Two P.08 DWM "1918" Unit Marked Lugers

[Ron Smith]

Joe,

Nice Lugers and with very nice unit marks.

Unit marking was ordered to cease early in 1917. Obviously not every unit got the message, or they chose to ignore it.

Unit marked 1918s are scarce. To have two of them is a stroke of luck. To have a J�¤ger unit marked 1918 would be the ultimate and highly desirable scarcity.


The letter "J" was used to designate "Infantry" because roman numerals were used to indicate Army Corps or Abteilung (detatchment). So the "1st Army Corps or 1st Abteilung" would be designated with an "I" which tends to confuse the issue.

J�¤ger unit marks are usually marked with just a "J" or "J.B." J�¤ger Battalion. As for example, 4.J.1.K. or 4.J.B.1.K. which would translate to 4th J�¤ger Battalion 1st Company. J.P. or J.z.P. translates to J�¤ger zu Pferde, or "Hunters to Horses" a mounted / cavalry J�¤ger unit.




I thought that I would throw mine into the mix. A 1918 Erfurt unit marked on the back strap, to the 474th Infantry Regiment 1st Machine Gun Company weapon #50.











Ron,

J�¤ger actually translates to Hunter, but you are correct in that J�¤ger units were used as Advance Scouts. J�¤ger units were made up of Professional Hunters, Woodsmen and/or men who were at home in the wild who had the ability to forage and survive in the wilderness.

Ron