Questions regarding my Interarms Luger--9mm

[Edward Tinker]

Steve, do you happen to have "The Mauser Parabellum", by Francis Allan? It is on the newer guns, and is a good one.

In it he states the following:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Serial Numbers
With the exception of the "RG" and Commemoratives series, all serial numbers were prefixed by two numeric digits indicating the caliber of the pistol. Under this system, the number "1011 represents .30 cal Luger (7.65mm Parabellum), "11" represents 9mm Luger (9mm Parabellum), and "12" was reserved for .22 cal versions that were never built.
All standard model pistols have the serial number stamped on the frame in the right trigger well and on the right side of the receiver fork above the ejector. The serial numbers of both the "RG" and Commemorative series appear in cartouche'. Most guns have the last three digits of the serial number roughly etched on the underside of the rear toggle-link. The series notations below are intended for easy identification and discussion by the author. These are not Mauser designations.

Series 3- Production Group -These numbers were used on the Swiss and P.08 standard production models. Since both models were produced concurrently for a time, there is no serial number break between the Models. This fact accounts for the inability of Mauser to identify the number of each model that was produced. The serial number series consists of six digits following the caliber prefix. It began with number one-thousand-one in each caliber. Thus; 10.001001, 10.001002, etc. and 11.001001, 11.001002, etc.
â?¦.
Series 6- Commemorative Series -In order to add to the uniqueness of each commemorative, these serial numbers denote each of the pistols as part of the limited series. For example, the number "~24 von 250" indicates that the pistol would be the twenty-fourth pistol of the two hundred fifty produced. The first commemorative, the Swiss, is 27 thus numbered 001 von 250, 002 von 250, etc. In order to differentiate later commemoratives, letters were added to the serial
number to indicate to which commemorative series a pistol belonged.
Thus; 001 von 250B is the first Bulgarian Commemorative, 001 von 250R is the first Russian Commemorative, KMO01 von 250 is the first Naval (Kaiserliche Marine) Commemorative and 001 von 250K is the first Carbine (Karabiner) Commemorative. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">and then

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">In 1961 while doing research in Germany for the revised edition of his book "The Luger Pistol", Fred Datig visited the Mauser factory at Oberndorf, where he discussed the possibility of resuming production of the pistol. The managing director of Mauser-Werke informed him that any proposed plan of " ...retooling and producing... (a luger)... which would have to compete on today's market with less complicated and certainly less expensive pistols would warrant ...immediate rejection". Apparently the increasing value of the luger as a collectors' item, together with the previously-noted survey taken by Interarms, was sufficient to change the opinion of the Mauser management. Hindsight tells us that this was probably not a wise decision from a financial viewpoint; for even while the production of the P.08 Model was beginning, Mauser and Interarms were questioning the financial advisability of continuing large-scale production and advertised the P.08 Model as a limited production version. No exact figures have been released to indicate how limited the manufacturing run was, but regular production ceased in late 1975. At that time, approximately 30,000 pistols of the initial order for 100,000 had been delivered. In January, 1976, Interarms announced the cancellation of its initial contract with Mauser. It was finally admitted that the rising manufacturing costs, coupled with an increasingly unfavorable exchange rate between West Germany and the United States, had forced the pistol out of the competitive market.
It is highly unlikely that large-scale production of the Mauser Parabellum or any other luger pistol will ever be resumed. .The account of the production of the Mauser Parabellum probably provides the final chapter in the fascinating history of the luger pistol.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">I don't know if that helps?

Ed