Stamping, Bluing Sequence, and Halo

[Dwight Gruber]

Originally posted by ldoman
Dwight,
Is that the case for both the frame and barrel? I knew that the barrels were stamped as one of the last parts of the process, hence the halo effect because they were stamped post-bluing. I can't locate a reference to back up my thoughts, but was under the impression that frames got numbered much earlier in the process. Appreciate your input on this, because it's a great learning process.
Lyn

Lyn, thats a good question. I went back to G�¶rtz & Bryans, pondered a bit, and examined some guns.

The marking instructions call for the serial numbers to be stamped before proof firing. They also require the stamping of the barrel/receiver witness mark at the same time. After proof firing, a heraldic eagle is to be stamped on the receiver, breechblock, and barrel.

During my observations of witness marks, I recalled occasionally noting the presence of halo. I have also noted it elsewhere on some guns; I thought I remembered seeing halo on a receiver serial number. I pulled out some Imperial Army Lugers, and made the following observations:


model..................barrel# ..guage..barrel proof...barrel wm...rcvr wm..receiver#...frame#

Erfurt 1911............halo......halo........halo.............halo.........halo .........no............no
Erfurt 1917/18.......halo......halo.........halo..............*..............*...... .....halo...........no

DWM 1st issue.....halo......(na)..........no..............halo.........halo..... .lug-yes.........no
DWM 1911...........halo......halo.........halo............halo.........halo. ......lug-no...........!
DWM 1912...........halo......halo.........halo............halo.........halo. ........yes..........maybe
DWM 1917 LP......halo......halo.........halo............halo.........halo........ halo............%
DWM 1917 Navy...halo......(na)........maybe..........halo.........halo......lug-yes.........no

as an afterthought, I examined for the sake of comparison:
1936 S/42............halo......halo.........halo............halo..........no... .......yes.............no
Safe/Loaded comm.halo.....na............no.............halo.......maybe........$.... ...........no?

wm = witness mark

* could not tell due to the condition of the finish

! although the frame# displayed no halo, the edges of the number and suffix were raised as though not polished after stamping

% suffix may be haloed, frame has been faced and re-numbered--no halo on numbers

lug- DWM Lugers up to mid-1912, and Navy Lugers, were numbered in the commercial fashion. Not receiver-stamped with a serial#, the last two digits of the number are found stamped into the bottom face of the locking lug.

$ no receiver or lug number on this pistol

na not applicable, not found on this model

My original thought, and what I remembered seeing in my mind's eye, was that the barrel-end of the witness marks were haloed, which would imply that the barrels were blued before installation. The entire witness mark showing halo means that this is not likely the case.

Some of the halo observed in these samples is, frankly, very hard to see. Another observer, examining the same mark, might dispute my determination that there is halo on some of these markings. The trend, however, is as I report above.

What this all does mean, is that several of the marks which are supposed to be stamped before blue is applied are demonstrably stamped after. This is particularly disturbing in the case of power proof, final acceptance, and barrel guage. The receiver and breechblock firing proofs, and final acceptance, are clearly under the blue; and the barrel guage, the final stamp along with the final acceptance stamp, is not.

I draw no conclusion at this point, although, clearly, I have here the beginnings for yet another database. It may be useful for others to supply their observations, to chase this one for a while and see where it leads--I have the beginning of a thought that it may be pertinent to my witness mark study. Also, if you submit your observations, please be sure to include the gun's full serial number.

--Dwight