Breakdown of P08 markings

meadowlark · 07-19-2019, 04:22 PM

Hi all,

When I first joined the forum I posted some pics of my P08 for some general feedback and received some great information that I really appreciated. This time however I decided to post a complete breakdown of my P08 showing all the marking I could find with the hope that someone might review to let me know if I missed any and also what some of these markings mean besides the obvious such as; Serial Number, Date of Mfg, and the last two digit of the SN.

I will need to submit these in 3 separate posts because there are 22 pictures and I can only submit 10 at a time. Please review all 22 before responding to this post. Thank you

meadowlark · 07-19-2019, 04:26 PM

Here's the next 10 pictures to my previous post.

HerrKaiser · 07-19-2019, 04:27 PM

Before you even get to your second post, all the “38” markings are the last 2 digits of the gun’s Serial Number. They are put on the small parts of your pistol because they were fit to it when it was initially made. This way when being cleaned or serviced all the parts of the pistol would be easy to retrace to the gun to help ensure all the parts fit and properly function.

meadowlark · 07-19-2019, 04:32 PM

Here's the second 10 pictures

meadowlark · 07-19-2019, 04:34 PM

Here's the last of the pictures related to my original post.

Edward Tinker · 07-19-2019, 04:48 PM

I merged the three postings into one - as it appears you are showing and asking about one luger

NOTE - most small 'hidden' numbers or letters are makers markings, it was internal for the company and don't mean anything special.

Ed

meadowlark · 07-20-2019, 11:29 AM

Ed,

Had I known how to do that I would have saved you the trouble. Thanks for doing this for me.

tharpo · 07-20-2019, 03:06 PM

Serial number 3738n would have been produced at the very end of 1938.

DonVoigt · 07-20-2019, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meadowlark

Ed,

Had I known how to do that I would have saved you the trouble. Thanks for doing this for me.

You can just reply to your own post, click go advanced and you can add pictures just like you did the first time.

Did you read the stickys?

meadowlark · 07-20-2019, 10:18 PM

Hi Don,

I tried what you suggested but when I checked I only saw the first one so I decided to send all three as separate topics. Thanks to Ed they are now in one post. With regards to the Stickys, I have read all of the ones listed for the P08 but don't recall one that deals with combining photos. What Sticky (Title) has this information?

meadowlark · 07-20-2019, 10:22 PM

Tharpo - Thanks for that information. Do you know why pistols whose serial numbers just 16 digits apart would have different suffix's?

DonVoigt · 07-20-2019, 10:48 PM

Meadowlark,
I was referring to stickys that explain serial numbering and markings on lugers.
They hold the answer to your question in post #11 .

Also some are in the New collector sub forum; these give a basic introduction and explain much about markings.
This one is especially detailed and full of info:
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

meadowlark · 07-21-2019, 10:24 AM

Hi Don,
Thank you for the Link. I just reviewed Ed Tinker's FAQ's updated post. Excellent! Treasure trove of information!
Thanks to mrerick for updating it.

Patrick Sweeney · 07-22-2019, 12:06 PM

"Tharpo - Thanks for that information. Do you know why pistols whose serial numbers just 16 digits apart would have different suffix's?"

The suffixes were applied when they got to the end of the four-digit numerical markings. So, #3738n would not be one pistol away from 3737m (for example ) but 10,001 away.

meadowlark · 07-22-2019, 01:07 PM

Thanks Pat,
That really explains it!

07-19-2019, 04:48 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,607 Times in 2,123 Posts	I merged the three postings into one - as it appears you are showing and asking about one luger NOTE - most small 'hidden' numbers or letters are makers markings, it was internal for the company and don't mean anything special. 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

07-20-2019, 10:48 PM	#12
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,356 Times in 2,041 Posts	Meadowlark, I was referring to stickys that explain serial numbering and markings on lugers. They hold the answer to your question in post #11 . Also some are in the New collector sub forum; these give a basic introduction and explain much about markings. This one is especially detailed and full of info: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121 __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

07-19-2019, 04:27 PM	#3
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 887 Thanks: 835 Thanked 897 Times in 434 Posts	Before you even get to your second post, all the “38” markings are the last 2 digits of the gun’s Serial Number. They are put on the small parts of your pistol because they were fit to it when it was initially made. This way when being cleaned or serviced all the parts of the pistol would be easy to retrace to the gun to help ensure all the parts fit and properly function. __________________ -QM

07-20-2019, 11:29 AM	#7
meadowlark User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 53 Thanks: 33 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Ed, Had I known how to do that I would have saved you the trouble. Thanks for doing this for me.

07-20-2019, 03:06 PM	#8
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 544 Thanks: 118 Thanked 383 Times in 158 Posts	Serial number 3738n would have been produced at the very end of 1938.

07-20-2019, 10:18 PM	#10
meadowlark User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 53 Thanks: 33 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Hi Don, I tried what you suggested but when I checked I only saw the first one so I decided to send all three as separate topics. Thanks to Ed they are now in one post. With regards to the Stickys, I have read all of the ones listed for the P08 but don't recall one that deals with combining photos. What Sticky (Title) has this information?

07-20-2019, 10:22 PM	#11
meadowlark User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 53 Thanks: 33 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Tharpo - Thanks for that information. Do you know why pistols whose serial numbers just 16 digits apart would have different suffix's?

07-21-2019, 10:24 AM	#13
meadowlark User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 53 Thanks: 33 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Hi Don, Thank you for the Link. I just reviewed Ed Tinker's FAQ's updated post. Excellent! Treasure trove of information! Thanks to mrerick for updating it.

07-22-2019, 12:06 PM	#14
Patrick Sweeney User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 57 Times in 28 Posts	"Tharpo - Thanks for that information. Do you know why pistols whose serial numbers just 16 digits apart would have different suffix's?" The suffixes were applied when they got to the end of the four-digit numerical markings. So, #3738n would not be one pistol away from 3737m (for example ) but 10,001 away.

07-22-2019, 01:07 PM	#15
meadowlark User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 53 Thanks: 33 Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts	Thanks Pat, That really explains it!