Hello, I'm not sure what I have.

Yogurt · 01-26-2005, 02:39 AM

I posted about this last week in the New Collectors Forum and finally picked my first Luger up a few days ago. Well, I'm not sure at all what I have. I took some quick pictures of all of the external markings. The serial number is 5043a on the frame, barrel, and receiver. All links on the toggle match, as well as the extractor, trigger, thumb safety lever, safety bar, locking bolt, and sear bar. The rear axle pin is marked 68 or 86 and the firing pin is marked 69. Everything else is unmarked. The breech is unmarked. The magazine is an fxo (with Eagle 37's) with 5043 electropenciled on the spine. There are no import marks on the pistol.

Here are the pictures!

Left side of the pistol. The trigger sideplate appears buffed over the serial. If you look at the first toggle link the same "Crown N" appears horizontally.

The very boring top of my pistol.

Is this the dreaded X?

The locking bolt is stamped "43" on the bottom as well.

The left side of the barrel.

Rear of the toggle!

And finally there are these two nice things on the right side of the receiver.

Thanks in advance guys! I just want to see if this thing has a bit of a story to tell.

Ron Smith · 01-26-2005, 08:47 AM

Gary,
It appears to be a Russian capture alphabet commercial Luger, with Army style numbering. And that is the dreaded X. At least it's mostly matching. Looks like a nice shooter and in decent condition.

Ron

Yogurt · 01-27-2005, 05:08 PM

Thanks. I'm guessing it was made sometime between 1920 and 1930, any hopes of narrowing that down? Also, who would've applied the set of military-style numbers and why? Any idea as to what the funky crowned marking on the right of the receiver is?

Yogurt · 01-27-2005, 06:23 PM

Well this sucks! It eats my NO-GO gauge. So much for shooting it.

Ron Wood · 01-27-2005, 06:35 PM

Bummer. You can't shoot it and it isn't collectable. An expensive paperweight. Can you get your money back?

Thor · 01-27-2005, 06:42 PM

It looks like barrel, receiver and frame all have different subscripts, s, a and d but if you cant return it, check that first, Hugh might be able to take the barrel off, file a bit of the flange down, turn in the barrel one extra thread and rechamber to specs. He has done this before with excellent results. The big question if this avenue is selected is will the barrel come off easily? Hope this works out for you.

Yogurt · 01-27-2005, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm going to try and get my money back, although I have my doubts. I really don't think it's worth putting any more money into. It has a nice bore and functions well. (Without firing of course.)

John Sabato · 01-28-2005, 01:48 PM

If you don't get your money back, I think it would still be worth sending it to Hugh Clark and have him turn the barrel back... it would still make a fine shooter.

01-26-2005, 02:39 AM	#1
Yogurt User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello, I'm not sure what I have. I posted about this last week in the New Collectors Forum and finally picked my first Luger up a few days ago. Well, I'm not sure at all what I have. I took some quick pictures of all of the external markings. The serial number is 5043a on the frame, barrel, and receiver. All links on the toggle match, as well as the extractor, trigger, thumb safety lever, safety bar, locking bolt, and sear bar. The rear axle pin is marked 68 or 86 and the firing pin is marked 69. Everything else is unmarked. The breech is unmarked. The magazine is an fxo (with Eagle 37's) with 5043 electropenciled on the spine. There are no import marks on the pistol. Here are the pictures! Left side of the pistol. The trigger sideplate appears buffed over the serial. If you look at the first toggle link the same "Crown N" appears horizontally. The very boring top of my pistol. Is this the dreaded X? The locking bolt is stamped "43" on the bottom as well. The left side of the barrel. Rear of the toggle! And finally there are these two nice things on the right side of the receiver. Thanks in advance guys! I just want to see if this thing has a bit of a story to tell.

01-26-2005, 08:47 AM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Gary, It appears to be a Russian capture alphabet commercial Luger, with Army style numbering. And that is the dreaded X. At least it's mostly matching. Looks like a nice shooter and in decent condition. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

01-27-2005, 06:35 PM	#5
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Bummer. You can't shoot it and it isn't collectable. An expensive paperweight. Can you get your money back? __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-27-2005, 06:42 PM	#6
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	It looks like barrel, receiver and frame all have different subscripts, s, a and d but if you cant return it, check that first, Hugh might be able to take the barrel off, file a bit of the flange down, turn in the barrel one extra thread and rechamber to specs. He has done this before with excellent results. The big question if this avenue is selected is will the barrel come off easily? Hope this works out for you. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-28-2005, 01:48 PM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	If you don't get your money back, I think it would still be worth sending it to Hugh Clark and have him turn the barrel back... it would still make a fine shooter. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-27-2005, 05:08 PM	#3
Yogurt User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks. I'm guessing it was made sometime between 1920 and 1930, any hopes of narrowing that down? Also, who would've applied the set of military-style numbers and why? Any idea as to what the funky crowned marking on the right of the receiver is?

01-27-2005, 06:23 PM	#4
Yogurt User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well this sucks! It eats my NO-GO gauge. So much for shooting it.

01-27-2005, 06:54 PM	#7
Yogurt User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to try and get my money back, although I have my doubts. I really don't think it's worth putting any more money into. It has a nice bore and functions well. (Without firing of course.)