"Boosted" into shooter category? - But look further!

[Edward Tinker]

Except --- there were 30 luger guns used by railroad and other organizations in germany

I knew about the SU - but the inscribed numbers is in no way normal, looks like much later work. Any new numbers at a depot or unit, I have seen were stamped.

[schutzen-jager]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Except --- there were 30 luger guns used by railroad and other organizations in germany

I knew about the SU - but the inscribed numbers is in no way normal, looks like much later work. Any new numbers at a depot or unit, I have seen were stamped.

iirc

they were not military organizations at that time + did not require military specification weapons -

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Except --- there were 30 luger guns used by railroad and other organizations in germany

I knew about the SU - but the inscribed numbers is in no way normal, looks like much later work. Any new numbers at a depot or unit, I have seen were stamped.

The afore mentioned page 476 of G&S has pictures of two 30 Lugers "militarized" by the Spandau repair depot. The top illustration shows electro-penciled numbers on the extractor and front toggle that match the subject pistol in size, style and location. It is an SU25 marked pistol.

The second pistol is an SU38 stamped 30 Luger converted to 9mm with a Mauser S/42 barrel and the "militarized" numbers are stamped.

It is also pointed out that in 1923/25 there was a clandestine purchase of 3,000 commercial 30 caliber DWM Lugers by the Reichswehr Ministry. The actual order was placed in 1923 for 8,000 30 caliber pistols which were reportedly on hand. A later note indicated that only 3,000 were available and it's thought that the other 5,000 supposedly on hand had been sold to someone for foreign currency cash. A delivery of the remaining 3,000 was made in 1925.

While the Reichswehr Army didn't use 30 Lugers, the police did and many police organizations of that time were clearly paramilitary. I suspect - a logical guess on my part - that at least some of the 3,000 30 caliber Lugers "militarized" by Spandau were issued to paramilitary police units.

It appears that commercial 30 caliber Lugers were acquired and some "militarized" by adding military style serial numbers to the parts by Spandau repair depot. Some remained in 30 caliber while others were converted to 9mm. Some were electro-penciled and others stamped with military numbers. They were also stamped SU and two digits that likely indicate the year.

As the pistol on Proxibid is listed as 30 caliber and no claim is made that it's a rare variation, I don't think that there is any attempt to fool anyone.