Navy Toggle Question

bradsimpson · 07-12-2002, 02:12 PM

Jan,
You are right about the many fake Navy Lugers out there. They are made from donor 1920 Commercial Lugers because of the same serial number style & placement. Navy barrels & rear toggles were manufactured recently to put on 20 Commercials (which are relatively cheap & easy to find in nice condition.) Then Navy proofs are added to the left side of the receiver, a chamber date is added (usually 1916), a fake Navy mag is added, etc.

I can assure you that all of the top dealers know about these guns because they have been offered to us in quantity by the maker at very tempting wholesale prices. And they look nicer than most real Navy Lugers, because real ones are usually pitted from sea spray.

This forum has picked up on the easiest way to identify these guns, look at the flange on the rear toggle pin. The fake Navy Lugers still have the smaller flanged pin that fits into the smaller flanged receiver from the donated 1920 Commercial. Also look for the recently added chamber date & Navy proofs. And the rear sight adjustment button is fire blued with very sharp serrations.

Many of these guns have ended up in the hands of novice collectors (I see the damage done on a regular basis.) I know several people who have stopped collecting after getting stung. They were only sold by a few dealers, but they sold a lot of them. It would not look right for me as a dealer to name names. But I beleive the collectors on this forum have the right to expose the people who have knowingly tried to take advantage of them.

The bad guys rely on the good guys keeping quiet.

07-12-2002, 02:12 PM	#1
bradsimpson User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Galesburg, IL Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts	Jan, You are right about the many fake Navy Lugers out there. They are made from donor 1920 Commercial Lugers because of the same serial number style & placement. Navy barrels & rear toggles were manufactured recently to put on 20 Commercials (which are relatively cheap & easy to find in nice condition.) Then Navy proofs are added to the left side of the receiver, a chamber date is added (usually 1916), a fake Navy mag is added, etc. I can assure you that all of the top dealers know about these guns because they have been offered to us in quantity by the maker at very tempting wholesale prices. And they look nicer than most real Navy Lugers, because real ones are usually pitted from sea spray. This forum has picked up on the easiest way to identify these guns, look at the flange on the rear toggle pin. The fake Navy Lugers still have the smaller flanged pin that fits into the smaller flanged receiver from the donated 1920 Commercial. Also look for the recently added chamber date & Navy proofs. And the rear sight adjustment button is fire blued with very sharp serrations. Many of these guns have ended up in the hands of novice collectors (I see the damage done on a regular basis.) I know several people who have stopped collecting after getting stung. They were only sold by a few dealers, but they sold a lot of them. It would not look right for me as a dealer to name names. But I beleive the collectors on this forum have the right to expose the people who have knowingly tried to take advantage of them. The bad guys rely on the good guys keeping quiet.