serial number placement

jeb111 · 05-08-2022, 12:05 PM

I have been looking at quite a few Swiss lugers, mostly 1906 DWM, and was wondering about the serial # placement. I know that they were put on in the commercial style but if the DWM Lugers were assembled by the Swiss were they as meticulous in marking all the parts as if they were assembled in the DWM factory? I have seen many small parts that are missing numbers especially the take down lever and safety lever.

Jim

Doubs · 05-08-2022, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeb111

I have been looking at quite a few Swiss lugers, mostly 1906 DWM, and was wondering about the serial # placement. I know that they were put on in the commercial style but if the DWM Lugers were assembled by the Swiss were they as meticulous in marking all the parts as if they were assembled in the DWM factory? I have seen many small parts that are missing numbers especially the take down lever and safety lever.
Jim

I have a 1906 Swiss that was sent to Switzerland as a parts set and assembled by W+F in Bern in 1910. There are two distinct differences between DWM commercial serial numbering and my 1906 Swiss. First, the rear toggle has the last three digits of the serial number as opposed to only two used by DWM. The second difference is that the locking bolt is not numbered whereas DWM did on their commercial Lugers.

There are others much more familiar with Swiss Lugers than I and they may add to what I've pointed out.

Edward Tinker · 05-08-2022, 01:21 PM

I know of 2 swiss books - the one that is more of a picture book and only captions are in english ??
And then Datigs monograph?

Are there others?

mrerick · 05-09-2022, 11:11 AM

Vittorio Bobba's book on Swiss Lugers is heavily illustrated, and written in Italian and English. The contents are fully translated. it is thorough as of it's publication.

Datig's is more abbreviated and more of a monograph in paperback.

Mac Cat · 05-09-2022, 12:26 PM

PARABELLUM by Vittoria Bobba (1996) is a beautiful reference book, but hard to find.

The other one is The Swiss Variations (1897-1947) by Fred A Datig (1955,1958,1992- paperback). I have a spare copy if you are interested.

There is a copy on Amazon.com right now for $25.

Edward Tinker · 05-09-2022, 01:37 PM

What I was kinda hinting at what, there are two books out there.

Because I do not know the answer to what you are asking...

Vlim · 05-09-2022, 02:10 PM

The last 2 digits of the serial number were applied to identify which bits belong to which pistol. Initially, at DWM, a lot of hand fitting was needed to get anything to work smoothly.

Later on, with improved production techniques, the need to number parts to the guns was no longer required, because those parts did not require hand fitting.

In the 1970s, Mauser only had to keep the barrel/receiver and the frame together (numbered), the rest of the parts would just interchange without issues. So no small parts got numbers at all.

So the numbering is not a sign of meticulous quality. It is a sign of bad quality

jeb111 · 05-10-2022, 03:58 PM

Thanks for the response everyone. I guess really my question was when DWM sent the parts to WF for assembly of their 1906 pistol those parts hand fitted so did the Swiss number them all as would have been done at DWM. I've seen many like the one Doubs posted with occasional parts not numbered so am led to believe that W+F didn't number their parts as much as DWM. I will hunt for the book Mac Cat recommended "Parabellum" by Bobba, sounds interesting.

Jim

05-08-2022, 12:05 PM	#1
jeb111 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2018 Location: wyoming Posts: 277 Thanks: 712 Thanked 331 Times in 133 Posts	serial number placement I have been looking at quite a few Swiss lugers, mostly 1906 DWM, and was wondering about the serial # placement. I know that they were put on in the commercial style but if the DWM Lugers were assembled by the Swiss were they as meticulous in marking all the parts as if they were assembled in the DWM factory? I have seen many small parts that are missing numbers especially the take down lever and safety lever. Jim

05-09-2022, 11:11 AM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Vittorio Bobba's book on Swiss Lugers is heavily illustrated, and written in Italian and English. The contents are fully translated. it is thorough as of it's publication. Datig's is more abbreviated and more of a monograph in paperback. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

05-09-2022, 12:26 PM	#5
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 729 Thanks: 2,093 Thanked 608 Times in 328 Posts	PARABELLUM by Vittoria Bobba (1996) is a beautiful reference book, but hard to find. The other one is The Swiss Variations (1897-1947) by Fred A Datig (1955,1958,1992- paperback). I have a spare copy if you are interested. There is a copy on Amazon.com right now for $25. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

05-08-2022, 01:21 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	I know of 2 swiss books - the one that is more of a picture book and only captions are in english ?? And then Datigs monograph? Are there others?

05-09-2022, 01:37 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	What I was kinda hinting at what, there are two books out there. Because I do not know the answer to what you are asking...

05-09-2022, 02:10 PM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	The last 2 digits of the serial number were applied to identify which bits belong to which pistol. Initially, at DWM, a lot of hand fitting was needed to get anything to work smoothly. Later on, with improved production techniques, the need to number parts to the guns was no longer required, because those parts did not require hand fitting. In the 1970s, Mauser only had to keep the barrel/receiver and the frame together (numbered), the rest of the parts would just interchange without issues. So no small parts got numbers at all. So the numbering is not a sign of meticulous quality. It is a sign of bad quality

05-10-2022, 03:58 PM	#8
jeb111 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2018 Location: wyoming Posts: 277 Thanks: 712 Thanked 331 Times in 133 Posts	Thanks for the response everyone. I guess really my question was when DWM sent the parts to WF for assembly of their 1906 pistol those parts hand fitted so did the Swiss number them all as would have been done at DWM. I've seen many like the one Doubs posted with occasional parts not numbered so am led to believe that W+F didn't number their parts as much as DWM. I will hunt for the book Mac Cat recommended "Parabellum" by Bobba, sounds interesting. Jim