Commercial Navy Lugers

aldo35 · 02-23-2025, 10:50 AM

Were there Commercial Navy Lugers? What were the differences from the military versions? Thanks

Dwight Gruber · 02-26-2025, 08:00 AM

There are New Model commercial navy pistols. They are identical to navy issue in all respects, including stock, holster, and mag pouch as originally sold. The GESICHERT stamp is always in the lower position. These pistols have civilian c/B,U,G or lazy c/N proofs in accordance with their manufacturing date.

--Dwight

HerrKaiser · 02-26-2025, 10:13 AM

Dwight, are there any major differences between pre-war Navy commercials compared to those made in the 1920’s, or did they largely retain the same features in the post war 5 digits and alphabet commercial Navies?

aldo35 · 02-26-2025, 02:39 PM

Hi,
I took a look at various Navy Lugers being offered currently on GB. Mine has no date on chamber and the 1917 Navvies on GB had no date I don't think date on mine was scrubbed. In addition the 2 digit numbers are hidden, under neath locking bolt and side plates on both GB lugers and mine. There are no unit markings on grip straps on mine and I couldn't determine if the ones on GB have them.
All in all with a 4 digit serial number in 5000 range I don't think think this a commercial.
Thanks for your comments.

Dwight Gruber · 02-28-2025, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrKaiser

Dwight, are there any major differences between pre-war Navy commercials compared to those made in the 1920’s, or did they largely retain the same features in the post war 5 digits and alphabet commercial Navies?

Weimar-era navy Lugers are completely different. The Versailles Treaty forbade production of "military arms" (includes pistols in 9mm with 100mm or longer barrels). Weimar navy pistols are based around Alphabet Commercials (longer story than time, here).

--Dwight

Dwight Gruber · 02-28-2025, 01:23 PM

What are the proofs on your pistol? Does it have a grip safety?

--Dwight

aldo35 · 02-28-2025, 04:03 PM

Dwight,
There wasn't a grip safety on this pistol. I remove both grip to examine the frame. the left grip had no markings, the right grip has the last 2 numbers of serial. Serial # is: 5079 b. 79 appears underneath take down lever and side plate. The trigger , trigger bar and safety all have 79. The 2 position rear sight has 79 on back.

The serial number appears under barrel and crown on left side of barrel. The serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. Unfortunately all are faint as pistol has been refinished. I have attached picture of the only really visible marks besides numbers.

aldo35 · 02-28-2025, 04:05 PM

Forgot to mention there isn't a date over the chamber

Dwight Gruber · 03-01-2025, 01:11 PM

There was an evolutionary variant made with long frame but no grip safety or chamber date. What is the full serial number please?

--Dwight

aldo35 · 03-01-2025, 02:53 PM

Dwight,
full serial # is 5079b. Norm has this on his list in RED. I doesn't have a stock lug, which may have been ground off, and it doesn't have date on chamber.
Norm also said that this pistol is a 1908 Navy.
Joe

02-23-2025, 10:50 AM	#1
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 381 Thanks: 2,275 Thanked 165 Times in 83 Posts	Commercial Navy Lugers Were there Commercial Navy Lugers? What were the differences from the military versions? Thanks

02-26-2025, 10:13 AM	#3
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 859 Thanks: 805 Thanked 868 Times in 416 Posts	Dwight, are there any major differences between pre-war Navy commercials compared to those made in the 1920’s, or did they largely retain the same features in the post war 5 digits and alphabet commercial Navies? __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

02-26-2025, 02:39 PM	#4
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 381 Thanks: 2,275 Thanked 165 Times in 83 Posts	Navy Luger Hi, I took a look at various Navy Lugers being offered currently on GB. Mine has no date on chamber and the 1917 Navvies on GB had no date I don't think date on mine was scrubbed. In addition the 2 digit numbers are hidden, under neath locking bolt and side plates on both GB lugers and mine. There are no unit markings on grip straps on mine and I couldn't determine if the ones on GB have them. All in all with a 4 digit serial number in 5000 range I don't think think this a commercial. Thanks for your comments.

02-28-2025, 04:03 PM	#7
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 381 Thanks: 2,275 Thanked 165 Times in 83 Posts	Navy Luger Dwight, There wasn't a grip safety on this pistol. I remove both grip to examine the frame. the left grip had no markings, the right grip has the last 2 numbers of serial. Serial # is: 5079 b. 79 appears underneath take down lever and side plate. The trigger , trigger bar and safety all have 79. The 2 position rear sight has 79 on back. The serial number appears under barrel and crown on left side of barrel. The serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. Unfortunately all are faint as pistol has been refinished. I have attached picture of the only really visible marks besides numbers. Attached Thumbnails

02-28-2025, 04:05 PM	#8
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 381 Thanks: 2,275 Thanked 165 Times in 83 Posts	Navy Luger Forgot to mention there isn't a date over the chamber

02-26-2025, 08:00 AM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,328 Times in 435 Posts	There are New Model commercial navy pistols. They are identical to navy issue in all respects, including stock, holster, and mag pouch as originally sold. The GESICHERT stamp is always in the lower position. These pistols have civilian c/B,U,G or lazy c/N proofs in accordance with their manufacturing date. --Dwight

02-28-2025, 01:23 PM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,328 Times in 435 Posts	What are the proofs on your pistol? Does it have a grip safety? --Dwight

03-01-2025, 01:11 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,328 Times in 435 Posts	There was an evolutionary variant made with long frame but no grip safety or chamber date. What is the full serial number please? --Dwight

03-01-2025, 02:53 PM	#10
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 381 Thanks: 2,275 Thanked 165 Times in 83 Posts	Navy Luger Dwight, full serial # is 5079b. Norm has this on his list in RED. I doesn't have a stock lug, which may have been ground off, and it doesn't have date on chamber. Norm also said that this pistol is a 1908 Navy. Joe

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