Trust your instincts: Bad gun

Navy · 10-21-2003, 09:48 AM

Herb,

As I mentioned in post, I didn't have III Reich Lugers with me (I am about 700 miles from home and have been since 3 August) so I couldn't consult it. Also, based on increasing data turned up doing research for a forthcoming book, there appears to be ZERO correlation between serial number ranges and property numbers in the Imperial, Weimar and III Reich navies. It is maddening and counter intuitive but it seems to be the case. It is almost like guns were purchased from Mauser inventory and orders were filled on a random serial number basis and shipped to Kiel or Williamshaven where they were property numbered as they were issued, again, on what appears to be an almost random basis.

Quite obviously, this CANNOT have been what occurred, but it is what the spread of property numbers and serial numbers suggest. So clearly, there must have been some step in the issue process that has not been documented to eplain this.

I wrote a lengthy piece on this on the forum some time back and it was published in AUTOMAG.

As far as "glaring" tip offs, none noted on this particular gun. As III Reich KM pieces were marked with a pantograph starting in 1935 IIRC, detecting a bad mark by the average collector is difficult at best if not impossible. I have some "special things" I look for in KM markings, which I will not go into in a public venue.

Jim Cate, the famous collector/author postulates that 75% of all KM marked guns are bogus. This, combined with the hefty price some of these bring strongly suggest that this is not an area to attempt while still using training wheels.

Tom A.

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10-21-2003, 09:48 AM	#7
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Herb, As I mentioned in post, I didn't have III Reich Lugers with me (I am about 700 miles from home and have been since 3 August) so I couldn't consult it. Also, based on increasing data turned up doing research for a forthcoming book, there appears to be ZERO correlation between serial number ranges and property numbers in the Imperial, Weimar and III Reich navies. It is maddening and counter intuitive but it seems to be the case. It is almost like guns were purchased from Mauser inventory and orders were filled on a random serial number basis and shipped to Kiel or Williamshaven where they were property numbered as they were issued, again, on what appears to be an almost random basis. Quite obviously, this CANNOT have been what occurred, but it is what the spread of property numbers and serial numbers suggest. So clearly, there must have been some step in the issue process that has not been documented to eplain this. I wrote a lengthy piece on this on the forum some time back and it was published in AUTOMAG. As far as "glaring" tip offs, none noted on this particular gun. As III Reich KM pieces were marked with a pantograph starting in 1935 IIRC, detecting a bad mark by the average collector is difficult at best if not impossible. I have some "special things" I look for in KM markings, which I will not go into in a public venue. Jim Cate, the famous collector/author postulates that 75% of all KM marked guns are bogus. This, combined with the hefty price some of these bring strongly suggest that this is not an area to attempt while still using training wheels. Tom A.