1920 Commercial Lugers

[bill m]

Lets look at this from the aspect of an Imperial DWM 1916. If I was to rework this pistol in -- say -- 1926 -- then this pistol would have of been laying around for 10 years to start with. Second, I have to change the barrel. Next, I have to remove all the Imperial markings -- that means the breech, and receiver proofs, and any unit markings, and the date. Next, I have to remove all of the military serial numbers from almost all parts of the gun. Now that I have done this, I have to serial number all the parts in a commercial style and in the correct letter suffix. Reblue and restraw the gun. Nope, I do not think so, as this took too much labor and too much time, and the numbering system would of been a terrible mess to go through, as you would of had to use the same parts, or the fit would not be proper.


I think they used these Imperial Lugers for all the Weimar military and police Lugers. If you look at the reworked guns for the Weimar military and police you will see that an awful lot of them retain their Imperial acceptance marks and test proofs. Some do have an additional c/n commercial proof.


If the military guns were going to be used as commercial guns, why would they bother to remove the serial numbers from all parts? Why would they bother to remove the acceptance marks? Why not just change the barrel and stamp a C/N?


I think there is a lot of confusion on a commercial gun and a reworked military or police gun, and that what a lot of people are referring to with the chamber ground and the acceptance marks removed or some of them anyway, are actually Weimar military reworks or Weimar police reworks. These usually show a lot of evidence of reworking and usually show some of the original acceptance marks and proofing. The true 1920 commercial do not show this rework.