Strange Proof Mark

Dwight Gruber · 11-16-2002, 10:58 PM

At the Portland gun show today I saw a Luger with this strange mark stamped on the left side of the receiver.

(This is from memory, so it may not be precise; the W is as stamped, however)

The gun was rebarrelled/reblued, no chamber date, Crown/N on the side of the breechblock.

Does this mark mean anything to anybody?

--Dwight

Ron Wood · 11-16-2002, 11:46 PM

Dwight,

That is the "Wilhelmina proof", found on M11 Dutch contract Lugers. Queen Wilhelmina was the ruling monarch in the Netherlands from 1898 until 1948. If the Luger you saw was on a Dutch frame, the safety marking would be "Rust".

11-16-2002, 10:58 PM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Strange Proof Mark At the Portland gun show today I saw a Luger with this strange mark stamped on the left side of the receiver. (This is from memory, so it may not be precise; the W is as stamped, however) The gun was rebarrelled/reblued, no chamber date, Crown/N on the side of the breechblock. Does this mark mean anything to anybody? --Dwight

11-16-2002, 11:46 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	Dwight, That is the "Wilhelmina proof", found on M11 Dutch contract Lugers. Queen Wilhelmina was the ruling monarch in the Netherlands from 1898 until 1948. If the Luger you saw was on a Dutch frame, the safety marking would be "Rust". __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction