Unit markings, Second issue Naval Luger

KevinThorpe · 05-02-2017, 02:21 PM

Hello Luger lover's!
I'm in England, Unfortunately the law here is strict regarding owning even a "deactivated gun" new European regs come into action today. Basically they are just a welded up piece of metal and if your lucky a few moving parts!!!
Can you please help me find the history of this Luger. Unit markings look like III St S.I
Please see attachment photos.

Norme · 05-02-2017, 03:23 PM

Hi Kevin,
Welcome to the forum! Wow! That is a rare marking. It's believed to stand for: III Sea Battalion Staff. The Third Sea Battalion were the German Colonial troops stationed at Kiauchau, Imperial Germany's Chinese colony. There is only one other Navy Luger with this unit marking: 1906 1st Alt. Navy #3036a. Would you mind sharing the serial number of yours?
Thanks, Norm
P.S. The last letter is a B, not an I.

KevinThorpe · 05-03-2017, 01:54 PM

Hello Norm,
This is strange.
I'm looking at the serial number 3036
Not to sure about the 'a'

Thanks for the fascinating update, how on earth did you get that???
Of course I'm now hungry to find more information about the Third Sea Battalion.

Now you come to mention that the letter 'I' I mentioned is a 'B' I can just see the middle of my 'I' having a mid bar coming from it and can see the indent of the last full stop spaced for the capital letter B

I'll see if I can attach picture's of serial number but I'm not smart with all this button stuff!!!

Thank you very much for your help. I can't thank you enough.

Norme · 05-03-2017, 02:24 PM

Hi Kevin,
Trust me, it's an a, 1906 Navy serial numbers ended at 1000b. You have a known gun. If you send me a forum PM (private message) with your internet address I can tell you it's ownership history and also send you a link to the Navy List which lists all known Navy Lugers worldwide.
Regards, Norm
P.S. Please post a photo of the magazine base showing any numbers and markings.

KevinThorpe · 05-04-2017, 01:15 AM

Hello Norm,
Not the best picture of the magazine.
Regards Kevin

m1903a3 · 05-04-2017, 05:24 PM

That pistol was actually from Cuxhaven, the base of the III S.B. staff and replacement battalion.
The "Gouv.Kiau." marking is attributed to the III S.B. in China.

The mag has been sanded and restamped.

klaus 3338 · 05-05-2017, 09:58 AM

Mike, you are right but it is III.St.S.B for III.Stammseebataillon and has nothing to do with staff or Stab as we say in German. This Bataillon was "made/ build" at the 31.May 1905 and was replacement of the Navy in China.
It is poor English! Sorry for that.

05-02-2017, 02:21 PM	#1
KevinThorpe User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: London England Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Unit markings, Second issue Naval Luger Hello Luger lover's! I'm in England, Unfortunately the law here is strict regarding owning even a "deactivated gun" new European regs come into action today. Basically they are just a welded up piece of metal and if your lucky a few moving parts!!! Can you please help me find the history of this Luger. Unit markings look like III St S.I Please see attachment photos. Attached Thumbnails

05-04-2017, 01:15 AM	#5
KevinThorpe User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: London England Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Hello Norm, Not the best picture of the magazine. Regards Kevin Attached Thumbnails

05-04-2017, 05:24 PM	#6
m1903a3 User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 197 Thanks: 26 Thanked 315 Times in 112 Posts	That pistol was actually from Cuxhaven, the base of the III S.B. staff and replacement battalion. The "Gouv.Kiau." marking is attributed to the III S.B. in China. The mag has been sanded and restamped. __________________ - Mike Life member: NRA, OVMS, VGCA Member: NAPCA, N-SSA(Veteran) Si vis pacem, para bellum

05-02-2017, 03:23 PM	#2
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 Kevin, Welcome to the forum! Wow! That is a rare marking. It's believed to stand for: III Sea Battalion Staff. The Third Sea Battalion were the German Colonial troops stationed at Kiauchau, Imperial Germany's Chinese colony. There is only one other Navy Luger with this unit marking: 1906 1st Alt. Navy #3036a. Would you mind sharing the serial number of yours? Thanks, Norm P.S. The last letter is a B, not an I.

05-03-2017, 01:54 PM	#3
KevinThorpe User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: London England Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Hello Norm, This is strange. I'm looking at the serial number 3036 Not to sure about the 'a' Thanks for the fascinating update, how on earth did you get that??? Of course I'm now hungry to find more information about the Third Sea Battalion. Now you come to mention that the letter 'I' I mentioned is a 'B' I can just see the middle of my 'I' having a mid bar coming from it and can see the indent of the last full stop spaced for the capital letter B I'll see if I can attach picture's of serial number but I'm not smart with all this button stuff!!! Thank you very much for your help. I can't thank you enough. Attached Thumbnails

05-03-2017, 02:24 PM	#4
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 Kevin, Trust me, it's an a, 1906 Navy serial numbers ended at 1000b. You have a known gun. If you send me a forum PM (private message) with your internet address I can tell you it's ownership history and also send you a link to the Navy List which lists all known Navy Lugers worldwide. Regards, Norm P.S. Please post a photo of the magazine base showing any numbers and markings.

05-05-2017, 09:58 AM	#7
klaus 3338 User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 513 Thanks: 0 Thanked 394 Times in 156 Posts	Mike, you are right but it is III.St.S.B for III.Stammseebataillon and has nothing to do with staff or Stab as we say in German. This Bataillon was "made/ build" at the 31.May 1905 and was replacement of the Navy in China. It is poor English! Sorry for that.