Horizontal lazy "N"...Long msg.

Walt J. · 02-06-2001, 02:29 PM

Rogues, members, visitors, et al. A Luger mystery to be solved for your fun, enjoyment, and my peaceÃ?Â*of mind.

First, my most sincere thanks to Bill for his invaluable help in putting the probable history of this piece together for me. His knowledge is truely extraordinary. And to Ted for pointing me in directions that under ordinary circumstances, should have solved this thing, andÃ?Â*for putting up with me inÃ?Â*general.

I have a double date Luger,Ã?Â*quite ordinary in all respects, except that it has dual horizontal lazy "N" nitro marks on the right side, oneÃ?Â*preceeding the DWM inspectors marks and imperial eagle on the receiver, and the other below it on the right frame rail. All reference material shows proper placement for the crown "N", horizontal or vertical, to be on the receiver's left side. According to numerious individuals I haveÃ?Â*contacted across the country, my marking does not exist.

Jan Still, in Alaska however, has seen aÃ?Â*copy with a single right side marking on the receiver and an elderly gentleman I ran into at a gun show recalls an example from 40 years ago of the single lazy "N" preceeding the DWM inspectors marks, also on a double date police rework.

Here's what IÃ?Â*can tell you.

The weapon began life as a DWM 1917 LP-08 as evidenced by theÃ?Â*transverse step milled out of the front of the receiver. It has a full set of military and DWM inspectors marks as well as a crown "RC" on the rear toggle link indicating rework and reissue, which according to Walter's 'Luger Book' is itself rare for a DWM. Jan, by chance, does haveÃ?Â*a DWM artillery in his collection withÃ?Â*the crown "RC". Sometimes between the end of the war and the rules issued by the Allied Control Commission in 1919, it was reworked and rebarreled with the shorter 9MM and hit with horizontal crown "N"s in what would be the normal positions, the right side of the barrel, toggle link and breech block, with theÃ?Â*barrel being serialed to the frame and also inscribed with the bore diameter as well as an inspectors crown "M" on the top left ofÃ?Â*the barrel.

All of this indicates that it was being reworked for commercial contract or individual sale.

However, apparently the gun instead went to the Weimar military, getting theÃ?Â*1920 date, and being reworked and refinished a second time, with the commercial nitro crown "N"s on barrel, toggle link and breech block being virtually buffed into oblivion. All other markings, including the right side horizontal crown "N"s on receiver and frame rail, showÃ?Â*only minimal buffing as would be expected with theÃ?Â*rework.

TheÃ?Â*gun eventually wound up with the Dresden Police as evidenced by the S.P.D. on the grip strap.

So, my question which to date no one has been able to answer is simply: What are theÃ?Â*horizontal crown "N"s doing on the right side of the receiver and frame?

Why are they there and for what reason?

Pictures will be showing up in the "owners corner" in the next day or so providing I don't screw them up sending them to DOK. Any information will beÃ?Â*greatly appreciated.

All the best, people...Walt

02-06-2001, 02:29 PM	#1
Walt J. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Caney, Texas Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Horizontal lazy "N"...Long msg. Rogues, members, visitors, et al. A Luger mystery to be solved for your fun, enjoyment, and my peaceÃ?Âof mind. First, my most sincere thanks to Bill for his invaluable help in putting the probable history of this piece together for me. His knowledge is truely extraordinary. And to Ted for pointing me in directions that under ordinary circumstances, should have solved this thing, andÃ?Âfor putting up with me inÃ?Âgeneral. I have a double date Luger,Ã?Âquite ordinary in all respects, except that it has dual horizontal lazy "N" nitro marks on the right side, oneÃ?Âpreceeding the DWM inspectors marks and imperial eagle on the receiver, and the other below it on the right frame rail. All reference material shows proper placement for the crown "N", horizontal or vertical, to be on the receiver's left side. According to numerious individuals I haveÃ?Âcontacted across the country, my marking does not exist. Jan Still, in Alaska however, has seen aÃ?Âcopy with a single right side marking on the receiver and an elderly gentleman I ran into at a gun show recalls an example from 40 years ago of the single lazy "N" preceeding the DWM inspectors marks, also on a double date police rework. Here's what IÃ?Âcan tell you. The weapon began life as a DWM 1917 LP-08 as evidenced by theÃ?Âtransverse step milled out of the front of the receiver. It has a full set of military and DWM inspectors marks as well as a crown "RC" on the rear toggle link indicating rework and reissue, which according to Walter's 'Luger Book' is itself rare for a DWM. Jan, by chance, does haveÃ?Âa DWM artillery in his collection withÃ?Âthe crown "RC". Sometimes between the end of the war and the rules issued by the Allied Control Commission in 1919, it was reworked and rebarreled with the shorter 9MM and hit with horizontal crown "N"s in what would be the normal positions, the right side of the barrel, toggle link and breech block, with theÃ?Âbarrel being serialed to the frame and also inscribed with the bore diameter as well as an inspectors crown "M" on the top left ofÃ?Âthe barrel. All of this indicates that it was being reworked for commercial contract or individual sale. However, apparently the gun instead went to the Weimar military, getting theÃ?Â1920 date, and being reworked and refinished a second time, with the commercial nitro crown "N"s on barrel, toggle link and breech block being virtually buffed into oblivion. All other markings, including the right side horizontal crown "N"s on receiver and frame rail, showÃ?Âonly minimal buffing as would be expected with theÃ?Ârework. TheÃ?Âgun eventually wound up with the Dresden Police as evidenced by the S.P.D. on the grip strap. So, my question which to date no one has been able to answer is simply: What are theÃ?Âhorizontal crown "N"s doing on the right side of the receiver and frame? Why are they there and for what reason? Pictures will be showing up in the "owners corner" in the next day or so providing I don't screw them up sending them to DOK. Any information will beÃ?Â*greatly appreciated. All the best, people...Walt