VoPo-Luger marks

11-20-2001, 03:58 PM

Hi again and many thanks for the informations!!!

I have a question about the marks.

There is a "N" with crown at the barrel (might be a East German marking) and two marks with a "U" with crown on the left side of the weapon. Right side with the pruss. Eagle and three marks with crown, might be "F" and/or "D". What are these?

Thanks!!!

JF

Dok · 11-20-2001, 06:22 PM

The three "F"s with crowns and eagle are actually Military proof or acceptance stamps.

The "U" with crown sounds like a commercial proof.

And the "N" with crown is an E. German mark placed on the barrel when the barrel has been replaced.

None of these are specifically VoPo marks. Have a look at my 1918 DWM Luger that has all these marks plus a VoPo mark. You can find it in the Owner's Corner under my name (called The Jewel) there you'll see a VoPo acceptance stamp but mine didn't have unit markings.

Dok

11-20-2001, 09:23 PM

Why does my Vopo have something that looks like a large X - or crossed bars in front of the serial number. What dose that mean.

11-21-2001, 05:40 AM

Hi,

maybe they have "Xed" out an old number?

Best regards!

JuergenG · 11-21-2001, 06:53 AM

From what I have been reading, the Crown plus N is the original proof firing mark.

Crown plus U has been stamped after the rework by "VEB Ernst Thaelmann, Suhl", East Germany.

The "U" stands for "Untersuchung" = inspection.

Word is, that approx. 2000 P08 have been reworked in Suhl from 1953 through 1956.

The replacement barrels did not have the diameter stamp on the lower side.

The large X is the so called "russian X" marked on pistols which have been captured by the soviet army. Some of these were passed on to East Germany, some from soviet/russian depots came to market in Germany.

Juergen

11-21-2001, 10:43 AM

JF, The E Germans did used the horizontal double crown/U on the left side of the receiver on pistols that went through their proof house, so you do have and EG proofed Imperial era receiver. Tom h

11-21-2001, 10:51 AM

Juergen & Partick, I reject the Russian X theory, as some cleaver salesman thought he could pass these off as the Russian crossed Nagant rifles as seen on the M06 Russian contract lugers. I've only seen the "X" on a few E German reworked PO8s and feel that it indicates not require for military use, much the same as the "P" on Swiss lugers.

Dok · 11-21-2001, 11:49 AM

Thank you for that helpful description, I will ammend my description on my page accordingly.

Dok

11-20-2001, 03:58 PM	#1
JF Guest Posts: n/a	VoPo-Luger marks Hi again and many thanks for the informations!!! I have a question about the marks. There is a "N" with crown at the barrel (might be a East German marking) and two marks with a "U" with crown on the left side of the weapon. Right side with the pruss. Eagle and three marks with crown, might be "F" and/or "D". What are these? Thanks!!! JF

11-20-2001, 06:22 PM	#2
Dok RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bermuda (Eat Your Heart Out) Posts: 1,626 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: VoPo-Luger marks The three "F"s with crowns and eagle are actually Military proof or acceptance stamps. The "U" with crown sounds like a commercial proof. And the "N" with crown is an E. German mark placed on the barrel when the barrel has been replaced. None of these are specifically VoPo marks. Have a look at my 1918 DWM Luger that has all these marks plus a VoPo mark. You can find it in the Owner's Corner under my name (called The Jewel) there you'll see a VoPo acceptance stamp but mine didn't have unit markings. Dok

11-20-2001, 09:23 PM	#3
Patrick H Guest Posts: n/a	Re: VoPo-Luger marks Why does my Vopo have something that looks like a large X - or crossed bars in front of the serial number. What dose that mean.

11-21-2001, 05:40 AM	#4
JF Guest Posts: n/a	Re: VoPo-Luger marks Hi, maybe they have "Xed" out an old number? Best regards!

11-21-2001, 06:53 AM	#5
JuergenG User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 155 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: VoPo-Luger marks From what I have been reading, the Crown plus N is the original proof firing mark. Crown plus U has been stamped after the rework by "VEB Ernst Thaelmann, Suhl", East Germany. The "U" stands for "Untersuchung" = inspection. Word is, that approx. 2000 P08 have been reworked in Suhl from 1953 through 1956. The replacement barrels did not have the diameter stamp on the lower side. The large X is the so called "russian X" marked on pistols which have been captured by the soviet army. Some of these were passed on to East Germany, some from soviet/russian depots came to market in Germany. Juergen

11-21-2001, 10:43 AM	#6
tom h Guest Posts: n/a	Re: VoPo-Luger marks JF, The E Germans did used the horizontal double crown/U on the left side of the receiver on pistols that went through their proof house, so you do have and EG proofed Imperial era receiver. Tom h

11-21-2001, 10:51 AM	#7
tom h Guest Posts: n/a	Re: VoPo-Luger marks Juergen & Partick, I reject the Russian X theory, as some cleaver salesman thought he could pass these off as the Russian crossed Nagant rifles as seen on the M06 Russian contract lugers. I've only seen the "X" on a few E German reworked PO8s and feel that it indicates not require for military use, much the same as the "P" on Swiss lugers.

11-21-2001, 11:49 AM	#8
Dok RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bermuda (Eat Your Heart Out) Posts: 1,626 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: VoPo-Luger marks Thank you for that helpful description, I will ammend my description on my page accordingly. Dok