Little Help

splitfish · 10-18-2011, 07:32 PM

I recently went to a gun show and brought along my Luger, I learned a lot about it but there are some characters stamped on the grip that have always interested me. They gave me a brief description on what they meant but referred me to this site to learn more. I'm hoping someone out there can tell me exactly what they mean. Any help would be much appreciated, this Luger has been in my family for 4 generations now, I'd love to learn where it came from and how my great grandfather ended up with it. I know these letters and numbers can't tell me all that but maybe they can point me in the right direction. Thanks again!

mrerick · 10-18-2011, 08:21 PM

Normally, these are a "Unit Mark" that associates the pistol with a military unit during WW-I.

The author of "History Writ In Steel" (which discusses these marks) is a member of this forum. He should be able to lend some light on the markings.

Marc

Norme · 10-18-2011, 08:31 PM

Hi Jake, Welcome to the forum! Unit marked Lugers like yours are particularly interesting and we would like to see more photos. Does it have a dated chamber? Is the middle toggle marked DWM or Erfurt?
Your unit marks translate to 173rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Machine Gun Company, weapon #180. What interests me is the fact that the 2 was added later. At the start of the war each regiment had only one machine gun company, so no number was needed. Later in the war each regiment had two or more. Here's a photo of the unit mark on a DWM 1st Issue (1909) from the same regiment. Regards, Norm

lugerholsterrepair · 10-18-2011, 08:36 PM

Looks like an overlap of 2 different units?
Jaeger Regiment 173 and Machine Gun Company 180

splitfish · 10-18-2011, 10:25 PM

I didn't expect such a response! Thank you all for the feedback I've added so more pictures, hopefully that will help. One thing they did tell me at the show was all the visible numbers are matching with exclusion of the magazine, which I guess is pretty common. Thank you again everyone!

Edward Tinker · 10-18-2011, 11:30 PM

I like 1915's, you just see them so much less

klaus 3338 · 10-19-2011, 01:19 AM

Thanks for sharing.
The Inf. Reg. 173. was part of the 34. Infantry Brigade until September 1916 when it routed to the 223. Inf. Brig.
We can belief that your Luger was issued to the Inf. Reg. 173 in 1916 when most of the Regiments got the 2. and 3. M.G. Company. No 180 for a Luger of a M.G.K. is very high- the highest number I have ever seen!

command450 · 10-27-2011, 05:22 PM

wow that luger has a great ambiance! great info and comments about.thank you all!
So........ splitfish, do you know your great grandfathers service history? did he ever tell any family members how he obtained it?

makes one wonder if was obtained after a battle between his unit and the german one.

Hugo Borchardt · 10-27-2011, 09:27 PM

Very nice. Thankfully it looks well cared for. Thanks for sharing!

10-18-2011, 08:21 PM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Normally, these are a "Unit Mark" that associates the pistol with a military unit during WW-I. The author of "History Writ In Steel" (which discusses these marks) is a member of this forum. He should be able to lend some light on the markings. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-18-2011, 08:31 PM	#3
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,414 Thanks: 224 Thanked 2,591 Times in 930 Posts	Hi Jake, Welcome to the forum! Unit marked Lugers like yours are particularly interesting and we would like to see more photos. Does it have a dated chamber? Is the middle toggle marked DWM or Erfurt? Your unit marks translate to 173rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Machine Gun Company, weapon #180. What interests me is the fact that the 2 was added later. At the start of the war each regiment had only one machine gun company, so no number was needed. Later in the war each regiment had two or more. Here's a photo of the unit mark on a DWM 1st Issue (1909) from the same regiment. Regards, Norm Attached Thumbnails

10-18-2011, 08:36 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	Looks like an overlap of 2 different units? Jaeger Regiment 173 and Machine Gun Company 180 __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

10-18-2011, 10:25 PM	#5
splitfish New User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the quick replies!!! I didn't expect such a response! Thank you all for the feedback I've added so more pictures, hopefully that will help. One thing they did tell me at the show was all the visible numbers are matching with exclusion of the magazine, which I guess is pretty common. Thank you again everyone! Attached Thumbnails

10-27-2011, 09:27 PM	#9
Hugo Borchardt User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 370 Thanks: 338 Thanked 131 Times in 47 Posts	Very nice. Thankfully it looks well cared for. Thanks for sharing! __________________ My militaria collection is dedicated to the memory of my Grandfather, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Dave Hill, Jr., wounded in action at The Assault of the Second Marine Division on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, 20-23 November, 1943. http://www.tarawa1943.com/pages/casualties%20tarawa.htm

10-18-2011, 07:32 PM	#1
splitfish New User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Little Help I recently went to a gun show and brought along my Luger, I learned a lot about it but there are some characters stamped on the grip that have always interested me. They gave me a brief description on what they meant but referred me to this site to learn more. I'm hoping someone out there can tell me exactly what they mean. Any help would be much appreciated, this Luger has been in my family for 4 generations now, I'd love to learn where it came from and how my great grandfather ended up with it. I know these letters and numbers can't tell me all that but maybe they can point me in the right direction. Thanks again! Attached Thumbnails

10-18-2011, 11:30 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	I like 1915's, you just see them so much less

10-19-2011, 01:19 AM	#7
klaus 3338 User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 513 Thanks: 0 Thanked 394 Times in 156 Posts	Thanks for sharing. The Inf. Reg. 173. was part of the 34. Infantry Brigade until September 1916 when it routed to the 223. Inf. Brig. We can belief that your Luger was issued to the Inf. Reg. 173 in 1916 when most of the Regiments got the 2. and 3. M.G. Company. No 180 for a Luger of a M.G.K. is very high- the highest number I have ever seen!

10-27-2011, 05:22 PM	#8
command450 User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Michigan Posts: 38 Thanks: 16 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	wow that luger has a great ambiance! great info and comments about.thank you all! So........ splitfish, do you know your great grandfathers service history? did he ever tell any family members how he obtained it? makes one wonder if was obtained after a battle between his unit and the german one.