Correct magazine?

pursihei · 01-20-2006, 11:09 AM

Hello,
I purchased this Luger a couple of months ago here in Finland. It is 1920 commercial Finnish contract model with original blue at 97%. The caliber is 7,65 mm and the S/N of this all-matching pistol is 4484s. Please advice if the two magazines supplied with the gun numbered 4484 are correct for this era (1929)? Thank you for your help

!

Cheers,
Juhani

Luke · 01-20-2006, 11:58 AM

Hello Juhani -

Very nice Luger . . . . . . . and all matching! Congratulations.

I believe all, or almost all, of the Finnish contract Parabellums were originally the variation that Jan Still refers to as "Alphabet Commercials" having a 4 digit + alpha character as a serial number. You can do a search on this forum for "Alpahbet Commercial" for additional information on this version.

Dwight is probably the expert on this type of Luger, but I believe that they left Germany with unmarked wood-bottom magazines. The size and shape of the numbers on your mag bottoms are not consistent with markings on earlier Imperial Lugers. It would be my guess that the magazines were numbered in Finland.

Luke

Dwight Gruber · 01-20-2006, 12:19 PM

Juhani,

Luke's judgement is kind but questionable in my case, however he is right about the magazines. The extra 9-something on the base of one of them is interesting, as is the spine marking. Neither of these features are expected on a Luger magazine.

Thats a pretty nice Luger you have there. Interesting that it is not SA marked.

--Dwight

pursihei · 01-20-2006, 06:16 PM

Hello,

I bought the pistol as a complete rig. Attached are some more photos.

The number in the spine of the other magazine in the rig is 1521 (crossed over).

Yes, the gun is not SA marked. I might be that SA marking was added by the arsenal only if the gun was refinished since I have two other Finnish contract guns with original rust blue finish and without the SA markings.

- Juhani

Dwight Gruber · 01-20-2006, 06:35 PM

Juhani,

The holster is very interesting, too. Are the loops in the back for slipping over a shoulder stock?

--Dwight

pursihei · 01-20-2006, 06:52 PM

Dwight,

Yes, I believe the loops are for a shoulder stock. Unfortunately it did not come with the rig.

All, the holster, the rod and the tool (German style), are without any markings.

Thank you for the interest and the rapid replies,

- Juhani

Luke · 01-20-2006, 07:31 PM

Juhani -

The holster appears longer than the normal German Luger holster. Could this holster have been used for a Finnish Parabellum with the 120mm Tikkakoski barrel?

Thanks,
Luke

Luke

pursihei · 01-21-2006, 05:17 AM

Luke,
It is actually the same lenght as my other holsters for 4" barrelled Lugers. The picture may be slightly distorted, I took it with my scanner and the holster was a close fit.

But actually I do own a Luger holster which is about 2 cm longer than normally and was used by the Finnish Army. It is marked "Frost & JÃ?Â¤hnel Breslau 1938 WaA182", so it is German made before WWII.

- Juhani

Lugerdoc · 01-22-2006, 10:58 AM

Juhani, The numbering on your mags is typical of that used by the German police during the Weimar era. The same style holster, but a bit longer, was also used by the Finns for the Lahti and/or the Tikka 5" rebarreled 9mm PO8s. TH

01-20-2006, 11:09 AM	#1
pursihei User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Correct magazine? Hello, I purchased this Luger a couple of months ago here in Finland. It is 1920 commercial Finnish contract model with original blue at 97%. The caliber is 7,65 mm and the S/N of this all-matching pistol is 4484s. Please advice if the two magazines supplied with the gun numbered 4484 are correct for this era (1929)? Thank you for your help ! Cheers, Juhani

01-20-2006, 11:58 AM	#2
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Hello Juhani - Very nice Luger . . . . . . . and all matching! Congratulations. I believe all, or almost all, of the Finnish contract Parabellums were originally the variation that Jan Still refers to as "Alphabet Commercials" having a 4 digit + alpha character as a serial number. You can do a search on this forum for "Alpahbet Commercial" for additional information on this version. Dwight is probably the expert on this type of Luger, but I believe that they left Germany with unmarked wood-bottom magazines. The size and shape of the numbers on your mag bottoms are not consistent with markings on earlier Imperial Lugers. It would be my guess that the magazines were numbered in Finland. Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-20-2006, 06:52 PM	#6
pursihei User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Dwight, Yes, I believe the loops are for a shoulder stock. Unfortunately it did not come with the rig. All, the holster, the rod and the tool (German style), are without any markings. Thank you for the interest and the rapid replies, - Juhani __________________ JPu

01-20-2006, 07:31 PM	#7
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Juhani - The holster appears longer than the normal German Luger holster. Could this holster have been used for a Finnish Parabellum with the 120mm Tikkakoski barrel? Thanks, Luke Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

01-22-2006, 10:58 AM	#9
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	Juhani, The numbering on your mags is typical of that used by the German police during the Weimar era. The same style holster, but a bit longer, was also used by the Finns for the Lahti and/or the Tikka 5" rebarreled 9mm PO8s. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

01-20-2006, 12:19 PM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Juhani, Luke's judgement is kind but questionable in my case, however he is right about the magazines. The extra 9-something on the base of one of them is interesting, as is the spine marking. Neither of these features are expected on a Luger magazine. Thats a pretty nice Luger you have there. Interesting that it is not SA marked. --Dwight

01-20-2006, 06:16 PM	#4
pursihei User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Hello, I bought the pistol as a complete rig. Attached are some more photos. The number in the spine of the other magazine in the rig is 1521 (crossed over). Yes, the gun is not SA marked. I might be that SA marking was added by the arsenal only if the gun was refinished since I have two other Finnish contract guns with original rust blue finish and without the SA markings. - Juhani

01-20-2006, 06:35 PM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Juhani, The holster is very interesting, too. Are the loops in the back for slipping over a shoulder stock? --Dwight

01-21-2006, 05:17 AM	#8
pursihei User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Luke, It is actually the same lenght as my other holsters for 4" barrelled Lugers. The picture may be slightly distorted, I took it with my scanner and the holster was a close fit. But actually I do own a Luger holster which is about 2 cm longer than normally and was used by the Finnish Army. It is marked "Frost & JÃ?Â¤hnel Breslau 1938 WaA182", so it is German made before WWII. - Juhani