1918 Mauser Luger info

mrerick · 10-10-2012, 03:44 PM

None of the Luger manufacturing lines or military users of the pistol that I know of would have marked a magazine with a 3/4 inch high digit "7".

Also, to make it clear, Mauser was not making Lugers or parts for Lugers with their commercial banner trademark until the mid to late 1930s. The DWM assembly line was moved to Oberndorf in the 1933-1934 timeframe.

Up to the end of WW-I, Lugers were made by DWM and the Imperial arsenal at Erfurt.

The Erfurt tooling was moved to Suhl where Simson & Co. refurbished WW-I Lugers and (after 1925) built 12,000 new ones.

Their tooling was confiscated by the Nazi government and moved to Krieghoff's operation in about 1933.

So, the parts you're describing on your Luger could not have come from the same factory. In 1920 (whether a date or the more likely Weimar property mark) the pistol would have been manufactured by DWM or the Erfurt arsenal.

It would be interesting to know if your pistol has the police modifications like the sear safety or magazine safety. As many have mentioned, pictures are going to help.

As your personal interests span both World Wars, your Luger probably does also. It's most likely a parts pistol, but would be interesting to learn if Mauser refurbished it or it was done after WW-II. The Germans didn't waste things.

Marc

Szyp · 10-10-2012, 04:20 PM

Thank you. I am aware that the Mauser banner toggle train was married some time after 1935 or so, the mag safety is provided for but was removed, ( the hole is there) and the sear safety is present. When I get the luger back I will figure out how to post pictures to make it easier for you kind people to help me. The serial number is 5343a, it has the WaA4 acceptance stamps (alphabet luger) and the 43 on all the requisite small parts- I will have to wait to see if the 3 is flat or round topped and if there is a foot on the 4. I am also aware that it is a Weimar police pistol made in the summer of 1920 and ws issued to the Prussian State Police, but any unit markings are absent- I thought perhaps the "7" was some sort of identifier for whom or whatever would need to know. This is fascinating stuff for a retired history teacher whoe main field of interest is Germany 1919-1946 (me!). Most of this info is courtesy of Thor, who has proven to be a kind, helpful gentleman who is never too busy to help me. My hopeful guess is that the pistol was issued to a member of the Prussian State Police in 1920, he served his time and retired, and perhaps then the gun was turn in and sent to Mauser for refitting. By then the Prussian Police had been reformed into the State Security (Sicherheitsdeinst) and one section of which was the Secret State Police (GEheime STadts POlizei (GESTAPO). The SD was broken into "bureaus," and buried way down in section 4B4 was the transportation division (I do not recall the correct name) headed by a lowly Colonel named Adolph Eichmann. It is interesting that such a task as identifying and deporting the Jews was assigned to an ambitious colonel, a rank in wartime that would have been rather insignificant. I better stop here before I get into a full blown recitation. Again, thank you, and as always, any corrections, information or advice is appreciated and welcome as I search out the truth.

10-10-2012, 03:44 PM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,139 Times in 1,520 Posts	None of the Luger manufacturing lines or military users of the pistol that I know of would have marked a magazine with a 3/4 inch high digit "7". Also, to make it clear, Mauser was not making Lugers or parts for Lugers with their commercial banner trademark until the mid to late 1930s. The DWM assembly line was moved to Oberndorf in the 1933-1934 timeframe. Up to the end of WW-I, Lugers were made by DWM and the Imperial arsenal at Erfurt. The Erfurt tooling was moved to Suhl where Simson & Co. refurbished WW-I Lugers and (after 1925) built 12,000 new ones. Their tooling was confiscated by the Nazi government and moved to Krieghoff's operation in about 1933. So, the parts you're describing on your Luger could not have come from the same factory. In 1920 (whether a date or the more likely Weimar property mark) the pistol would have been manufactured by DWM or the Erfurt arsenal. It would be interesting to know if your pistol has the police modifications like the sear safety or magazine safety. As many have mentioned, pictures are going to help. As your personal interests span both World Wars, your Luger probably does also. It's most likely a parts pistol, but would be interesting to learn if Mauser refurbished it or it was done after WW-II. The Germans didn't waste things. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

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10-10-2012, 04:20 PM	#2
Szyp User Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you. I am aware that the Mauser banner toggle train was married some time after 1935 or so, the mag safety is provided for but was removed, ( the hole is there) and the sear safety is present. When I get the luger back I will figure out how to post pictures to make it easier for you kind people to help me. The serial number is 5343a, it has the WaA4 acceptance stamps (alphabet luger) and the 43 on all the requisite small parts- I will have to wait to see if the 3 is flat or round topped and if there is a foot on the 4. I am also aware that it is a Weimar police pistol made in the summer of 1920 and ws issued to the Prussian State Police, but any unit markings are absent- I thought perhaps the "7" was some sort of identifier for whom or whatever would need to know. This is fascinating stuff for a retired history teacher whoe main field of interest is Germany 1919-1946 (me!). Most of this info is courtesy of Thor, who has proven to be a kind, helpful gentleman who is never too busy to help me. My hopeful guess is that the pistol was issued to a member of the Prussian State Police in 1920, he served his time and retired, and perhaps then the gun was turn in and sent to Mauser for refitting. By then the Prussian Police had been reformed into the State Security (Sicherheitsdeinst) and one section of which was the Secret State Police (GEheime STadts POlizei (GESTAPO). The SD was broken into "bureaus," and buried way down in section 4B4 was the transportation division (I do not recall the correct name) headed by a lowly Colonel named Adolph Eichmann. It is interesting that such a task as identifying and deporting the Jews was assigned to an ambitious colonel, a rank in wartime that would have been rather insignificant. I better stop here before I get into a full blown recitation. Again, thank you, and as always, any corrections, information or advice is appreciated and welcome as I search out the truth.