Conflicting #s

renaissance · 07-01-2001, 06:18 AM

I have a 1940 "42".

At first blush, the parts all appeared to have "Matching Numbers"

On closer examination today:

I noticed a two digit # stamped onto THE INSIDE of the Side/Trigger Plate > which is different from the (matching) Number stamped onto the OUTSIDE of the Side/Trigger Plate.

What Gives?

On another matter:

In Aarron Davis's "The Luger Handbood"

He says that:

The (Original) GRIPS, have the last two digits of the serial number.

I have never seen a serial # on "grips".

Where are they?

What method of application is used (stamp/scribed/Ink/??

SteveM · 07-01-2001, 07:54 AM

The numbers on the inside of the sideplate should be 1 greater than the first 2 digits of the serial number.(for this particular model). BTW, is the inside of the sideplate blued or bright?

My 42/1940 grips are numbered and proofed(E/655).These are stamped into the grips, located on inside. I have seen grips

without serial number,without proof or with 1 of the 2.

SteveM

renaissance · 07-01-2001, 10:28 AM

Yes!

That is exactly correct.

It is One greater than the first two numbers of the four digit serial number.

What is the Scheme/Purpose/Formula here?

Knowing the Germanic Mind there had to be a system involved?

You Say:

"My 42/1940 grips are numbered and proofed(E/655).These are stamped into the grips, located on inside."

Is the (E/655) a "Proof Code" or is it related to the SN.

Are your grips Original to the gun?

Are they Walnut or Plastic?

Mine are plastic, and unmarked.

There is a current thread re: plastic vs Wood grips on the "42". According to my understanding of the information presented: A four digit (without a letter after) would be an early run of the "42" and whould have been originally issued with walnut grips.

You say yours also is a "Year 1940" (type "42")

Does your serial number have a suffix?

I assume that since you say the number is "Stamped" the grips are probably wood (But of course as is always when you "assume", I could be wrong)

The reason I am so curious is:

I have had the gun for some 40 years, all the numbers match and these are the grips that come with it.

It would seem likely that the grips would not normally have been replaced that early. (especially plastic for wood)

The gun shows extensive evidence of having been left for some time "drenched in blood".

I know what "Blood" does to a finish; I was wondering what "blood" might do to grips - and If the original (It seems they should have been Wood) grips were replaced because of that?

aside:

This is getting more and more intrigueing.

I have always said that I was a "shooter" instead of a "collector", but;

I am starting to understand the passion that seems to grip many "Collectors"

It is not just the possesion.

It is the history!

Big Norm · 07-01-2001, 02:14 PM

I have seen a navy luger that Jerry Peters owns that was soaked in blood and the outside of it is severely damaged. My first impression was, why the heck did Jerry spend good money on that piece of crap.

Now I think differently. That damaged navy luger has character. Now, when I go to Jerrys house I think of the poor fellow that died on top of that gun. I think of the sacrifice he made and how he suffered. Political differences aside, we are still all simple humans. In a way, that gun is historical and it is just as valuable as a minty luger is. Wars are horrible and many people have paid dearly in them. Jerrys gun sort of symbolizes that fact.

Big Norm

SteveM · 07-01-2001, 03:21 PM

I do not know why the sideplates were marked in this manner. Maybe someone else on the board knows.

The E/655 is an acceptance stamp, not a proof mark. The proof mark for army test is the Eagle over Swastika.The grips on mine are original to the gun and yes, they are walnut. Plastic grips will not be numbered or have any acceptance stamp. Mine is in the k suffix range. Yours would be proper with no suffix as the serial range for these are 7700z to 7000n with estimated production being app 135K. According to still, about 2% of these have the

black plastic grips while a very few have Krieghoff type coarse brown checkered grips.

The recent thread you refer to concerning wood versus plastic was on the byf 42 pistols(Black Widows,pistols dated 42). Just so there is no confusion, above information is on 42 coded 1940 dated pistols.

SteveM

07-01-2001, 06:18 AM	#1
renaissance User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Conflicting #s I have a 1940 "42". At first blush, the parts all appeared to have "Matching Numbers" On closer examination today: I noticed a two digit # stamped onto THE INSIDE of the Side/Trigger Plate > which is different from the (matching) Number stamped onto the OUTSIDE of the Side/Trigger Plate. What Gives? On another matter: In Aarron Davis's "The Luger Handbood" He says that: The (Original) GRIPS, have the last two digits of the serial number. I have never seen a serial # on "grips". Where are they? What method of application is used (stamp/scribed/Ink/??

07-01-2001, 07:54 AM	#2
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Re: Conflicting #s The numbers on the inside of the sideplate should be 1 greater than the first 2 digits of the serial number.(for this particular model). BTW, is the inside of the sideplate blued or bright? My 42/1940 grips are numbered and proofed(E/655).These are stamped into the grips, located on inside. I have seen grips without serial number,without proof or with 1 of the 2. SteveM

07-01-2001, 10:28 AM	#3
renaissance User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Conflicting #s Yes! That is exactly correct. It is One greater than the first two numbers of the four digit serial number. What is the Scheme/Purpose/Formula here? Knowing the Germanic Mind there had to be a system involved? You Say: "My 42/1940 grips are numbered and proofed(E/655).These are stamped into the grips, located on inside." Is the (E/655) a "Proof Code" or is it related to the SN. Are your grips Original to the gun? Are they Walnut or Plastic? Mine are plastic, and unmarked. There is a current thread re: plastic vs Wood grips on the "42". According to my understanding of the information presented: A four digit (without a letter after) would be an early run of the "42" and whould have been originally issued with walnut grips. You say yours also is a "Year 1940" (type "42") Does your serial number have a suffix? I assume that since you say the number is "Stamped" the grips are probably wood (But of course as is always when you "assume", I could be wrong) The reason I am so curious is: I have had the gun for some 40 years, all the numbers match and these are the grips that come with it. It would seem likely that the grips would not normally have been replaced that early. (especially plastic for wood) The gun shows extensive evidence of having been left for some time "drenched in blood". I know what "Blood" does to a finish; I was wondering what "blood" might do to grips - and If the original (It seems they should have been Wood) grips were replaced because of that? aside: This is getting more and more intrigueing. I have always said that I was a "shooter" instead of a "collector", but; I am starting to understand the passion that seems to grip many "Collectors" It is not just the possesion. It is the history!

07-01-2001, 02:14 PM	#4
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Conflicting #s I have seen a navy luger that Jerry Peters owns that was soaked in blood and the outside of it is severely damaged. My first impression was, why the heck did Jerry spend good money on that piece of crap. Now I think differently. That damaged navy luger has character. Now, when I go to Jerrys house I think of the poor fellow that died on top of that gun. I think of the sacrifice he made and how he suffered. Political differences aside, we are still all simple humans. In a way, that gun is historical and it is just as valuable as a minty luger is. Wars are horrible and many people have paid dearly in them. Jerrys gun sort of symbolizes that fact. Big Norm

07-01-2001, 03:21 PM	#5
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Re: Conflicting #s I do not know why the sideplates were marked in this manner. Maybe someone else on the board knows. The E/655 is an acceptance stamp, not a proof mark. The proof mark for army test is the Eagle over Swastika.The grips on mine are original to the gun and yes, they are walnut. Plastic grips will not be numbered or have any acceptance stamp. Mine is in the k suffix range. Yours would be proper with no suffix as the serial range for these are 7700z to 7000n with estimated production being app 135K. According to still, about 2% of these have the black plastic grips while a very few have Krieghoff type coarse brown checkered grips. The recent thread you refer to concerning wood versus plastic was on the byf 42 pistols(Black Widows,pistols dated 42). Just so there is no confusion, above information is on 42 coded 1940 dated pistols. SteveM