Navy well markings

luger1 · 09-24-2014, 09:32 PM

What are the proper well markings for a 1917 dated Navy in the 43XXa range?
TIA.

Norme · 09-24-2014, 10:56 PM

Hi Jon, Welcome to the forum! If it helps, here are the well markings on 1917 Navy # 5302.
I maintain a data base of all known Imperial Navy Lugers, about 1,500 guns, and I'd like to add yours to the list. If you send me an email with your guns full serial number, I'll send you the link to the list.
Regards, Norm
normrab@comcast.net

Edward Tinker · 09-24-2014, 11:12 PM

Norm, is there a "proper" well marking? I have always been told and observed that the markings are too haphazard to pin anything down on most DWM lugers I have seen.

Is there concensus that navies are marked consistently?

Norme · 09-24-2014, 11:28 PM

Hi Ed , I collected a bunch of photos of Navy well markings a few years ago and concluded that it was a research dead-end. So you're right, there's nothing of value to be learned from them, at least in my opinion
Best regards, Norm

Edward Tinker · 09-25-2014, 12:06 AM

Thank you Norm, it is an area that I wondered about and looked at collecting also. I do wonder if years ago if someone like the Simpson's or Shattuck had collected minute' details if we would know more (something I am not the best at doing myself

)

Ed

m1903a3 · 10-21-2014, 07:36 PM

There are a variety of marks in the well - however the evolution over time is consistant as documented by Goertz & Sturgess. The 1917 Navy has several alpha or numeric stamps in the well, but the last one should be a capital N in a circle as shown in Norm's photo. The 1916 ones have the N, but without the circle.

kikeformad · 10-22-2014, 02:19 PM

Hi, from Navy 1917 #4013

09-24-2014, 09:32 PM	#1
luger1 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Navy well markings What are the proper well markings for a 1917 dated Navy in the 43XXa range? TIA.

09-24-2014, 10:56 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 Jon, Welcome to the forum! If it helps, here are the well markings on 1917 Navy # 5302. I maintain a data base of all known Imperial Navy Lugers, about 1,500 guns, and I'd like to add yours to the list. If you send me an email with your guns full serial number, I'll send you the link to the list. Regards, Norm normrab@comcast.net Attached Thumbnails

09-24-2014, 11:12 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Norm, is there a "proper" well marking? I have always been told and observed that the markings are too haphazard to pin anything down on most DWM lugers I have seen. Is there concensus that navies are marked consistently? __________________ 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

09-25-2014, 12:06 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Thank you Norm, it is an area that I wondered about and looked at collecting also. I do wonder if years ago if someone like the Simpson's or Shattuck had collected minute' details if we would know more (something I am not the best at doing myself ) Ed __________________ 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

10-21-2014, 07:36 PM	#6
m1903a3 User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 197 Thanks: 26 Thanked 315 Times in 112 Posts	There are a variety of marks in the well - however the evolution over time is consistant as documented by Goertz & Sturgess. The 1917 Navy has several alpha or numeric stamps in the well, but the last one should be a capital N in a circle as shown in Norm's photo. The 1916 ones have the N, but without the circle. __________________ - Mike Life member: NRA, OVMS, VGCA Member: NAPCA, N-SSA(Veteran) Si vis pacem, para bellum

09-24-2014, 11:28 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 Ed , I collected a bunch of photos of Navy well markings a few years ago and concluded that it was a research dead-end. So you're right, there's nothing of value to be learned from them, at least in my opinion Best regards, Norm

10-22-2014, 02:19 PM	#7
kikeformad New User Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi, from Navy 1917 #4013 Attached Thumbnails