Need help identifing a mark on my Luger PIC ADDED

corsi · 06-07-2008, 08:01 PM

I have a VoPo Luger with a strange mark on the right side of the frame just to the left of the locking bolt. My camera is on the fritz so I hope my description will suffice. The marking is a capital "H" that has the right vertical line of the "H" replaced by and elongated "O". I'm not sure if this is some kind of an East German mark or an earlier mark. The gun is a 1937 dated S/42.

Finally got my camera fixed, pic added.

Regards.

Edward Tinker · 06-07-2008, 09:07 PM

unless someone has a 1937 and it is a vopo, I think a photo is required to know what the heck it is....

corsi · 06-08-2008, 05:40 PM

Ed,

I'll have my camera fixed in a few days and will post a pic then.

John

corsi · 06-15-2008, 04:56 PM

Pic Added. Any thoughts?

abukafura · 06-15-2008, 09:51 PM

For what it is worth....this is a letter in the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet. It is pronounced " yu "(LIKE you). I am not saying that this is that particular Cyrillic letter, but it would not be a real stretch to think VOPO Luger+ Russian capture (perhaps)=Russian letter with some unknown meaning.

corsi · 06-16-2008, 07:19 AM

Interesting...I hadn't considered that. I'm not disputing what you wrote, but I would have thought a Luger captured by the Russians would have the crossed rifle "X". I have a RC 98K and RC P38 that both have the "X". Any ideas if the Cyrillic marking denotes it's capture during WWII or something different, like assignment to a unit or organization post WWII?

John Sabato · 06-16-2008, 10:59 AM

I agree with TAC that the gun has obviously been refinished in some form. The abrasions are one indication, and the fact the the blueing appears to over once active pitting is the other...

corsi · 06-16-2008, 12:18 PM

Sorry Tac, I think you may have misinterpreted my reply. I definitely didn't mean to offend.

As I mentioned in my original post, my Luger is a Vopo so I'm not disputing that it is refinished. I've never come across any Russian captured weapon that wasn't dipped post capture. I also agree that the marking is Cyrillic, I just wanted to bring up that in my experience, Russian captured weapons were marked with an "X". Since this one isn't, I am curious as to why it has this particular mark. I would love to hear from other VoPo owners that have cyrillic markings in addition to or in lieu of the usual "X".

John, I think the "pitting" you mention is the camera picking up some texture in the re-blue. There is no pitting on this particular VoPo.

Thanks to all who have replied for your help.

John Sabato · 06-16-2008, 12:59 PM

I agree that the 'finish' has a 'texture' common to the dip blue process, as well as the marks that look like they were the result of a fast cleanup with a wire brush under power, ... but these are the pits to which I was refering...

Edward Tinker · 06-16-2008, 01:27 PM

Of the East German and Russian "capturers", I have seen them with and without the "X" and some without the reblue (although I think this is more likely to be common with east german guns.

The guns will display dipped chareteristics, possibly have what I consider german post war grips and NO "X"; all that can be proved is that they came in with a huge box of east german or huge box of russian lugers.

Personally, I would like to compile a thread of post war grips?

Anyone want to send me photos of their grips, and I'll post a compilation and ask everyones opinion, East German or Rusian?
I will start another thread requesting this.
Ed

corsi · 06-16-2008, 01:46 PM

It's been a while since I've had this apart, but I think those are tooling marks as a result of the refurb process. There are a few instances on the gun where it seems someone may have "punched" a few parts to aid in disassembly.

corsi · 06-16-2008, 01:53 PM

Ed, I like your idea of a post war grip thread. Mine have the brown mottled East German bullseye grips. I'll post pics to your "Grip Thread" if you decide to start one.

Glad we're good Tac.

John

06-07-2008, 08:01 PM	#1
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need help identifing a mark on my Luger PIC ADDED I have a VoPo Luger with a strange mark on the right side of the frame just to the left of the locking bolt. My camera is on the fritz so I hope my description will suffice. The marking is a capital "H" that has the right vertical line of the "H" replaced by and elongated "O". I'm not sure if this is some kind of an East German mark or an earlier mark. The gun is a 1937 dated S/42. Finally got my camera fixed, pic added. Regards. __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.

06-08-2008, 05:40 PM	#3
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed, I'll have my camera fixed in a few days and will post a pic then. John __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.

06-15-2008, 04:56 PM	#4
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pic Added. Any thoughts? __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.

06-16-2008, 07:19 AM	#6
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interesting...I hadn't considered that. I'm not disputing what you wrote, but I would have thought a Luger captured by the Russians would have the crossed rifle "X". I have a RC 98K and RC P38 that both have the "X". Any ideas if the Cyrillic marking denotes it's capture during WWII or something different, like assignment to a unit or organization post WWII? __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.

06-16-2008, 10:59 AM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I agree with TAC that the gun has obviously been refinished in some form. The abrasions are one indication, and the fact the the blueing appears to over once active pitting is the other... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-07-2008, 09:07 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,026 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	unless someone has a 1937 and it is a vopo, I think a photo is required to know what the heck it is....

06-15-2008, 09:51 PM	#5
abukafura Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northeast Wisconsin, near Greeen Bay Posts: 327 Thanks: 1,314 Thanked 89 Times in 57 Posts	For what it is worth....this is a letter in the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet. It is pronounced " yu "(LIKE you). I am not saying that this is that particular Cyrillic letter, but it would not be a real stretch to think VOPO Luger+ Russian capture (perhaps)=Russian letter with some unknown meaning.

06-16-2008, 12:18 PM	#8
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry Tac, I think you may have misinterpreted my reply. I definitely didn't mean to offend. As I mentioned in my original post, my Luger is a Vopo so I'm not disputing that it is refinished. I've never come across any Russian captured weapon that wasn't dipped post capture. I also agree that the marking is Cyrillic, I just wanted to bring up that in my experience, Russian captured weapons were marked with an "X". Since this one isn't, I am curious as to why it has this particular mark. I would love to hear from other VoPo owners that have cyrillic markings in addition to or in lieu of the usual "X". John, I think the "pitting" you mention is the camera picking up some texture in the re-blue. There is no pitting on this particular VoPo. Thanks to all who have replied for your help. __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.

06-16-2008, 12:59 PM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I agree that the 'finish' has a 'texture' common to the dip blue process, as well as the marks that look like they were the result of a fast cleanup with a wire brush under power, ... but these are the pits to which I was refering... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-16-2008, 01:27 PM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,026 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Of the East German and Russian "capturers", I have seen them with and without the "X" and some without the reblue (although I think this is more likely to be common with east german guns. The guns will display dipped chareteristics, possibly have what I consider german post war grips and NO "X"; all that can be proved is that they came in with a huge box of east german or huge box of russian lugers. Personally, I would like to compile a thread of post war grips? Anyone want to send me photos of their grips, and I'll post a compilation and ask everyones opinion, East German or Rusian? I will start another thread requesting this. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

06-16-2008, 01:46 PM	#11
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's been a while since I've had this apart, but I think those are tooling marks as a result of the refurb process. There are a few instances on the gun where it seems someone may have "punched" a few parts to aid in disassembly. __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.

06-16-2008, 01:53 PM	#12
corsi User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed, I like your idea of a post war grip thread. Mine have the brown mottled East German bullseye grips. I'll post pics to your "Grip Thread" if you decide to start one. Glad we're good Tac. John __________________ Don't Tread On Me. Chi Osa Vince.