707 (1914) serial range (There is overlap between the two ranges). If the property numbers are consecutive it appears that approximately 136 Lugers were marked R.G. xxb and another 272 Lugers were marked R.G. xx.
10 Reichs-Gendarmerie marked Lugers are reported with the added b (mounted).
22 Reichs-Gendarmerie marked Lugers are reported without the b. (unmounted).


REICHS GENDARMERIE LUGERS, SERIAL NUMBERS, AND DETAILS. MOUNTED (b) SEPARATED FROM UNMOUNTED (no b)* 1908 DWM Comm., 61626: R.G.4b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 4, Mounted) Right Rec. C/B C/B
* 1908 DWM Comm., 60530: R.G.14b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Mounted, Waffe 14) Right Rec. C/B C/B; 8,83 barrel gauge; all commercial style serial number placement. Shown page xxii and 57 of Imperial Lugers, 1991. Don Rousseau collection.
* 1908 DWM Comm., sn not reported (snr) R.G.15b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 15 Mounted) inferred from magazine
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr: R.G.21b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 21 Mounted) KAR98
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61428: R.G.34b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 34, Mounted) Right Rec. C/B C/B; 8,82 barrel gauge.
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr: R.G.42b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 42 Mounted) inferred from magazine
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61121: R.G.51b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 51 Mounted)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61297: R.G.59b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 59, Mounted)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61718: R.G.81b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 81, Mounted)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74596: R.G.136b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Mounted, Waffe 136) Shown on page 103 and 104 of Still Volume I, 1981. In the collection of Jan Still for over 30 years.

* 1908 DWM Comm., 61305: R.G.27-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 27)
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr : R.G.41-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 41)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 60385: R.G.51-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 51)
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr : R.G.60-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 60)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61821: R.G.100-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 100)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61755: R.G.106-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 106) C/X C/X right receiver
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61649: R.G.109-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 109)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74186: R.G.160-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 160)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74202: R.G.165-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 165)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74221: R.G.168-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 168)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74164: R.G.176-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 176)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74208: R.G.206-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 206)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 73882: R.G.208-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 208)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74224: R.G.210-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 210)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74200: R.G.214-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 214) Matching mag. marked 74200 on base
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74213: R.G.220-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 220)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74100: R.G.232-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 232)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74012: R.G.238-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 238) Shown page 93 of Luger the Multi National Pistol, Kenyon, 1991.
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74061: R.G.240-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 240)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74036: R.G.252-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 252)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74722: R.G.255-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 255)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74707: R.G.272-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 272)


Note: holsters reported with Reichs-Gendarmerie marked Lugers bear an R.G.14 or R.G.16 stamped into the holsters inside back. This apparently represents the dates 1914 and 1916. See pages 71-72 Central Powers Pistols.

Sources
The Pistols of Germany and its Allies in Two World Wars,Volume 1; 1982, Jan C Still pages 23-27, 101-104
Imperial Lugers, and Their Accessories, 1991, Jan C Still, pages 26, 57-58
Central Powers Pistols, 2007, Jan C Still, pages 64-65, 71-74
History Writ in Steel, German Police Markings 1900-1936, 2009, L. Donald Maus pages 293-298. Highly recommended!
http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=32 Much new R.G. Luger information from Patrice and Don. It appears that many R.G. marked Lugers are located in France.

Figure 1a-1b-1c. Top, 1908 Commercial Luger (without stock lug) marked R.G.34b; middle 1914 Commercial Luger (with stock Lug) marked R.G.136b; and bottom 1914 Commercial Luger marked R.G.214. All bear C/N commercial proofs, have commercial style serial placement (mostly), a blank chamber, and DWM middle toggle link.

R.G.136b and R.G.214 bear some military style serial number placement. R.G.136b on its toggle train, sear bar and safety bar and R.G.214 on its sear and safety bars. Observation indicates that all/almost all 1914 Commercial R.G. Lugers bear some exposed style serial numbers (sear bar and safety bar).

All three Lugers are marked to the Elsass-Lothringen Reichs-Gendarmerie. The R.G. is beautifully engraved over the left grip. The two top Lugers, serial numbers 61428 and 74596, are marked to the mounted (Berittenen) Gendarmerie: R.G 34b and R.G.136b. The bottom Luger, serial number 74200, is marked to the unmounted Gendarmerie: R.G. 214. The Reichs-Gendarmerie were government officials of the Imperial Reich.

[Jan C Still]

Figure 2. Right side of the above three Lugers. Top, R.G.34b., middle R.G.136b and bottom R.G. 214. R.G.136b and R.G.214 are unmarked on the right side while R.G.34b bears C/B C/B Imperial military acceptance stamps on its right receiver.

Figure 3. Three Lugers shown in Figure 1, front of frame and bottom of barrel, left to right R.G.34b, R.G.214, and R.G.136b. The left most Luger, sn 61428-R.G.34b, bears an 8,82 military barrel gauge.

Figure 4. Details of C/B C/B Imperial military acceptance stamps on right receiver of 1908 Commercial Luger marked R.G.34b., serial number 61428. The military barrel gauge and military acceptance stamps seem confined to the early 1908 R.G. marked commercial Lugers.

Figure 5. Bottom of matching magazine R.G. 214, sn 74200. Bottoms of earlier R.G. marked 1908 Commercial Lugers have matching R.G. property number marked magazine bottoms. See page 71 Central Powers Pistols.

[Jan C Still]

Figure 6. Details R.G.34b. Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 34 Mounted
Note: the round top three.
Figure 7. Details R.G.136b. Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 136 Mounted
Note: the flat top three.
Figure 8. Details R.G.214. Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 214 unmounted


The major variations of R.G. marked Lugers are represented above: 1908 and 1914 Commercial; R.G.xx with and without the b (mounted and unmounted); and both with and without the military acceptance stamps and barrel gauge.

Interesting history, early fine quality fit and finish, quality applied unit marks and scarcity make these Reichs-Gendarmerie Lugers the top of the Imperial unit marked line.

Comments welcome
Jan C Still

Additional information would be greatly appreciated. For example: additional R.G. marked Lugers not reported above; if C/B C/B or C/X C/X military acceptance stamps are found on the right receiver and if the 8.81-8.84 barrel gauge is found on the bottom of the barrel and if military style serial number placement is present. Thanks

[klaus 3338]

Great informations and pictures.
Have a lot of thanks!
Best to you from Germany
Klaus

[John Sabato]

thanks so much for sharing your research Jan! The photos are great!