Luger Ammo Labels

Marvin · 05-12-2001, 06:02 AM

That was agood thread about the 9mmP ammo boxes and there needs to be a better explanation of how to read them. I have the book by Walter, "The Luger Book" which gives a great description so I will give you what he says:

Despite the variety of lettering styles, these labels presented much the same information in 1940 as in 1914. Several examples are shown in the book, but I can't copy them into this message, but identification of the individual parts show similarity.

1. The contents of the box are shown: 16 Scharfe Pistolenpatronen 08. A live ball cartridge for the P.08.

2. The date and/or lot of delivery, and the company resonsible. The older labels usually bear a date only: Gefertigt am 13 November 1917 Ge. made by Gustav Genschow, Durlach, and produced 13 Novermber 1917. While the later boxes are usually coded with a batch number. The abbreviation "lief" or "L" represents Lieferung (delivery), thus "P.L.1.32" denotes cartiridges were made by Polte-Werk of Magdeburg, and delivered as the first lot of 1932.

3. The powder type, amnufacturer and delivery information "P.P.R. (2708) 1.L.17. for example was deliverd in lot 1 of 1917. The later labels are more complex: "Nz.Stb.P.n/A/(0,8.0,8):m Rdf2.L.28." This shows that the Nitrozellulose Stabchen-Pulver neuer Art, a "new Pattern" nitrocellulose-based propellent, took the form of small rods (Stabchen) 0.8mm in diameter and 0.8mm long. It was supplied as lot 2 of 1928 by a supposedly unidentified maker with the code "Rdf" - the Rheindorf factory of Dynamit Nobel.

More to follow later in a second installment.

Marvin

BILL · 05-12-2001, 03:19 PM

Thanks Marvin, that is good info to know and would be nice to have it in the Technical Information section (dok, what do you think?)

Marvin · 05-13-2001, 04:58 AM

Time to complete this final chapter on the ammo box labels. Just as a side note, I can highly recommend the book by Walter, "The Luger Book". It is an encylopedia on most of the stamps, numbers, ammo and most anything on the Luger, and a valuable reference. I don't know if it is still in print, but should be available from gun shows, book dealers, etc. If you can find one, pick it up.

4. A description of the cartridge case, or Patronenhulse. Patrh: (Stahl) lackiert - 1941 va 10' indicates lacquered steel cases supplied by Kabel und Metallwerke Neumeyer AG of Nurnberg as part of Lot 10 of 1941.

5. The abbreviation "Gesch" for Geschoss or Geschossteile (bullet or bullet components) show the type, date and maker. Consequently, Gesch.: P.30L.32 shows a standard lead core bullet made by Polte-Werke (P) in 1930 and delivered as Lot 32. Later in the Third Reich, the abbreviation SE (Sintereisenkern) and m.E. or ME (mit Eisenkern) distinguished substitute projectiles.

6. The primer type, date and manufacturer is revealed by "Zdh.: 08 - 1941 dnf 12": a (19)08 model primer or Zundhutchen 08, made by the the RWS factory in the Stadeln district of Nurnberg and delivered in Lot 12 of 1941.

The German labels often have a thin black line border, but this has no significance. By the Third Reich, ball ammunition labels were usually pale blue or light bluish green. Steel case ammunition was identified by labels with a broad dark blue medial stripe. A yellow label may have indentified tracer ammunition, but no examples are known.

I hope this information will be of help in translating the ammo boxes.

Marvin

05-12-2001, 06:02 AM	#1
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger Ammo Labels That was agood thread about the 9mmP ammo boxes and there needs to be a better explanation of how to read them. I have the book by Walter, "The Luger Book" which gives a great description so I will give you what he says: Despite the variety of lettering styles, these labels presented much the same information in 1940 as in 1914. Several examples are shown in the book, but I can't copy them into this message, but identification of the individual parts show similarity. 1. The contents of the box are shown: 16 Scharfe Pistolenpatronen 08. A live ball cartridge for the P.08. 2. The date and/or lot of delivery, and the company resonsible. The older labels usually bear a date only: Gefertigt am 13 November 1917 Ge. made by Gustav Genschow, Durlach, and produced 13 Novermber 1917. While the later boxes are usually coded with a batch number. The abbreviation "lief" or "L" represents Lieferung (delivery), thus "P.L.1.32" denotes cartiridges were made by Polte-Werk of Magdeburg, and delivered as the first lot of 1932. 3. The powder type, amnufacturer and delivery information "P.P.R. (2708) 1.L.17. for example was deliverd in lot 1 of 1917. The later labels are more complex: "Nz.Stb.P.n/A/(0,8.0,8):m Rdf2.L.28." This shows that the Nitrozellulose Stabchen-Pulver neuer Art, a "new Pattern" nitrocellulose-based propellent, took the form of small rods (Stabchen) 0.8mm in diameter and 0.8mm long. It was supplied as lot 2 of 1928 by a supposedly unidentified maker with the code "Rdf" - the Rheindorf factory of Dynamit Nobel. More to follow later in a second installment. Marvin

05-12-2001, 03:19 PM	#2
BILL User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Western Washington Posts: 826 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Luger Ammo Labels Thanks Marvin, that is good info to know and would be nice to have it in the Technical Information section (dok, what do you think?)

05-13-2001, 04:58 AM	#3
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ammo Labels-Final Chapter Time to complete this final chapter on the ammo box labels. Just as a side note, I can highly recommend the book by Walter, "The Luger Book". It is an encylopedia on most of the stamps, numbers, ammo and most anything on the Luger, and a valuable reference. I don't know if it is still in print, but should be available from gun shows, book dealers, etc. If you can find one, pick it up. 4. A description of the cartridge case, or Patronenhulse. Patrh: (Stahl) lackiert - 1941 va 10' indicates lacquered steel cases supplied by Kabel und Metallwerke Neumeyer AG of Nurnberg as part of Lot 10 of 1941. 5. The abbreviation "Gesch" for Geschoss or Geschossteile (bullet or bullet components) show the type, date and maker. Consequently, Gesch.: P.30L.32 shows a standard lead core bullet made by Polte-Werke (P) in 1930 and delivered as Lot 32. Later in the Third Reich, the abbreviation SE (Sintereisenkern) and m.E. or ME (mit Eisenkern) distinguished substitute projectiles. 6. The primer type, date and manufacturer is revealed by "Zdh.: 08 - 1941 dnf 12": a (19)08 model primer or Zundhutchen 08, made by the the RWS factory in the Stadeln district of Nurnberg and delivered in Lot 12 of 1941. The German labels often have a thin black line border, but this has no significance. By the Third Reich, ball ammunition labels were usually pale blue or light bluish green. Steel case ammunition was identified by labels with a broad dark blue medial stripe. A yellow label may have indentified tracer ammunition, but no examples are known. I hope this information will be of help in translating the ammo boxes. Marvin