Significance of Nitro Marking

Dwight Gruber · 11-18-2003, 02:05 AM

Um...a bit of pedantic detail here...

There are a number of different Crown/N
and C/U conventions.

The 1892 German proof law specified three markings, Crown/B, Crown/U, and Crown/G, to be used. C/B and C/U were stamped on the barrel, receiver, and breechblock of 1900-1906 Lugers; the C/B signified power-proof, C/U (for Untersuchung) signified inspection. C/G was only found on the barrel, G (Gezogen) meaning rifled.(Costanzo, p.196 & 206)

In 1906 a new proof law was introduced, Crown/N replacing the C/B,U,G marks. C/N signified nitro proof. This proof was applied to Lugers until 1930. (Costanzo, p.201)

Crown/U was the DWM/Mauser Oberndorf commercial proof found on Lugers manufactured from 1930-1933. A C/U with a different crown was used as the Mauser commercial proof from 1934-1939. (Costanzo, p.192 & 193)

In 1950 the East Germans instituted a Crown/U as an inspection mark at Suhl, and a Crown/N as the Suhl nitro proof. (Costanzo, p.164 & 203)

Although there is a lot of correspondence with N and U, the crowns are all quite different and can be differentiated in the context of the pistol on which it resides.

--Dwight

11-18-2003, 02:05 AM	#12
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Um...a bit of pedantic detail here... There are a number of different Crown/N and C/U conventions. The 1892 German proof law specified three markings, Crown/B, Crown/U, and Crown/G, to be used. C/B and C/U were stamped on the barrel, receiver, and breechblock of 1900-1906 Lugers; the C/B signified power-proof, C/U (for Untersuchung) signified inspection. C/G was only found on the barrel, G (Gezogen) meaning rifled.(Costanzo, p.196 & 206) In 1906 a new proof law was introduced, Crown/N replacing the C/B,U,G marks. C/N signified nitro proof. This proof was applied to Lugers until 1930. (Costanzo, p.201) Crown/U was the DWM/Mauser Oberndorf commercial proof found on Lugers manufactured from 1930-1933. A C/U with a different crown was used as the Mauser commercial proof from 1934-1939. (Costanzo, p.192 & 193) In 1950 the East Germans instituted a Crown/U as an inspection mark at Suhl, and a Crown/N as the Suhl nitro proof. (Costanzo, p.164 & 203) Although there is a lot of correspondence with N and U, the crowns are all quite different and can be differentiated in the context of the pistol on which it resides. --Dwight