Help needed dating luger

Ron Wood · 10-08-2010, 11:36 PM

Actually, a grip safety is generally an indication of an early Luger. The first production Lugers in 1900 had a grip safety and that feature continued through the Model 1906. The grip safety was abandoned with the first German army contract in 1908 never to return except in some commercial and foreign contract guns.

BCMike · 10-09-2010, 01:15 AM

Thanks Ron,
You know I never was a luger guy even when we played war outside with two bring backs that my friend's dad got in WW2. My main interest is the early 1911 but I'm starting to like the luger enough to the point of maybe getting one. I keep feeling sorry for this poor old thing...

sheepherder · 10-09-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCMike

...even when we played war outside with two bring backs that my friend's dad got in WW2....

...Huh???...

Quote:

I keep feeling sorry for this poor old thing...

I think it would make a most excellent desk trophy, dude!!!

LugerVern · 10-09-2010, 10:20 AM

Can you show us a picture of the front of the frame and the underside of the barrel ?

I would like to see the SN.

I am not fully convinced that this is an early P08.

Vern

BCMike · 10-09-2010, 02:52 PM

I have some more pics and I’m puzzled that I can’t find any serial number in the places they are supposed to be even taking corrosion into account. There is a number “57” (shown) underside of slide and what looks like a number “1” (shown) at the rear underside of slide. A number “57” (not shown) also appears on the frame. I’m assuming the 57 is the last two digits of the non-existant to my eyes serial number. On other pistols I see this done on many parts but on this example only stamped in the places mentioned. Unless a serial number is buried on a part I can’t access there is none on the gun.

Is it possible that this luger was not serial numbered? It seems odd as those couple of places have the two digit numbers. Is it possible that there were mix and match or rebuild parts that weren’t serial numbered?

Regarding playing war with real handguns – I grew up in small town Newfoundland in the early ‘60’s with no thought of today’s paranoia about firearms.Our arsenal consisted of a mixture of very real looking play guns with a few real war trophys mixed in that we snuck out of our dad’s hideaway spots. Two Lugers, A P-38, a couple of Colt 1911’s and a strange I think Russian pistol that had a star on the grip or frame. No ammo involved and back then it’s just the way we played.

If you want close-ups of these pics use the trick of holding down the keyboard ctrl key and rotate the mouse wheel forward.

10-08-2010, 11:36 PM	#1
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	Actually, a grip safety is generally an indication of an early Luger. The first production Lugers in 1900 had a grip safety and that feature continued through the Model 1906. The grip safety was abandoned with the first German army contract in 1908 never to return except in some commercial and foreign contract guns. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

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10-09-2010, 01:15 AM	#2
BCMike User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada - A little patch of paradise where the Pacific meets the Coastal Mountains Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Ron, You know I never was a luger guy even when we played war outside with two bring backs that my friend's dad got in WW2. My main interest is the early 1911 but I'm starting to like the luger enough to the point of maybe getting one. I keep feeling sorry for this poor old thing...

10-09-2010, 10:20 AM	#4
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Can you show us a picture of the front of the frame and the underside of the barrel ? I would like to see the SN. I am not fully convinced that this is an early P08. Vern

10-09-2010, 02:52 PM	#5
BCMike User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada - A little patch of paradise where the Pacific meets the Coastal Mountains Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have some more pics and I’m puzzled that I can’t find any serial number in the places they are supposed to be even taking corrosion into account. There is a number “57” (shown) underside of slide and what looks like a number “1” (shown) at the rear underside of slide. A number “57” (not shown) also appears on the frame. I’m assuming the 57 is the last two digits of the non-existant to my eyes serial number. On other pistols I see this done on many parts but on this example only stamped in the places mentioned. Unless a serial number is buried on a part I can’t access there is none on the gun. Is it possible that this luger was not serial numbered? It seems odd as those couple of places have the two digit numbers. Is it possible that there were mix and match or rebuild parts that weren’t serial numbered? Regarding playing war with real handguns – I grew up in small town Newfoundland in the early ‘60’s with no thought of today’s paranoia about firearms.Our arsenal consisted of a mixture of very real looking play guns with a few real war trophys mixed in that we snuck out of our dad’s hideaway spots. Two Lugers, A P-38, a couple of Colt 1911’s and a strange I think Russian pistol that had a star on the grip or frame. No ammo involved and back then it’s just the way we played. If you want close-ups of these pics use the trick of holding down the keyboard ctrl key and rotate the mouse wheel forward.