I don't really know what it is, but its old

[alanint]

The Police would not have ground off the date. Judging from the extensive buffing in this area, I'm guessing that the area might have developed rust and pitting, (which is usually the reason for nickeling a Luger) and was treated by buffing the entire area down. This happened sometime post war. Remember that vets did not place the same value as we do on these guns. They were tossed into glove compartments, tool boxes and bilges as car and boat guns, with little concern as to their finish.

[firefree]

Again the missing date is not an issue. It is the opinion of another member, and I like his opinion. The finish is also not an issue. There are one or two family members I hope to ask about the plating. Beyond that it is what it is. A collector looked at it at a gun show 20 years ago and valued it at $400 as a shooter. I understand no Lugers came with factory nickel.
*I'd like to find where the gun went before it was picked up and beacme a BringBack.
*I am going to get it inspected to determine if I can continue to shoot it. (I hope so)
I didn't understand how old it was. Its nice on the inside. I may even renickel it so it looks good on the outside too.
At the heart of my issues are my wife wondering if her Dad lied to her about the gun. I've tried to explain that we Vets tend to remember things a bit more excitingly than perhaps a film of the "action" would appear. So now I want to find a beleiveable way the gun could have ended up in or near Normandy on D-day.
So the big question at the moment is ... Did WWI Police reissued guns from the 1914-15 era get drafted back into service for the second Great War? Were people that had them allowed to bring them to the war? I assume they were not privately owned until after WWII, if they have Army proofmarks. Reccomended book are welcome too.
Any information is appreciated
Thanks
Steve

[firefree]

I think I need to add... I have a few pages written that follow serial 1803 thru the years until my Father in-law obtains it. Been reading history and making noted. My intent is to present her with a "story" with the facts, mostly learned here highlighted. The balance being something that could of happened where there is no way to determine what really happened. This way the next generations can know what I really know and read a good story. My draft includes the fact that it was made either before or soon after Archduke Ferdinand got wacked by a Serbian. Most likely after as it was 1 of the first 10K made in either 1914 or '15. Its got to be a plasuable story however as she has a BA in History and teaches that era. I like to write and when I get history wrong I hear about it.

[Patronen]

Steve, here is a link over to Jan C. Stills website to a thread that in the very begining of it will answer your question about German Police of the era.

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...3-Policelugers

[CavScoutEurope]

Is there a letter suffix on the Luger? If your father-in-law fought in that area and that where he said that he got it, I would say you should take his word on it. Do you have any idea if he had bring back papers on it? Perhaps if he has a stash of old documents you might find it there..... Then again he may have just bought it off someone over there or even here in the states. If I were you I would just keep the story that your father-in-law told and leave it at that.

[FNorm]

Doubtful. Are there any markings on the grip straps?

FN

[firefree]

No bring back papers that we found. He was a very secretive man and I'm sure some records were lost in storage units and safe deposit boxes he told nobody about.
There are no marks on the grip straps. Alanint is correct the weapon was heavely buffed before plating so more than the date may be missing.
Somehow her Dad was reduced in rank (Deck Courts Martial) just before D-day and was assigned as a gunner on a Higgins boat. We don't know how he ended up onshore, but told his daugher he "took the gun and the hat insigina from a dead Officer.
Next we know he was reassigned to the Pacific theater on a Destroyer Escort. Then he was a POW of the Japanese. Or perhaps the ship steamed for the other ocean, we don't know.
I'm told guys could just stick a pistol in a box address it home and nobody would check.
I opened this can of worms about the Luger, so now I will follow it where it leads. Something like the original story will result.

Patronen, thanks for the link. I'm going to look in to the book if its still available

Alanint, Just a note: Steve McQueen was one of the coolest men ever! If I were to use a star as an avatar my choice would be James Garner

[Douglas Jr.]

Did you try to get the old man's records at NARA ?
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/
It could be an interesting start for your research.
Douglas

[mrerick]

Hi,

To answer your question about re-use of a police Luger during WW-II, remember that it is the nature of Germans to not waste anything.

A WW-I pistol taken into police service during the Weimar Era could well have had it's sear safety removed, with the pistol then returned to military service. That would not have been unusual.

It's most likely that the nickle plating work was done after the pistol was brought into the USA. Many veterans did this with their war trophies.

Determining this conclusively would be difficult, but this is a likely scenario. Congratulations on your family heirloom.

Should you inspect it and find it safe to shoot, use standard velocity ammo.

Marc