Toggle pins serial number

wworker · 01-13-2006, 07:29 PM

Were the rear toggle pins always serialized on Lugers?

If not, when did serialization start?

Edward Tinker · 01-13-2006, 10:08 PM

No, they were not:

Quote:

On March 17, 1932, the Ministry of the Army published an instruction requiring toggle-pin heads to be stamped with the last two digits of the serial number. On May 20, 1932, the Police Procurement Office of the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior followed suit for its Police weapons, to be carried out by Police armorers. A corresponding instruction for the Prussian police has not been discovered, though the action is likely. (This information from GÃ?Â¶rtz & Bryans, "German Small Arms Markings", pp.131-132).

wworker · 01-14-2006, 07:55 AM

Some pistols have 1 or 2 serial numbers on the whole gun, but Lugers have so many serial numbers.

As modern manufacturing methods dictate the interchangability of parts for efficiency, what was the purpose of the Lugers to have so many parts serialized?

It's great for collectors as we can tell if our Lugers are original, but why so many serial numbers?

Vlim · 01-15-2006, 06:35 AM

Hi,

Because luger production was rather complex and many small parts need minor fitting before they function properly. In army circumstances, when a complete outfit is field stripping and cleaning guns, the mix-up of small parts can lead to malfunctions when you really don't want them.

An example, while cleaning my 1913 Dutch luger, I accidentally installed the wrong firing pin. Because of slightly smaller dimensions of the firing pin extension which should catch the sear bar, the pistol went full-auto.

I believe John Walter once described a situation where an allied soldier during WW1, unarmed, found himself against a German armed with a luger. The German pulled the trigger and nothing happend. The allied soldier took out the German with his shovel. He kept the gun as a souvenir. When the pistol was examined years later, it had the wrong side plate installed, which led to the malfunction.

Don M · 01-15-2006, 03:28 PM

The moral of Gerben's story is: "Always keep a shovel handy if you have a mismatched Luger."

lugerlou · 01-15-2006, 04:49 PM

Don

That was good.

Vlim · 01-16-2006, 06:23 AM

I believe the trench shovel, sharpened on one side, was one of the favorite tools in WW1 trench warfare. Sort of an improvises battle axe.

Lugerdoc · 01-17-2006, 09:52 AM

All Mauser military PO8 will numbered rear axel and most earlier lugers reworked for the military after 1931 will have had them numbered. TH

01-13-2006, 07:29 PM	#1
wworker User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Toggle pins serial number Were the rear toggle pins always serialized on Lugers? If not, when did serialization start?

01-15-2006, 03:28 PM	#5
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	The moral of Gerben's story is: "Always keep a shovel handy if you have a mismatched Luger." __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

01-17-2006, 09:52 AM	#8
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	All Mauser military PO8 will numbered rear axel and most earlier lugers reworked for the military after 1931 will have had them numbered. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

01-14-2006, 07:55 AM	#3
wworker User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Some pistols have 1 or 2 serial numbers on the whole gun, but Lugers have so many serial numbers. As modern manufacturing methods dictate the interchangability of parts for efficiency, what was the purpose of the Lugers to have so many parts serialized? It's great for collectors as we can tell if our Lugers are original, but why so many serial numbers?

01-15-2006, 06:35 AM	#4
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,034 Thanks: 1,020 Thanked 3,882 Times in 1,186 Posts	Hi, Because luger production was rather complex and many small parts need minor fitting before they function properly. In army circumstances, when a complete outfit is field stripping and cleaning guns, the mix-up of small parts can lead to malfunctions when you really don't want them. An example, while cleaning my 1913 Dutch luger, I accidentally installed the wrong firing pin. Because of slightly smaller dimensions of the firing pin extension which should catch the sear bar, the pistol went full-auto. I believe John Walter once described a situation where an allied soldier during WW1, unarmed, found himself against a German armed with a luger. The German pulled the trigger and nothing happend. The allied soldier took out the German with his shovel. He kept the gun as a souvenir. When the pistol was examined years later, it had the wrong side plate installed, which led to the malfunction.

01-15-2006, 04:49 PM	#6
lugerlou User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Don That was good.

01-16-2006, 06:23 AM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,034 Thanks: 1,020 Thanked 3,882 Times in 1,186 Posts	I believe the trench shovel, sharpened on one side, was one of the favorite tools in WW1 trench warfare. Sort of an improvises battle axe.