1908 Navy

Pete Ebbink · 06-18-2005, 12:30 PM

One of the 'stories' with British proofs that some dealers use to add "
value" to a luger is this. I have even heard this story from one of the larger dealers that should know better (or probably does...).

1. Gun was captured by the British and taken back to England.

2. Gun was then proofed and sent back with British commando's doing infiltration work behind the German lines.

This story never made any sense to me. Why the heck would a British commando dressed up as a German soldier behind German lines want to carry a luger with its newly added British proofs...??? Why not pin a bull's eye and sign on his back that says..."British commando/spy...shoot here"....???

I think the gun came over :

1. Either as a Brit bring back just after WWII and was inspected/proofed based on English gun proofing laws.

2. Gun came over to England later in the 1950's or later and was proofed according to proofing laws in effect at the time of importation. As Ron Wood metnioned, probably the case with this Navy...

Based on the type of British proofs applied, I think a luger with early proofs and its ties to a British bring-back vet would be more interesting to own than a later British importation piece...IMHO.

Ed, since you like war stories tied to lugers...I would opt to find a bring-back Navy rather than one of the later importationn lugers...if I were in your shoes...

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06-18-2005, 12:30 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	One of the 'stories' with British proofs that some dealers use to add " value" to a luger is this. I have even heard this story from one of the larger dealers that should know better (or probably does...). 1. Gun was captured by the British and taken back to England. 2. Gun was then proofed and sent back with British commando's doing infiltration work behind the German lines. This story never made any sense to me. Why the heck would a British commando dressed up as a German soldier behind German lines want to carry a luger with its newly added British proofs...??? Why not pin a bull's eye and sign on his back that says..."British commando/spy...shoot here"....??? I think the gun came over : 1. Either as a Brit bring back just after WWII and was inspected/proofed based on English gun proofing laws. 2. Gun came over to England later in the 1950's or later and was proofed according to proofing laws in effect at the time of importation. As Ron Wood metnioned, probably the case with this Navy... Based on the type of British proofs applied, I think a luger with early proofs and its ties to a British bring-back vet would be more interesting to own than a later British importation piece...IMHO. Ed, since you like war stories tied to lugers...I would opt to find a bring-back Navy rather than one of the later importationn lugers...if I were in your shoes...