Help in identifying the year of Manufacture

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 06:44 PM

I have just aquired a Luger, it's my first. Can some one help with the year of manufacture. The date is worn off the top of the pistol, only "19__" remains visible. DWM on toggle with "19" stamped next to DWM, also on the rear of toggle and on the extractor in front of toggle. A 19 is also stamped on the locking bolt lever. Serial number 2819 in front of frame under the barrel and a scrolled "L" under the serial number. 2819 is also on the barrel and on the left side of the frame. Gesichert is under the safety lever. Can anyone help tell me the year?

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 06:48 PM

On the front of the grip frame is stamped with "142.R.5.47"

Ron Smith · 05-07-2008, 08:08 PM

Hi Ken,

I can't help with the date, but the grip starp mark is 142nd Infantry Regiment 5th Company weapon # 47. This is a WWI Imperial mark so your Luger would be 1918 or earlier production. The other 19's stamp on the pistol are the last two digits of the serial number Indicating matched parts.

Ron

LugerVern · 05-07-2008, 08:08 PM

Please post clear pictures of left side, inside rear well, and top of gun--there are clues we can use to help you with your dating.

Vern

Edward Tinker · 05-07-2008, 08:52 PM

Ken, welcome to the forum. I have combined (mergered) the two threads into one. As Ron said, it is better to have answers just in one place.

Ed

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 11:07 PM

here are some pics

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 11:08 PM

another

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 11:09 PM

another

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 11:12 PM

another

kensurfs · 05-07-2008, 11:13 PM

last pic

MFC · 05-07-2008, 11:42 PM

Ken,
The suffix is a "b" not an "l". The "l" doesn't have a little tail on the right side.
Mike C.

LugerVern · 05-08-2008, 08:12 AM

Hello Ken

The relieved sear bar suggests that your gun was made between 1916 and 1918, so a three year span.

It will be difficult to get closer on the year estimate.

Its always hard to tell what a gun like this has gone through over the years, there has been an attempt to modify the appearance at some point, but for some reason they stopped. If you look at the very front of the frame you will see that metal has been removed from the frame so that it fit flush with the upper receive, because of this I am not sure that the upper and lower halves of your gun originaly matted to each other. It may be that your upper is post WWI and that someone removed the last two digits of the date stamp to make the gun look totally imperial.

It will be interesting to hear what the other collectors think.

thanks for posting

Vern

kensurfs · 05-09-2008, 07:12 PM

I talked to the previous owner and he told me that there had been some rust and pitting near the date and over the years someone had tried to clean the rust and pitting off. So they used a file or diamond stone, and took some of the numbers with the rust. I would have left the pitting.

05-07-2008, 06:44 PM	#1
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help identifying my Luger I have just aquired a Luger, it's my first. Can some one help with the year of manufacture. The date is worn off the top of the pistol, only "19__" remains visible. DWM on toggle with "19" stamped next to DWM, also on the rear of toggle and on the extractor in front of toggle. A 19 is also stamped on the locking bolt lever. Serial number 2819 in front of frame under the barrel and a scrolled "L" under the serial number. 2819 is also on the barrel and on the left side of the frame. Gesichert is under the safety lever. Can anyone help tell me the year?

05-07-2008, 06:48 PM	#2
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	one more item On the front of the grip frame is stamped with "142.R.5.47"

05-07-2008, 08:08 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Ken, I can't help with the date, but the grip starp mark is 142nd Infantry Regiment 5th Company weapon # 47. This is a WWI Imperial mark so your Luger would be 1918 or earlier production. The other 19's stamp on the pistol are the last two digits of the serial number Indicating matched parts. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-07-2008, 08:52 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Ken, welcome to the forum. I have combined (mergered) the two threads into one. As Ron said, it is better to have answers just in one place. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-07-2008, 11:07 PM	#6
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	pics of Luger here are some pics Attached Thumbnails

05-07-2008, 08:08 PM	#4
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Please post clear pictures of left side, inside rear well, and top of gun--there are clues we can use to help you with your dating. Vern

05-07-2008, 11:08 PM	#7
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	pic2 another Attached Thumbnails

05-07-2008, 11:09 PM	#8
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	another pic another Attached Thumbnails

05-07-2008, 11:12 PM	#9
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	another another Attached Thumbnails

05-07-2008, 11:13 PM	#10
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	last pic last pic Attached Thumbnails

05-07-2008, 11:42 PM	#11
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Ken, The suffix is a "b" not an "l". The "l" doesn't have a little tail on the right side. Mike C. __________________ Mike C.

05-08-2008, 08:12 AM	#12
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Hello Ken The relieved sear bar suggests that your gun was made between 1916 and 1918, so a three year span. It will be difficult to get closer on the year estimate. Its always hard to tell what a gun like this has gone through over the years, there has been an attempt to modify the appearance at some point, but for some reason they stopped. If you look at the very front of the frame you will see that metal has been removed from the frame so that it fit flush with the upper receive, because of this I am not sure that the upper and lower halves of your gun originaly matted to each other. It may be that your upper is post WWI and that someone removed the last two digits of the date stamp to make the gun look totally imperial. It will be interesting to hear what the other collectors think. thanks for posting Vern

05-09-2008, 07:12 PM	#13
kensurfs User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	more info I talked to the previous owner and he told me that there had been some rust and pitting near the date and over the years someone had tried to clean the rust and pitting off. So they used a file or diamond stone, and took some of the numbers with the rust. I would have left the pitting.