The numbering system of postwar commercial

Dwight Gruber · 02-27-2008, 12:13 PM

Alvin,

Commercial Luger numbering is in an essentially unbroken sequence, but with a change in enumeration.

Numbering started, putatively with serial number 1, in 1900; and continued into the five digit range. By 1921 the numbers had reached 90000.

There is no knowing the actual reason for the change which occurred that year, but a rapidly approaching six-digit number begins to become impractical in the space available on the front of a Luger frame. At approximately sn 92000 DWM shifted over to the military-style numbering system, and continued with sn 2000i. In the numbering system 1-9999, 1a-9999a, 1b-9999b.....etc., 2000i is the numeric equivalent to 92000.

The changeover date is deduced from the observation that there are both five-digit and i suffix commercial Lugers dated 1921. It is true also, that there are very sporadic commercial guns reported between sn 92000-96000 and with an i suffix before sn 2000; there is no good explanation for the discrepancy.

--Dwight

02-27-2008, 12:13 PM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Alvin, Commercial Luger numbering is in an essentially unbroken sequence, but with a change in enumeration. Numbering started, putatively with serial number 1, in 1900; and continued into the five digit range. By 1921 the numbers had reached 90000. There is no knowing the actual reason for the change which occurred that year, but a rapidly approaching six-digit number begins to become impractical in the space available on the front of a Luger frame. At approximately sn 92000 DWM shifted over to the military-style numbering system, and continued with sn 2000i. In the numbering system 1-9999, 1a-9999a, 1b-9999b.....etc., 2000i is the numeric equivalent to 92000. The changeover date is deduced from the observation that there are both five-digit and i suffix commercial Lugers dated 1921. It is true also, that there are very sporadic commercial guns reported between sn 92000-96000 and with an i suffix before sn 2000; there is no good explanation for the discrepancy. --Dwight