First Luger.

[George Anderson]

More recent estimated production of the '08 militaries is in excess of twenty thousand (Still). Between 1908 and 1916 there were several changes that took place in the P08. In 1910 the inspectors' marks and proof were moved from the left to right side of the receiver and the year of manufacture was added above the chamber.
In 1911 further changes took place. The serial number placement of two digits on small parts was moved to visible surfaces rather than out-of sight locations as on the commercial models. Two additional changes took place with the serial number marking of the magazine. First a small suffix was added to the serial number then later the size and orientation of the serial number on the magazine was changed to match that of the Erfurt production. Prior to this change the magazine serial numbers on military DWM P08's was oriented back to front with large numerals.

During 1913 three more changes took place with the addition of a stock lug to the rear grip strap, a new front sight blade and a hold-open device to the frame. Also in 1913 army orders called for earlier model P08's to be turned in in order that they be retrofitted with a hold-open device and the newer front sight. Evidence indicates that Bavarian and at least some Wuertemberger units did not send their weapons back for refitting.

1914 saw some slight changes to the interior of the frame. These are thought to be efforts to strengthen the frame in order to meet the anticipated requirements of the LP08 which began production in that year.

1916 saw the last significant change with the relief (shortening) of the sear bar. This permitted the shooter to chamber a cartridge while the pistol safety was engaged.

[Edward Tinker]

Geo, nice write up, consise with a huge amount of information.


Ed

[Steinar]

George, thanks for your very informative post!
I took the liberty to print it out as a note to my self.. hope it's ok! This information does not come that clearly from my books

[Ingvarg]

Thank you all for your replys
This has been very informative for me and I really apriciate.

The construction and craftmanship on those pistols are amazing and I think I will never get tired of just looking at them and the details.
There are not many people in the world today, there would be able to construct an build such a high quality pistol, using 100 years old tecnology and machinery.

I wonder if todays "Tupperware" pistols will be in such a good shape in 100 years

Ingvar

[Ron Wood]

The estimated figure of 25,000 stated in Still constitutes the total production of the 1908 First Issue military representing the production years of 1908 and 1909 inclusive. According to Still, the highest serial number reported for 1908 First Issue Lugers is 4828b, hence the 25,000 estimation (this assumes that the serial number range might have run up to 5000b). If we assume that the production rate was pretty consistent over both years (a gross over simplification) that would make the serial number range for 1908 run from 1 to 2500a, and 1909 production would run from 2501a to 5000b. Following that rather tenuous line of thinking, that would make #810b the 8310th Luger produced in 1909

Serial numbering during the first four years of production can be confusing. From 1908 through 1911 the numbering continued sequentially from 1 through the f-block, with considerable overlaps in the suffixes between the production years from 1909 to 1911 (i.e. 1909 and 1910 overlap in the b-block, and 1910 and 1911 overlap in the c-, d- and e-blocks). Setting the serial numbering back to 1 at the beginning of the production year apparently did not occur until 1912.

[Mike B]

I often wonder if the GI sitting in a fox hole, holding his newly acquired Luger had any idea this would be would evolve into such a complicated hobby. I can just hear one telling another, " hey Mac, mine has a "K" over the chamber, wonder why? What does yours have?" " Oh yours has numbers, what to trade?"

Mike

[Dwight Gruber]

The contract order for the Pistole 08 was made on Nov. 6 1908, and final details were approved by the Kriegsministerium on Dec. 2, 1908 (Still, Central Powers Pistols). It seems likely that not more than a relative handful were actually produced in 1908.

--Dwight

[Ron Wood]

Valid observation Dwight. Joachim G�¶rtz in "Die Pistole 08" indicates that DWM had delivered 3000 pistols by 31 March 1909, and that thereafter DWM produced 21,000 pistols in the remainder of 1909.

[Ingvarg]

I wish I had been that interested in history lessons in school back in the old days.

I took the pistol comleatly apart today and cleaned and lubricaded every single part of it.

But a picture tells more than 1000 words







And finally one from the range last wednesday. The distance was 8 yrds.



Greetings
Ingvar

[Ingvarg]

The only problem is that now i cant decide if i should clean up the grips and fix the missing part behind the safety or simply leave them untuched.

Help please !!!

Ingvar.

[DavidJayUden]

Pictures are nice, and give us something to gaze at. Caliber? Safety sear?
dju

[Schutzenbob]

Ingvarg,

The best woodworker I've ever met was from Iceland, his name was Engelbert Olafsson. I knew Ole when I worked in Long Beach, California. His stockwork was fantastic. Ole had worked for Roy Weatherby in the 1950's. I think some of his tools are displayed in a museum in Iceland.

Bob