My 1920

Highlander · 05-22-2023, 02:55 PM

I have been scouring the internet and books trying to find out more about my Luger but I can't quite pin it down.

It is a 1920 (not double date) DWM in 9mm with a 8cm barrel.
The serial number is 473n
The firing pin is fluted with the last digits (73) marked.
Other parts are marked 73 except the hold open which is 66 and the period correct wood based magazine is stamped 5877.
There is no sear safety or mag safety.
There are no police or other markings on the front strap.
The safety and loaded chamber indicator are written in German
Under the barrel is marked 473n and 8.82
There are three marks on the right side and the same mark on the top of the barrel they are an eagle with droopy wings over what appears to be AA4.

Would this have been issued to the military and possibly used through WW-II? Thank you for your help.

Mac Cat · 05-22-2023, 04:14 PM

We really need to see the pictures.

It sounds like it could be a police luger.
A magazine safety? It may be removed, but the notch they would have cut may still be present.
A sear safety would be big clue, but not all of them had one.

A serial number under the barrel makes me think it was originally a military luger.
The stamps on the right side of the receiver will help confirm that.

BTW, I think you will find the barrel is 10cm.
It is measured from the breech, not from the end of the frame.

(added)
The "AA4" description doesn't sound quite right. It may be an arsenal rework stamp.
The image below has one on the far left and the right. There are many variations.
The Gothic stamps with crowns (c/T c/S c/S) are the usual military acceptance and firing proof stamps.
The 4th eagle with wings up marks it as an Imperial era luger.

Highlander · 05-22-2023, 05:26 PM

I'll play with my camera and see if I can get some good shots.

Highlander · 05-22-2023, 05:55 PM

Here is a picture of the marks and underside of the barrel.

gunnertwo · 05-22-2023, 11:29 PM

Good pics! Please add more, help us help you.

G2

Mac Cat · 05-23-2023, 11:21 AM

I looked through Sam Castanzo's "World of Lugers", which is a rich collection of stamps and came up with

#16 1920-1921 DWM and ERFURT Weimar military police receiver proof. (shown below)

The stamps on your luger are pretty hard to make out while I think the eagle is right, the letters on the bottom don't seem to match up as much.

This is my own opinion and I'm not any kind of expert on reworks or police lugers.

Highlander · 05-23-2023, 02:38 PM

A few more pictures.

Edward Tinker · 05-23-2023, 04:13 PM

These are what I call 'Dove' acceptance and proofs - Dwight dislikes that term. I use it because they look dovie and not eagle like.
They were used 1920 / 1921 timeframe, for both military and police, as the military purchased for the police till the mid 30's or so.
It would have been made in 1920 and not a property marking - see the FAQ on the forum in the new collector area for further information.
And yes, used through the war years of 1939-1945

Highlander · 05-23-2023, 04:57 PM

Thank you!

gunnertwo · 05-23-2023, 04:58 PM

Here's a chart on 1920 / 1921 "n" suffix pistols. I have 373 n with Berlin police markings.

G2

Mac Cat · 05-23-2023, 06:04 PM

I don't see any sight of a magazine or sear safety modification, but that isn't unusual for a Police luger.

The small parts that should have straw color look like they retained their finish - they all look really good (locking bolt, trigger, and thumb safety).

The left grip has a very common chip under the thumb safety. It's very easy to do if you aren't very careful about removing the left grip. Some people remove the right grip first and then reach through to carefully lift out the left grip through the magazine well, just to avoid chipping the grip.

I just can't make out the number on the trigger. It appears to have a different number, but I can't make it out.

Congratulations on your photography!

@gunnertwo: I haven't seen that chart before, but the acceptance marks are pretty clearly "E/ArA4" in this serial number range. Very cool - thanks for sharing it!

gunnertwo · 05-23-2023, 07:34 PM

Here's the thread:

https://forum.lugerforum.com/showthr...20%2F21+series

My pistol is pictured.

G2

sej-gun · 06-01-2023, 11:49 AM

Hi Highlander

Interesting n block P.08. I will add it to the database for 1920 n block guns. Thank you for sharing.
Reg. Sej-gun

Doubs · 06-01-2023, 03:32 PM

Highlander, that is an interesting and very nice looking Luger. The offset "8,82" is unusual in that the bore diameter mark ia usually stamped directly under the suffix letter.

Barrel length is measured from muzzle to breech face, to include the chamber, with the action closed. Drop a pencil or rod down the barrel until it rests on the closed breech face. Mark the shaft, withdraw and measure. The barrel is likely between 95 ~ 98mm in length.

05-22-2023, 04:14 PM	#2
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 725 Thanks: 2,090 Thanked 606 Times in 327 Posts	We really need to see the pictures. It sounds like it could be a police luger. A magazine safety? It may be removed, but the notch they would have cut may still be present. A sear safety would be big clue, but not all of them had one. A serial number under the barrel makes me think it was originally a military luger. The stamps on the right side of the receiver will help confirm that. BTW, I think you will find the barrel is 10cm. It is measured from the breech, not from the end of the frame. (added) The "AA4" description doesn't sound quite right. It may be an arsenal rework stamp. The image below has one on the far left and the right. There are many variations. The Gothic stamps with crowns (c/T c/S c/S) are the usual military acceptance and firing proof stamps. The 4th eagle with wings up marks it as an Imperial era luger. Attached Images

05-22-2023, 05:55 PM	#4
Highlander User Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Here is a picture of the marks and underside of the barrel. Attached Thumbnails

05-23-2023, 11:21 AM	#6
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 725 Thanks: 2,090 Thanked 606 Times in 327 Posts	I looked through Sam Castanzo's "World of Lugers", which is a rich collection of stamps and came up with #16 1920-1921 DWM and ERFURT Weimar military police receiver proof. (shown below) The stamps on your luger are pretty hard to make out while I think the eagle is right, the letters on the bottom don't seem to match up as much. This is my own opinion and I'm not any kind of expert on reworks or police lugers. Attached Thumbnails

05-23-2023, 02:38 PM	#7
Highlander User Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	A few more pictures. Attached Thumbnails

05-23-2023, 04:13 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,932 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,528 Times in 2,091 Posts	These are what I call 'Dove' acceptance and proofs - Dwight dislikes that term. I use it because they look dovie and not eagle like. They were used 1920 / 1921 timeframe, for both military and police, as the military purchased for the police till the mid 30's or so. It would have been made in 1920 and not a property marking - see the FAQ on the forum in the new collector area for further information. And yes, used through the war years of 1939-1945 __________________ 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

05-22-2023, 02:55 PM	#1
Highlander User Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	My 1920 I have been scouring the internet and books trying to find out more about my Luger but I can't quite pin it down. It is a 1920 (not double date) DWM in 9mm with a 8cm barrel. The serial number is 473n The firing pin is fluted with the last digits (73) marked. Other parts are marked 73 except the hold open which is 66 and the period correct wood based magazine is stamped 5877. There is no sear safety or mag safety. There are no police or other markings on the front strap. The safety and loaded chamber indicator are written in German Under the barrel is marked 473n and 8.82 There are three marks on the right side and the same mark on the top of the barrel they are an eagle with droopy wings over what appears to be AA4. Would this have been issued to the military and possibly used through WW-II? Thank you for your help.

05-22-2023, 05:26 PM	#3
Highlander User Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	I'll play with my camera and see if I can get some good shots.

05-22-2023, 11:29 PM	#5
gunnertwo User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 623 Thanks: 825 Thanked 930 Times in 363 Posts	Good pics! Please add more, help us help you. G2

05-23-2023, 04:57 PM	#9
Highlander User Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you!

05-23-2023, 06:04 PM	#11
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 725 Thanks: 2,090 Thanked 606 Times in 327 Posts	I don't see any sight of a magazine or sear safety modification, but that isn't unusual for a Police luger. The small parts that should have straw color look like they retained their finish - they all look really good (locking bolt, trigger, and thumb safety). The left grip has a very common chip under the thumb safety. It's very easy to do if you aren't very careful about removing the left grip. Some people remove the right grip first and then reach through to carefully lift out the left grip through the magazine well, just to avoid chipping the grip. I just can't make out the number on the trigger. It appears to have a different number, but I can't make it out. Congratulations on your photography! @gunnertwo: I haven't seen that chart before, but the acceptance marks are pretty clearly "E/ArA4" in this serial number range. Very cool - thanks for sharing it!

05-23-2023, 07:34 PM	#12
gunnertwo User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 623 Thanks: 825 Thanked 930 Times in 363 Posts	Here's the thread: https://forum.lugerforum.com/showthr...20%2F21+series My pistol is pictured. G2

06-01-2023, 11:49 AM	#13
sej-gun User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 99 Thanks: 26 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	Hi Highlander Interesting n block P.08. I will add it to the database for 1920 n block guns. Thank you for sharing. Reg. Sej-gun

06-01-2023, 03:32 PM	#14
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,696 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,679 Times in 552 Posts	Highlander, that is an interesting and very nice looking Luger. The offset "8,82" is unusual in that the bore diameter mark ia usually stamped directly under the suffix letter. Barrel length is measured from muzzle to breech face, to include the chamber, with the action closed. Drop a pencil or rod down the barrel until it rests on the closed breech face. Mark the shaft, withdraw and measure. The barrel is likely between 95 ~ 98mm in length.