Costanzo's Book and luger markings

[bill m]

Hi,

I have a signed copy of this book and enjoy it very much, but have to admit that there are mistakes in it. Any book published 20 plus years ago, with information gathered 30 plus years ago, is going to have mistakes. Almost all of these mistakes where thought to be correct at the time, with mistakes in translation or transcribing numbers or letters always a possibility. One mistake is in the back containing a 42 two digit Banner, being labeled as a police E/L Luger with serial number 8012y. Well, I own 8012y and it does not have an E/L on it and is a commercial variation and not a police marked variation. I visited about this, and the information given was incorrect to start with. This information was passed on from collector to collector to author to author. The same information was used in later books also, and is wrong there also. There is absolutely no way that anyone can personally look at every Luger in their book, or holster, or proof mark, so they have to rely on other knowledgeable collector and hope the information given them is correct. That is why you CAN NOT put absolute faith in any book as it being absolutely, positively, the way they state it is, with no an's, if's or but's about it. I feel that this is a great reference book with the utmost of good intentions, but also, new information has come available to prove that some of the information that was thought to be proven one way, has been proven to be something else. That is one problem with some collectors using the older books and reference material -- it is not the "Gospel" to base all judgement on. All books are great to use as reference, to view the pictures, and to learn from, but just because it is in print does not make it correct. I admire anyone who takes the time, effort, and knowledge to print a book, and I'm sure all of these authors try to publish the most current, up to date knowledge that is available to them. Use these books, learn from them, ask questions, but be open minded as to other possible explanations when facts and documentation suggest such.