VOPO Luger Stamp

bobofthedesert · 05-03-2011, 05:43 AM

Guys, I need to know what this stamp is beneath the serial number on the frame of this VOPO Luger.....

Vlim · 05-03-2011, 06:14 AM

It's a W and it is part of the serial number: 3037W

The pistols were numbered in series of 10,000. Each series (after the first one) got a letter of the alphabet in order to avoid doubles.

sheepherder · 05-03-2011, 06:57 AM

A commercial barrel on a VOPO??? Is it 30 cal or 9mm???

Vlim · 05-03-2011, 07:06 AM

Eh. Most VoPo's had their barrels replaced as part of a refurbishing programme.

The barrels were replaced with newly made East-German barrels which were proofed in Suhl (DDR). Suhl reverted to the Weimar crown/N marking. So nothing uncommon.

bobofthedesert · 05-03-2011, 08:01 AM

So, would this mark have been added when the gun was refurbished post war or was it part of the original serial number? Comments as far as to the origin of all the different parts/rebuild process etc. are extremely welcome.

bobofthedesert · 05-03-2011, 08:07 AM

Also, who would have made the receiver? Would 1918 make it DWM?

Edward Tinker · 05-03-2011, 08:37 AM

No

It was made by DWM in 1918, at the same time, Erfurt was making lugers.

Your marking is not a marking, it is a suffix letter. please read what Vlim wrote, this 10k of each set of guns was standard procedure. I believe it is discussed in the FAQ.

Ron Smith · 05-03-2011, 09:53 AM

The barrel isn't a standard commercial. It's an East German replacement. They used a very similar Nitro proof, but the font and crown are a slightly different configuration.

Edward Tinker · 05-03-2011, 10:11 AM

Thank you Ron for expounding upon that, I did not explain well, and Bob, apologize if I sounded short

Ed

Vlim · 05-03-2011, 11:31 AM

The frame looks like a Mauser frame (Mauser hump)
The toggle and receiver are DWM (former LP08 receiver)
The barrel is 1950s DDR (Ernst Thälmann Werke in Suhl)
The side plate is also 1950s DDR production
The grips are 1950s DDR production
The number 2 spare magazine is also 1950s DDR production.

If the loading tool has horizontal ribs at the finger lip, it is also a DDR made tool.

The first magazine (with the black bottom) looks like a post-war 1970s Mauser Parabellum magazine. It probably has the Mauser banner on the bottom of the spine.

The number 1 magazine is a pre-1945 magazine that was reused by the East-Germans (numbered to match the pistol).'

All in all a pretty consistent DDR VoPo rig. It only needs a holster

bobofthedesert · 05-03-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

It only needs a holster

I'm looking......I like those pebble grain ones.....

Thanks Vlim for this appraisal of the components.

Ed, no worries. I can see how it could have looked like I wasn't tracking on the earlier response.

05-03-2011, 05:43 AM	#1
bobofthedesert User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	VOPO Luger Stamp Guys, I need to know what this stamp is beneath the serial number on the frame of this VOPO Luger..... Attached Thumbnails

05-03-2011, 06:57 AM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	A commercial barrel on a VOPO??? Is it 30 cal or 9mm??? __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

05-03-2011, 08:01 AM	#5
bobofthedesert User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So, would this mark have been added when the gun was refurbished post war or was it part of the original serial number? Comments as far as to the origin of all the different parts/rebuild process etc. are extremely welcome. Attached Thumbnails

05-03-2011, 08:37 AM	#7
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	No It was made by DWM in 1918, at the same time, Erfurt was making lugers. Your marking is not a marking, it is a suffix letter. please read what Vlim wrote, this 10k of each set of guns was standard procedure. I believe it is discussed in the FAQ. __________________ 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

05-03-2011, 09:53 AM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	The barrel isn't a standard commercial. It's an East German replacement. They used a very similar Nitro proof, but the font and crown are a slightly different configuration. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-03-2011, 06:14 AM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,031 Thanks: 1,018 Thanked 3,873 Times in 1,184 Posts	It's a W and it is part of the serial number: 3037W The pistols were numbered in series of 10,000. Each series (after the first one) got a letter of the alphabet in order to avoid doubles.

05-03-2011, 07:06 AM	#4
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,031 Thanks: 1,018 Thanked 3,873 Times in 1,184 Posts	Eh. Most VoPo's had their barrels replaced as part of a refurbishing programme. The barrels were replaced with newly made East-German barrels which were proofed in Suhl (DDR). Suhl reverted to the Weimar crown/N marking. So nothing uncommon.

05-03-2011, 08:07 AM	#6
bobofthedesert User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Also, who would have made the receiver? Would 1918 make it DWM?

05-03-2011, 10:11 AM	#9
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	Thank you Ron for expounding upon that, I did not explain well, and Bob, apologize if I sounded short Ed __________________ 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

05-03-2011, 11:31 AM	#10
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,031 Thanks: 1,018 Thanked 3,873 Times in 1,184 Posts	The frame looks like a Mauser frame (Mauser hump) The toggle and receiver are DWM (former LP08 receiver) The barrel is 1950s DDR (Ernst Thälmann Werke in Suhl) The side plate is also 1950s DDR production The grips are 1950s DDR production The number 2 spare magazine is also 1950s DDR production. If the loading tool has horizontal ribs at the finger lip, it is also a DDR made tool. The first magazine (with the black bottom) looks like a post-war 1970s Mauser Parabellum magazine. It probably has the Mauser banner on the bottom of the spine. The number 1 magazine is a pre-1945 magazine that was reused by the East-Germans (numbered to match the pistol).' All in all a pretty consistent DDR VoPo rig. It only needs a holster Attached Thumbnails