Reworked Police Lugers

[Don M]

I am in search of information about possible grip strap markings on certain LP08s (artillery Lugers) that were rebarrelled with 4â?� barrels about 1929-30 by the Berlin Police Armory. First, a little backgroundâ?¦.

Although the 1919 Treaty of Versailles required Luger barrels to be shorter than 4â?�, this limitation apparently did not apply to the Landj�¤gerei (Prussian rural constabulary) until 1929. A directive dated June 25, 1929 from the Regierungspr�¤sident (district president) of the D�¼sseldorf governmental district, referring to an unpublished order from the Prussian Ministry of the Interior, stated that, when new P08s were received, those LP08s currently in the possession of Landj�¤gerei officials were to be delivered to the Police Armory (PTV) in Berlin for reworking. The new P08s were those 29 DWMs with s, t and u suffixes that were purchased for rearming of the Landj�¤gerei. Clearly, the Landj�¤gerei had LP08s until 1929.

The same directive stated that the new P08s were not to be marked until new marking regulations were issued. Presumably, the new regulations were those issued in 1932.

In my earlier research on the unit markings of the Landj�¤gerei, I came to the tentative conclusion that this police force did not mark its handguns until after the issue of the new P08s in 1929. This seems to be supported by the directive; however, additional evidence has been found casting some doubt on this.

If the Landj�¤gerei marked its handguns prior to 1929, the LP08s in its possession would have been marked. These marks would probably have been ground off at the Berlin Armory but perhaps some evidence still exists.

Now to my requestâ?¦

I would greatly appreciate any information forum members may have concerning evidence (or lack thereof) of earlier grip strap markings on reworked police Lugers with LP08 frames. I am specifically interested in police guns since it seems almost certain that these reworked weapons would have been reissued to police.

An LP08 frame may be identified by the notch on the top of the chamber as shown by the arrow in this photo (courtesy of Dwight Gruber).



I donâ??t intend to create a database with this information, at least not right away. What I would like to know is if there is evidence that marking on the front grip strap was ground off. It is likely that the Berlin Armory did a very good job of this, so any evidence may be faint, such as the remnants of periods or a roughness or discoloration of the grip strap. For those so inclined, removal of one of the grips and examination of the back side of the strap for bumps or waviness is a clue.

I am interested in both positive and negative information (e.g., â??perhapsâ?� or â??no wayâ?�). If you think there may have been an earlier mark, a high resolution photo of the evidence would be very helpful.

Thanks very much in advance.

[Don M]

Here's a candidate. If it was originally a Landj. LP08, it apparently came back to them: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...hreadid=12835. Any comments/observations?

Also this 1915 DWM Police Rig on FGS site marked L.Kz.1. with one or two cancelled earlier (Reichswehr?) markings: http://www.fgsinc.8m.com/photo.html

[Schupo]

Don,

I am afraid the link does not work.

George

[Don M]

Try it now.

[Lugerdoc]

Don, You will find plenty of WWi dated Erfurt PO8s with "notched" receivers that were never LPO8. After 1914, Erfurt used up their left over LPO8 receivers to build standard 4" barrelled PO8s. My theory is that in the years following the intoduction of the LPO8 in 1914 by the government arsenal at Erfurt, DWM prohibited Erfurt from further production of these, and the government utilize previously notched receivers on the standard PO8s that they were licensed by DWM to manufacture. Also note: it would appear that all DWM LPO8s used Erfurt (eagle proofed on right side) made LPO8 barrels for their Artillery model production. If the luger record researchers will please keep their eyes open for records to this effect, this would be an interesting contribution to our knowledge. TH