Stamping sequence on Lugers

[Heinz]

Since this topic has been coming up lately I thought I would post my understanding of the Luger acceptance mark sequence.

I believe that the stamps were applied at different stages in tthe production process startingwith the fram hardening stamp. The sequence would insure that the military inspector could look at a pistol in the factory and know that it had the proper inspection for that point in the process


The inspection stamps were applied in the following sequence:

The reciever is hardened and presented to the inspector

The first acceptance mark allowing the parts to be assebled to the receiver is stamped and the date was stamped into the receiver top at the same time.The placement of this stamp on the reciever determines the location of the rest of the stamps as they all go to the right of this initial hardening stamp. When looking at acceptance stamps on imperial lugers you can see some variation in the spacing. This is more pronounced in the 1916 to 1918 years.

After this initial hardness acceptance, pistol is completely assembled and again presented to the inspector

2. The second acceptance mark, Pistol ready for testing is applied to the right of and adjacent to the hardness proof and the complete serial number is applied at the same time.

3. The visually accepted complete pistol is presented to the inspectors for proof firing and two proof load cartridges are fired. The test proof eagle was applied forward of the inspection stamps. This indicated that the pistol had fired two overloaded test cartridges without damage.

4. The final inspectors measure the Pistol for acceptance after test firing; this indicated that the pistol had passed its post firing inspection. The barrel land diameter was added to the bottom of the barrel. This final inspection stamp was applied to the left of the test proof eagle and to the right of the hardness and assembly acceptance marks.

This results in the inspection stamps being located on the right receiver as follows (left to right).
1. Hardness furthest to the left.
2. Assembled adjacent to 1.
3.Final acceptance adjacent to 2.
4. Above, test proof located furthest to the right near barrel

I believe that at one point the Imperial requirements for this sequence were posted on the forum but I can no longer find them.

Some writers have indicated that all four stamps were applied at one time. I do not believe this to be the case. First of all it would be an affront to German efficiency. Second the process i described, and believe I read once upon a time serves to prevent an un heat treated frame fom getting into the assembly line, prevents an un-inspected pistol form being presented for proof, and prevents an on-prooved pistol from going through final inspection.

If someone has documentation describing this I would be grateful

[Vlim]

There are examples of partially marked pistols, which clearly show that the markings were not applied all at once.

With commercial work, we have a good overview of how Mauser regulated and organized the work. Basically employees got paid per job step, after it was verified. They were also not allowed to work on parts that had not been verified. Any mistakes would mean no payment for the work done.

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by Heinz

Some writers have indicated that all four stamps were applied at one time. I do not believe this to be the case.

Nor do I. If stamped all at once, it would be done either at the beginning before any steps have been completed or the end after all steps were completed.

If done before the steps were completed, what guarantee was there that the necessary steps would actually be done?

If done at the end, what guarantee was there that the steps had been done?

The only method that makes sense is that the stamps were applied following the completion of each step.

[mrerick]

Heinz, what is the source for your information on this? I'd like to add it to the FAQ Document with a reference.
Marc

[Heinz]

Mark, I am chasing down the old references now. There was a contract instruction from the Imperial Army and some comments from the Mauser startup in the 1930s. I will post the documentation when I dig them out. That was 15 years 6 moves and three computers ago. But I never get rid of anything I can just misfile.

Dwight Gruber, do you have some of this information?

[mrerick]

Heinz, thanks for looking.

If Luger collecting teaches us anything, it's patience!