New member trying to figure out date of manufacture on my P08

kapnkd · 04-28-2011, 11:25 PM

Having just found this site and now as a new member I am glad to find others who appreciate Lugers as much (or obviously WAY more) than I do. Ever since being a teen I admired the advanced design and beauty of this pistol and still do at age 67. I am hopeful one or more of you can help me in better identifying the possible age of the Luger I own.

I've owned a P08 Luger since the mid 70's but never did any serious research before to determine the age or specific manufacturing history. It is a 9mm with an 80mm (3.25”) barrel length.

Sadly, it does not have complete matching numbers but that really does not matter to me as I enjoy occasionally shooting the weapon. It does not have many of the distinctive markings that are listed on this site other than the predominate serial number 2258 stamped on the left side, under the barrel and a 58 on the bright metal portion of the safety (left side). The top just in back of the barrel (chamber inscription??) does NOT have a date and the forward piece of the toggle has no stampings either. BUT - When holding the gun to reflect in the light, I can almost make out a shadow of a marking that could be either the “DWM” or possibly a crown (Erfurt or Spandau armory marking??? It looks as if the top of the weapon had possibly been professionally milled down to purposely remove the German markings and then re-blued. (I understand some Lugers were utilized/converted in this manner by the British during WWII.) There is also a small number “72” just under the rear site. (Not sure if this is another mismatch of the serial numbers???)

Speaking of the toggle, it is (as near as I can figure what you refer to as the “squared and knurled” version. There are also no markings by the thumb safety. Possibly worth noting is that on the opposite side of the frame is a stamping of an upper case “L” within a small rectangular box. Close to this is what looks to be the number “3” with a line under it (this is hard to make out).

There is no grip safety or stock lug on this particular model and it does have dark brown checkered wood (walnut is my guess) grips without a border. The magazine (clip) has no markings and has the aluminum bottom.

Thanks in advance for any information or thoughts any of you can share with me.

-kapnkd

04-28-2011, 11:25 PM	#1
kapnkd User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South East Michigan (But...NOT Detroit!) Posts: 7 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New member trying to figure out date of manufacture on my P08 Having just found this site and now as a new member I am glad to find others who appreciate Lugers as much (or obviously WAY more) than I do. Ever since being a teen I admired the advanced design and beauty of this pistol and still do at age 67. I am hopeful one or more of you can help me in better identifying the possible age of the Luger I own. I've owned a P08 Luger since the mid 70's but never did any serious research before to determine the age or specific manufacturing history. It is a 9mm with an 80mm (3.25”) barrel length. Sadly, it does not have complete matching numbers but that really does not matter to me as I enjoy occasionally shooting the weapon. It does not have many of the distinctive markings that are listed on this site other than the predominate serial number 2258 stamped on the left side, under the barrel and a 58 on the bright metal portion of the safety (left side). The top just in back of the barrel (chamber inscription??) does NOT have a date and the forward piece of the toggle has no stampings either. BUT - When holding the gun to reflect in the light, I can almost make out a shadow of a marking that could be either the “DWM” or possibly a crown (Erfurt or Spandau armory marking??? It looks as if the top of the weapon had possibly been professionally milled down to purposely remove the German markings and then re-blued. (I understand some Lugers were utilized/converted in this manner by the British during WWII.) There is also a small number “72” just under the rear site. (Not sure if this is another mismatch of the serial numbers???) Speaking of the toggle, it is (as near as I can figure what you refer to as the “squared and knurled” version. There are also no markings by the thumb safety. Possibly worth noting is that on the opposite side of the frame is a stamping of an upper case “L” within a small rectangular box. Close to this is what looks to be the number “3” with a line under it (this is hard to make out). There is no grip safety or stock lug on this particular model and it does have dark brown checkered wood (walnut is my guess) grips without a border. The magazine (clip) has no markings and has the aluminum bottom. Thanks in advance for any information or thoughts any of you can share with me. -kapnkd