Markings

Edward Tinker · 12-05-2002, 03:21 AM

Are there any obvious markings on Russian or East German reworks?

I know it is fairly obvious to some, but what markings distinguish the two from each other and other Lugers?

Stu · 12-05-2002, 11:52 AM

Hi Edward, I've 1 P08 and 2 P38's I understand to be eastern block reworks, but none of them have any marks that identify them as such. The reason I believe them to be of that origin are the method and quality of dipping.

It would be great to find a way to trace the history of these guns post war.

Kyrie · 12-05-2002, 07:12 PM

Hi Edward!

East German Lugers are an interesting and complex subject.

Lugers reworked in East German for distribution as military aid may or may not have had any markings added, and will usually have a rather muddy salt blue. If the pistol was re-proofed, pre-war German proofs were used for some years. Proof marks may have a YY MM stamp indicating year and month of proof. These pistols may have their original checkered wood grip panels, or the Ã¢??bullÃ¢??s-eyeÃ¢?Â brown plastic grip panels we all know so well.

Lugers reworked in East Germany for foreign commercial sale will have East German commercial proofs, and usually a high gloss salt blue - these are beautiful pistols. The small number of new Lugers made in East Germany in the 1950Ã¢??s will have rather large font numbers - about 4 mm rather than the two mm numbers we are accustomed to seeing. These large font numbers are sometimes seen on replacement parts installed on older Lugers.

In terms of Russian Lugers, there really isnÃ¢??t any such animal (other than the Russian contract variation). The Lugers folks are calling Ã¢??Russian LugersÃ¢?Â were actually imported from various CIS countries, where they had presumably been stored from the days of the Soviet Union. These pistols will usually have been salt blued over the original blue, may or may not have poorly made ribbed plastic grip panels, and may or may not be mismatched or poorly forced matched.

ThatÃ¢??s about all I can tell you - sorry it was not more!

Warm regards,

Kyrie

12-05-2002, 03:21 AM	#1
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,929 Thanks: 2,029 Thanked 4,527 Times in 2,090 Posts	Markings Are there any obvious markings on Russian or East German reworks? I know it is fairly obvious to some, but what markings distinguish the two from each other and other Lugers? __________________ 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

12-05-2002, 11:52 AM	#2
Stu User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 452 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Hi Edward, I've 1 P08 and 2 P38's I understand to be eastern block reworks, but none of them have any marks that identify them as such. The reason I believe them to be of that origin are the method and quality of dipping. It would be great to find a way to trace the history of these guns post war.

12-05-2002, 07:12 PM	#3
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Hi Edward! East German Lugers are an interesting and complex subject. Lugers reworked in East German for distribution as military aid may or may not have had any markings added, and will usually have a rather muddy salt blue. If the pistol was re-proofed, pre-war German proofs were used for some years. Proof marks may have a YY MM stamp indicating year and month of proof. These pistols may have their original checkered wood grip panels, or the Ã¢??bullÃ¢??s-eyeÃ¢?Â brown plastic grip panels we all know so well. Lugers reworked in East Germany for foreign commercial sale will have East German commercial proofs, and usually a high gloss salt blue - these are beautiful pistols. The small number of new Lugers made in East Germany in the 1950Ã¢??s will have rather large font numbers - about 4 mm rather than the two mm numbers we are accustomed to seeing. These large font numbers are sometimes seen on replacement parts installed on older Lugers. In terms of Russian Lugers, there really isnÃ¢??t any such animal (other than the Russian contract variation). The Lugers folks are calling Ã¢??Russian LugersÃ¢?Â were actually imported from various CIS countries, where they had presumably been stored from the days of the Soviet Union. These pistols will usually have been salt blued over the original blue, may or may not have poorly made ribbed plastic grip panels, and may or may not be mismatched or poorly forced matched. ThatÃ¢??s about all I can tell you - sorry it was not more! Warm regards, Kyrie