Luger Cottage Gunsmiths

[Dick Herman]

There are many configurations of Luger pistols assembled with mismatched early war components. Some of these mismatched pistols have the country of origin GERMANY stamps. Is it possible that these type pistols could have been assembled in Germany by cottage type gunsmiths for export?

[Edward Tinker]

Originally Posted by Dick Herman

There are many configurations of Luger pistols assembled with mismatched early war components. Some of these mismatched pistols have the country of origin GERMANY stamps. Is it possible that these type pistols could have been assembled in Germany by cottage type gunsmiths for export?

Dick, I am unsure which book I read it in, but its an older one, where it was stated that a lot more lugers were refurbished and put together by a lot more independent shops than you usually hear about. Its always thought that all the 'germany' export marked were by DWM, but I've been told and sure I've read that others did so.
Money was tight to non-existent, so it had to happen.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Dick Herman

There are many configurations of Luger pistols assembled with mismatched early war components. Some of these mismatched pistols have the country of origin GERMANY stamps. Is it possible that these type pistols could have been assembled in Germany by cottage type gunsmiths for export?

I agree with Ed, any "legal" import to the US would have had the "Germany" or it would not have been allowed- no matter who "made" it.

I would add that many or some of these small shop or large shop (with trademark) assembled lugers could and likely were "liberated" by GIs in WWII- those would not have the "Germany" mark.

The DWM lugers were already "trademarked" on the mid toggle link.