Recoil Lug Serial Numbering...?

Pete Ebbink · 09-15-2002, 01:52 PM

Could use some help in knowing when to expect 2-digit serial numbers on recoil lugs and when not to; based on luger models and variations...

Photo below is from The Dutch Luger Book by Marten & de Vries, on page 135 and is included to help all see what my question is about :

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Edward Tinker · 09-15-2002, 02:17 PM

Sorry IgNoRance showing... So some obviously have two and others have more or more likely none?

So yer question sir is? What years have and don't have them? (I know, I am starting to sound like a parrot aren't I).

Pete Ebbink · 09-17-2002, 11:22 AM

Hello Ed,

Yes, I have seen some lugers with the 2 numbers on the lug, matching the last two numbers of the gun's serial.

On other lugs, I see a single number stamp (no related to the gun's serial), which might be an inspector's number. On other lugs, I have seen symbols such as a triangle...

Just trying to understand the ryhme and reason...that is, what is right and what is wrong for each manufacturer, model year, variation...

Have not seen any of the luger book authors really deal with this topic of recoil lug markings...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Herb · 09-17-2002, 11:38 AM

Pete, Costanzo on page 356 shows several examples of the lug markings, many with eagles over a number, some with up to three nembers(1900 DWM) and attributes them to being proof marks. If you have a specific example I can try to find the info. Nothing shown for the number in your picture. Both Vickers and Simpson liked to stamp nearly everything, so finding the last two on the lug would not surprise me.

Dwight Gruber · 09-18-2002, 03:25 AM

Recoil lug markings observed on single guns:

1914 Erfurt LP08 letter & symbol stamps
1917 DWM LP08 letter & symbol stamps
1917 DWM Navy letter & symbol stamps, last two digits of serial#
1900AE last three digits of (5-digit) serial#
1936 S/42 letter stamp
1920 DWM Commercial no marks

The 1910/1914 orders for marking the P-08 (Still, Imperial Lugers) shows no marking specified for the recoil lug. Still (ibid.) shows a 1908 Commercial with the last two digits of a 5-digit number; and (in Weimar Lugers) a 1921 DWM, Swiss Cross chamber marking, Abercrombie & Fitch, with no marking.

--Dwight

Lugerdoc · 09-18-2002, 09:04 AM

Pete, I believe that you'll only find the last 2 or 3 digits of the serial number on the receiver lug of some commerical or contract lugers. Militaries generally didn't need it, as the full serial, less suffix letter, was stamped on the left side. When DWM discontinued this practice, is not quite clear, but I would guess sometime in the 1920s after switching from the 5 digit serialization. Tom H.

09-15-2002, 01:52 PM	#1
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Recoil Lug Serial Numbering...? Could use some help in knowing when to expect 2-digit serial numbers on recoil lugs and when not to; based on luger models and variations... Photo below is from The Dutch Luger Book by Marten & de Vries, on page 135 and is included to help all see what my question is about : Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

09-15-2002, 02:17 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	Sorry IgNoRance showing... So some obviously have two and others have more or more likely none? So yer question sir is? What years have and don't have them? (I know, I am starting to sound like a parrot aren't I). __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-17-2002, 11:38 AM	#4
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Pete, Costanzo on page 356 shows several examples of the lug markings, many with eagles over a number, some with up to three nembers(1900 DWM) and attributes them to being proof marks. If you have a specific example I can try to find the info. Nothing shown for the number in your picture. Both Vickers and Simpson liked to stamp nearly everything, so finding the last two on the lug would not surprise me. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

09-18-2002, 09:04 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Pete, I believe that you'll only find the last 2 or 3 digits of the serial number on the receiver lug of some commerical or contract lugers. Militaries generally didn't need it, as the full serial, less suffix letter, was stamped on the left side. When DWM discontinued this practice, is not quite clear, but I would guess sometime in the 1920s after switching from the 5 digit serialization. Tom H. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-17-2002, 11:22 AM	#3
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hello Ed, Yes, I have seen some lugers with the 2 numbers on the lug, matching the last two numbers of the gun's serial. On other lugs, I see a single number stamp (no related to the gun's serial), which might be an inspector's number. On other lugs, I have seen symbols such as a triangle... Just trying to understand the ryhme and reason...that is, what is right and what is wrong for each manufacturer, model year, variation... Have not seen any of the luger book authors really deal with this topic of recoil lug markings... Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

09-18-2002, 03:25 AM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Recoil lug markings observed on single guns: 1914 Erfurt LP08 letter & symbol stamps 1917 DWM LP08 letter & symbol stamps 1917 DWM Navy letter & symbol stamps, last two digits of serial# 1900AE last three digits of (5-digit) serial# 1936 S/42 letter stamp 1920 DWM Commercial no marks The 1910/1914 orders for marking the P-08 (Still, Imperial Lugers) shows no marking specified for the recoil lug. Still (ibid.) shows a 1908 Commercial with the last two digits of a 5-digit number; and (in Weimar Lugers) a 1921 DWM, Swiss Cross chamber marking, Abercrombie & Fitch, with no marking. --Dwight