Imperial proofs

Ron Wood · 03-06-2012, 01:39 PM

This is an epiphany. I suddenly realize the point that Klaus is trying to make and see its relevance to the comments made by Dwight Gruber regarding the itinerate inspectors of military arms.

We collectors are used to referring to inspector’s marks on military Lugers of that period as being “Erfurt” or “DWM”, but in reality the proper designation of these marks should be “military acceptance” only and be relegated to the production facility to which they are associated.

Erfurt was a government arsenal producing military Lugers, so they rightfully had their own government employed military inspectors for their products. DWM, on the other hand, was a commercial firm producing weapons for the government. It follows that DWM should not be in the position of “accepting” their own products for the government. Therefore, there had to be a government entity that performed this function…to wit, the Spandau arsenal that was in proximity to the DWM production facility in Berlin. This implies that there are no DWM military inspector’s marks or proofs.

Therefore, it is evident that all military Lugers that were produced by DWM would necessarily bear “Spandau” inspector’s marks and proofs (as opposed to "DWM"). Consequently, the LP08 barrels produced by Erfurt bear the “Erfurt” power proof, and those very few LP08 barrels manufactured by DWM bear the “Spandau” power proof.

Hope I got that right

.

Neil Young · 03-06-2012, 02:32 PM

Am I correct then that there is no such thing as a DWM Proof?

Neil

Ron Wood · 03-06-2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Young

Am I correct then that there is no such thing as a DWM Proof?
Neil

Evidently not for guns produced under military contract. For military guns produced by DWM the "proofs" (inspector marks and firing/"power" proof) are Spandau markings according to Klaus. This makes sense as DWM as a private commercial enterprise should not have been in the position to "accept" their own products for the military. This requires us to get our head around a different terminology. "DWM" proofs would apply for commercial guns "proofed" by DWM in-house procedures. Miiltary guns, on the other hand would have "Spandau" proofs applied by government/military personnel.

Rich,
"Power" proof is what we would call a "firing proof" (the overload test)...same thing, different terminology.

03-06-2012, 01:39 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: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,256 Times in 1,724 Posts	This is an epiphany. I suddenly realize the point that Klaus is trying to make and see its relevance to the comments made by Dwight Gruber regarding the itinerate inspectors of military arms. We collectors are used to referring to inspector’s marks on military Lugers of that period as being “Erfurt” or “DWM”, but in reality the proper designation of these marks should be “military acceptance” only and be relegated to the production facility to which they are associated. Erfurt was a government arsenal producing military Lugers, so they rightfully had their own government employed military inspectors for their products. DWM, on the other hand, was a commercial firm producing weapons for the government. It follows that DWM should not be in the position of “accepting” their own products for the government. Therefore, there had to be a government entity that performed this function…to wit, the Spandau arsenal that was in proximity to the DWM production facility in Berlin. This implies that there are no DWM military inspector’s marks or proofs. Therefore, it is evident that all military Lugers that were produced by DWM would necessarily bear “Spandau” inspector’s marks and proofs (as opposed to "DWM"). Consequently, the LP08 barrels produced by Erfurt bear the “Erfurt” power proof, and those very few LP08 barrels manufactured by DWM bear the “Spandau” power proof. Hope I got that right . __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

03-06-2012, 02:32 PM	#2
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 548 Thanks: 566 Thanked 443 Times in 168 Posts	Am I correct then that there is no such thing as a DWM Proof? Neil __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

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