1939 Mauser Luger serial number digits

mrerick · 05-13-2013, 06:47 PM

Hi,

I recently acquired a 1939 42 code Mauser Luger s/n 4451x.

The s/n stamped into the front of the frame is curiously uneven, with the first digits stamped stronger than the third digit and the fourth digit deeply stamped.

I don't have any other 1939 vintage Lugers with the "4" or "5" digits and would like to compare to others, if someone has one they can post.

Has this uneven s/n stamping been observed?

I've posted some profile pictures that show the frame and the receiver edges and the radius of the frame area. It doesn't appear to have been altered, but I'd like opinions.

Thanks, Marc

mrerick · 05-13-2013, 06:49 PM

Additional pictures:

Norme · 05-13-2013, 07:32 PM

Here you go Marc.
Regards, Norm

mrerick · 05-13-2013, 10:58 PM

Norm, thanks for the reference pictures.

Looks like the narrow "4" with the open vertical stroke is the correct die...

I wonder if this was just a bad day on the line? I have another from 1936 with a double stamp in one of the digit positions.

Perhaps I'm ending up collecting variations like error printed stamps in a stamp collection...

Marc

Gebirg · 05-14-2013, 12:34 AM

I got a 1940...

mrerick · 05-14-2013, 09:43 AM

Thank you for posting Asle!

Marc

abzug · 05-14-2013, 02:59 PM

I believe that some irregularities in the numbers from the stamping and polishing process is normal.

mrerick · 05-14-2013, 09:23 PM

Adrian, thank you for posting. Beautiful examples.

Do we know the process order? Shaping, bluing, polishing, sn stamping?

Marc

MJRiggs · 06-20-2013, 05:43 PM

Here's a photo of mine.

Mike

alvin · 06-20-2013, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrerick

Do we know the process order? Shaping, bluing, polishing, sn stamping?

Yeah.. I am also curious on this.

From pictures, 4451 on barrel looks like being applied after bluing. On Norme's barrel, 4770 was before bluing.

I believe the barrel number should be applied before bluing. Just like C96. But I don't know that can be applied on Mauser Luger or not....

steven c · 06-26-2013, 12:34 PM

Marc,

Here is a 39 S/42 n block with a 5 digit at the end, hope the pic is clear enough to give you little bit more to compare with.

wlyon · 06-26-2013, 01:39 PM

I don't see a problem. Most of the serial numbers seem to be uneven. They were I believe stamped individually and evenness was up to the person doing the stamping. Bill

mrerick · 06-26-2013, 04:34 PM

Thanks to all for assistance on this one.

Bill, This is the second Mauser made wartime Luger that I have with serial number anomalies. The other one has an overstruck first digit where the worker initially stamped the second digit in the first digit position.

Much as we admire the quality in Lugers, there were Mondays and Fridays in the factory.

Marc

05-13-2013, 10:58 PM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Norm, thanks for the reference pictures. Looks like the narrow "4" with the open vertical stroke is the correct die... I wonder if this was just a bad day on the line? I have another from 1936 with a double stamp in one of the digit positions. Perhaps I'm ending up collecting variations like error printed stamps in a stamp collection... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

05-14-2013, 09:43 AM	#6
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Thank you for posting Asle! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

05-14-2013, 02:59 PM	#7
abzug User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 13 Thanks: 25 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	I believe that some irregularities in the numbers from the stamping and polishing process is normal. Last edited by abzug; 05-16-2013 at 07:01 PM.

05-14-2013, 09:23 PM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Adrian, thank you for posting. Beautiful examples. Do we know the process order? Shaping, bluing, polishing, sn stamping? Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

06-26-2013, 01:39 PM	#12
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,673 Thanks: 3,244 Thanked 2,662 Times in 988 Posts	I don't see a problem. Most of the serial numbers seem to be uneven. They were I believe stamped individually and evenness was up to the person doing the stamping. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

06-26-2013, 04:34 PM	#13
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Thanks to all for assistance on this one. Bill, This is the second Mauser made wartime Luger that I have with serial number anomalies. The other one has an overstruck first digit where the worker initially stamped the second digit in the first digit position. Much as we admire the quality in Lugers, there were Mondays and Fridays in the factory. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.