41-42 n suffix style

[Chris from Minnesota]

I have a question about the 41-42 n suffix style, I have a 41-42 that matches the suffix style posted in the suffix examples on this board. It does not match the n suffix style of the example in The Mauser Parabellum pg. 247, or the matching mag that came with the pistol. My question is are there two different styles of n suffixes or is this not legit? Enjoy the photos.

Thanks,
Chris

[Chris from Minnesota]

more photos

[Chris from Minnesota]

And some more photos

[FNorm]

Great looking piece. I can't answer your question definitively, but if you don't want this one......

FN

[DavidJayUden]

I'm not scared of the gun at all, but the mag. does look like it could have been filed down and possibly re-numbered. Not that the suffix dies could not differ, I'm looking at the flat spots to the left of the mag. #'s.
Or maybe it's just my imagination. I will await a verdict from the senior members.
dju

[Chris from Minnesota]

David your eyes do you well, there are what do look like several flat spot along the bottom of the mag. The only thing that makes me think that it's original is how the numbers closely match the style of the other stamped numbers on the pistol.

Chris

[Jason L]

Nice gun! I believe it is a "p" block/suffix not "n". The tail is missing from the stamp. I would say the mag is incorrect.
Cheers,
Jason

[Chris from Minnesota]

Originally Posted by Jason L

Nice gun! I believe it is a "p" block/suffix not "n". The tail is missing from the stamp. I would say the mag is incorrect.
Cheers,
Jason

That has crossed my mind but I find that the p and this n are some what different or at least the p on my byf differs from this n suffix style. Here are two photos one is the 41-42 the other is a 41 byf.

[Chris from Minnesota]

Hear are some better close ups of the two different suffixes.

[MFC]

I realize that this has nothing to do with Mauser made Lugers, but... it is interesting that all of the Alphabet commercials with the 'n' suffix that I've seen, have two different font types of the 'n' on the barrel and the front of the frame.

[Steinar]

For what it's worth, here is another 41 dated "p" block;
IMG_82832.jpg

[Frank]

Hi Guys! FWIW, I believe that the 7305n from Chris is a "N" and the 7339p is a "P".

Tom's 3513n is a "N". BTW Tom, does your Luger have a P.08 on the frame above the safety lever? It's in the range the doesn't have the P.08.

Steinar (or Morgan ) the picture you show is a "P"

As I stated before some of the suffix characters in the "Parabellum" Book are in error. The author clearly states the examples are from magazines since the are easier to photograph. They do NOT represent the actual pistol markings!!!

I have three 41/42 in the N-Block and they all appear to be the same as the picture Chris has shown.

The 41/42 Lugers were mostly completed in January 1941 and the last ones were in the mid- O-Block, except for a few late comers.

[Chris from Minnesota]

Thanks guys, that answers that question, I wasn’t sure if it was legit or not I haven’t found anything that clearly shows a difference in suffix style. Off the subject, the 41 byf is the first luger that I procured a year and half ago, now I have six Mauser Military P.08’s the disease moves swiftly.

Originally Posted by tharpo

Chris,
The style of the n suffix was different when comparing the magazine and the frame in 1941. Go to page 654 in The Mauser Parabellum and you will see your magazine matches as the book photos are from magazines. Here is a picture of another matching 41-42.
I got faked out on this a while back in a discussion on Jan Stills Forum. It looks to me you have a very nice gun. Also notice the "3"s are flat top on the magazines and rounded on the front of the frame.
Tom

I’ve always thought that the numbers on the frame were done first with a machine and the other numbers were applied by hand. One thing that I’ve learned from this board is the importance of the number font style though out the pistol. Here are some more photos.

[Frank]

I should have mentioned that many 41 byf Lugers have been reported in the N-Block and without exception, when examined, have been in the P-Block.

Also many 41/42 N-Block Lugers have been reported as P-Block and when examined are actually N-Block.

This is pretty common, especially for beginner collectors and in some cases experienced collectors. It took quite a while for me to convince Hallock there were no N-Block 41 byf pistols. He eventually came around.

I think it's pretty easy to see the confusion just from these posts.

Tom, thanks for the data on your 3513n 41/42!! There are roughly 1000 of these critters around. I suspect many went to the Russian Front and are still there in the ground. I have seen several that had the "X" Russian Capture Mark on them. These little jewels are tough to come by. Congratulations on yours!!

[tharpo]

Frank here is what the rest of it looks like. I would think it is one of the last 1941 lugers without a P08 stamp on the frame. Grips are unnumbered E/655.
Tom

[tharpo]

Frank, no P08 on the frame on 41-42 3513n.
Here are the frame and magazine suffixes on a "p" block 1941 byf for comparison.

[DavidJayUden]

If it were in front of me I'd be looking at the lower left leg to see how abruptly it ends. Clear end or faded out with the curve of the metal? Certainly resembles the P in other ways, but I suspect that these dies were not universal or perfectly uniform. Who is to say that all N and P dies were exactly as pictured?
Ah, the joys of collecting something that was made so many years ago...
dju

[Ron Wood]

Alfred,
The suffix on your gun is a "n".

[tharpo]

Alfred,
The pictures in the book are the suffixes from magazine bottoms. These may differ in appearance from the suffix on the gun in the same year. In 1941, the "n" on the gun frame is a little different than the "n" on the magazines.
Tom

[A.Mifsin]

Thank You gentlemen for your feedback , much appreciated.
Alf.