Unidentified Firing Object

havanahanz · 02-17-2008, 12:42 AM

OK Folks, Here goes my very first posting - Dad just gifted me one of the Luger's from my late Grandfather's collection. A real sharp looking Luger with a real tough-to-id marking set. The Luger is marked as follows: #8423 main ID, has a lower-case "d" under the four-digit ID on the face of the frame (under the barrel), with the script "DWM" on the toggle BUT has 42 stamped on top of barrel (receiver). My question comes from basic research in the common Luger books that say there were NO Lugers made in the DWM after 1936 (??) and that production had been moved to Oberndorf for production by Mauser. If this is true, how does my pistol have a 42 (I "assume" this means 1942) but with a production stamp on the toggle from Berlin?? HELP anyone?? Thank you, Bill

Edward Tinker · 02-17-2008, 01:09 AM

Bill, welcome to the forum;

3 possibilities;

1. Toggle does not match with last two of the serial number so it is a mismatch
2. Toggle was replaced onto a luger and either 'force matched" or happened to be the same number

3. A 'remote" possbilitiy is that the toggle was put onto it by a unit or military armorer to get it back into action in WW2.

# 3 is least likely...

Ed

havanahanz · 03-02-2008, 09:09 PM

Ed,
Thanks for the response. Appreciate the answer with options. I agree with you it is probably just a mis-match.
Ok, one more questions to bother you with....Best option to "remedy" situation? Buy a matching toggle?? Since I'll assume this is my only choice, what is suggested best forum to find toggles for sale?
Thanks again for helping the "new guy" Ed!

Edward Tinker · 03-02-2008, 09:45 PM

finding toggles was easier, but never easy on ebay. Options:

1. tom Heller has them sometimes
2. put a WTB here on the forum.
3. look on gunbroker.com, be aware there is one or two guys that will "renumber" a toggle for you, a no-no for collecting.

What I would do is keep an eye out, but not overlly look for a toggle unless you come across it.

ed

Lugerdoc · 03-03-2008, 07:52 AM

Bill, Sorry no #23 BYF toggle assy in stock. TH

02-17-2008, 12:42 AM	#1
havanahanz New User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North West Arkansas Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unidentified Firing Object OK Folks, Here goes my very first posting - Dad just gifted me one of the Luger's from my late Grandfather's collection. A real sharp looking Luger with a real tough-to-id marking set. The Luger is marked as follows: #8423 main ID, has a lower-case "d" under the four-digit ID on the face of the frame (under the barrel), with the script "DWM" on the toggle BUT has 42 stamped on top of barrel (receiver). My question comes from basic research in the common Luger books that say there were NO Lugers made in the DWM after 1936 (??) and that production had been moved to Oberndorf for production by Mauser. If this is true, how does my pistol have a 42 (I "assume" this means 1942) but with a production stamp on the toggle from Berlin?? HELP anyone?? Thank you, Bill

03-02-2008, 09:45 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	finding toggles was easier, but never easy on ebay. Options: 1. tom Heller has them sometimes 2. put a WTB here on the forum. 3. look on gunbroker.com, be aware there is one or two guys that will "renumber" a toggle for you, a no-no for collecting. What I would do is keep an eye out, but not overlly look for a toggle unless you come across it. 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

03-03-2008, 07:52 AM	#5
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Bill, Sorry no #23 BYF toggle assy in stock. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

02-17-2008, 01:09 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Bill, welcome to the forum; 3 possibilities; 1. Toggle does not match with last two of the serial number so it is a mismatch 2. Toggle was replaced onto a luger and either 'force matched" or happened to be the same number 3. A 'remote" possbilitiy is that the toggle was put onto it by a unit or military armorer to get it back into action in WW2. # 3 is least likely... 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

03-02-2008, 09:09 PM	#3
havanahanz New User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North West Arkansas Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed, Thanks for the response. Appreciate the answer with options. I agree with you it is probably just a mis-match. Ok, one more questions to bother you with....Best option to "remedy" situation? Buy a matching toggle?? Since I'll assume this is my only choice, what is suggested best forum to find toggles for sale? Thanks again for helping the "new guy" Ed!