1937 HK Luger # 7542 On Auction...

Pete Ebbink · 09-29-2002, 03:31 PM

Hello Peter,

Good question about sideplate serial numbering...

From Pages 102-105 in R. Gibson's book, The Luger Parabellum, here is my limited knowledge :

1. Up to serial # 2500, HK lugers were serial marked in the Early numbering style; there after the Late Nubmering style. But since HK took guns out of sequence in the production, this # 2500 is not very "black and white".

2. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Early style should have the last 2-digits of the serial number on the outside and the first part of the serial number on the inside.

3. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Late style would only have the last digits of the serial number on the inside only.

4. On page 105, R. Gibson does mention a "Late Variant Numbering Style"; that is guns in the Late style that show some traits of the Early style. He mentions HK lugers # 3950 and # 4080, that do have exterior side plate serial number stamping.

The last option for this gun on the auction site might be that it has a replacement sideplate, which just happened to have the correct "42". All HK sideplates should have an HK LWaA proof mark on the inside surface...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

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09-29-2002, 03:31 PM	#1
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hello Peter, Good question about sideplate serial numbering... From Pages 102-105 in R. Gibson's book, The Luger Parabellum, here is my limited knowledge : 1. Up to serial # 2500, HK lugers were serial marked in the Early numbering style; there after the Late Nubmering style. But since HK took guns out of sequence in the production, this # 2500 is not very "black and white". 2. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Early style should have the last 2-digits of the serial number on the outside and the first part of the serial number on the inside. 3. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Late style would only have the last digits of the serial number on the inside only. 4. On page 105, R. Gibson does mention a "Late Variant Numbering Style"; that is guns in the Late style that show some traits of the Early style. He mentions HK lugers # 3950 and # 4080, that do have exterior side plate serial number stamping. The last option for this gun on the auction site might be that it has a replacement sideplate, which just happened to have the correct "42". All HK sideplates should have an HK LWaA proof mark on the inside surface... Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />