Serial number suffix questions

[Johnny Peppers]

DWM numbered the military Lugers using the letter suffix, but started over at the beginning of each year. Mauser did not do this when it started military production in 1934. The 1934 or K date started with ns and went only into the early a block. The 1935 or G date then picked up in the early a block and went to the f block. (66, check your 1935 as it should not be in the u block.) Mauser production then proceeded through the alphabet and during the 1937 production year reached the end of the alphabet and started over with ns and then a.

The letter j was supposedly not used due to looking almost identical to the letter i. There are reports of Lugers with the letter suffix j, but are generally thought not to exist.

The commercial pistols were serial numbered in their own serial number range with no break in serial numbers right up into the high 90,000 range. The 1920 and 1921 dated commercials then used the letter suffix with both the 1920 and 1921 pistols starting with ns, a, and b suffix. Apparently DWM rethought the dating of the receivers and moved to the i suffix block to begin new production. The commercial pistols in the 90,000 range were nearing a 6 digit serial number which DWM apparently wanted to avoid. DWM stopped dating their receivers and moved to the i suffix as this would have been the letter being used had the commercial pistols used the military style of serial number/suffix numbering system. The pistols were in the 90,000 range or what would have been the 9th block and i is the 9th letter of the alphabet.

As to whether any additional value can be given to a serial number, it comes down to personal preference. Everyone likes a low serial number, but 9999a is a lower serial number than 9b. 9b just has fewer digits. In the case of the early commercials, a low serial number is actually the order in which that pistol was produced.

Please be advised that some of the above is my opinion based on some of the best information available, and until proof otherwise is documented it will remain my opinion on the subject.