white letters and numbers

08-31-2001, 10:45 AM

the letters and numbers, have they been always white on all kinds of lugers? (specially Erfurt 1918 and K-date-mauser).

has there only the manufacturer and the year of prod. been white? or also the proof-marks and the endnumbers on every part? wich white do you use? it seems not to be only white colour, is it a little bit grey or yellow?

Thor · 08-31-2001, 11:22 AM

As far as I know the only letters that were done by the factory were the Gesichert Markin! All others you see in pictures have been added by the owners of the pistols. Thor

BILL · 08-31-2001, 05:22 PM

Yup, only the 'safe' (in whatever language) is originally white. Serial numbers, proofs, gripstrap ID and other stamps are filled in sometimes by collectors to highlight some characteristic of the pistol. Many people do this just to photograph the gun and then remove it. While I personally find it more attractive than a 'Dymo-labelmaker' I still think that it detracts from the appearance of the gun. "White-on, white-off"..that's the secret!

bill m · 08-31-2001, 06:31 PM

White is also used to cover up or hide fake markings or counterfieting, so beware when you see them.

Big Norm · 09-01-2001, 12:08 PM

Billm, boy, I can drink to the possibility of faking the numbers under the white. White stick looks cool but it also hides fakery.

Big Norm

Uncle Mike · 09-02-2001, 04:47 PM

Hi,How is this done and what should one look for?MC

bill m · 09-02-2001, 04:59 PM

Hi,

I really do not understand your question, but this is what I think you are looking for. When a faker puts proofs, numbers, or property markings on a Luger, the metal is sharpe or fresh from the fresh stamp, and not buffed over like the originals. To hide this, they fill them in with "white" paint, or marker. That is why you want to be very careful when looking at Navy property markings or very rare marked guns when they have white in them. Original ones did not have white on them. Hope that is what you were looking for?

Uncle Mike · 09-02-2001, 05:11 PM

Hi,Sorry for the confusion but thats what I wanted to know!Thanks,MC

09-03-2001, 08:20 AM

but the letters "gesichert" are always white??? from every producer? (in my case: erfurt 1918 and mauser 1934?

Thor · 09-03-2001, 10:05 AM

Yes, always painted the white or an off white almost ivory color, but I have noticed that the safety painting on the older WWI DWMs a lot of time look tan. I am not sure if this is from the original paint color or from years of overlying oils discoloring the original. All the WWII Mausers I have seen look lighter in color than the DWMs. ~Thor~

09-04-2001, 05:45 AM

Thanks Thor, great help.

08-31-2001, 10:45 AM	#1
Dieter Guest Posts: n/a	white letters and numbers the letters and numbers, have they been always white on all kinds of lugers? (specially Erfurt 1918 and K-date-mauser). has there only the manufacturer and the year of prod. been white? or also the proof-marks and the endnumbers on every part? wich white do you use? it seems not to be only white colour, is it a little bit grey or yellow?

08-31-2001, 11:22 AM	#2
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers As far as I know the only letters that were done by the factory were the Gesichert Markin! All others you see in pictures have been added by the owners of the pistols. Thor

08-31-2001, 05:22 PM	#3
BILL User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Western Washington Posts: 826 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers Yup, only the 'safe' (in whatever language) is originally white. Serial numbers, proofs, gripstrap ID and other stamps are filled in sometimes by collectors to highlight some characteristic of the pistol. Many people do this just to photograph the gun and then remove it. While I personally find it more attractive than a 'Dymo-labelmaker' I still think that it detracts from the appearance of the gun. "White-on, white-off"..that's the secret!

08-31-2001, 06:31 PM	#4
bill m User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 385 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers White is also used to cover up or hide fake markings or counterfieting, so beware when you see them.

09-01-2001, 12:08 PM	#5
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers Billm, boy, I can drink to the possibility of faking the numbers under the white. White stick looks cool but it also hides fakery. Big Norm

09-02-2001, 04:47 PM	#6
Uncle Mike User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 53 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers:How? Hi,How is this done and what should one look for?MC

09-02-2001, 04:59 PM	#7
bill m User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 385 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers:How? Hi, I really do not understand your question, but this is what I think you are looking for. When a faker puts proofs, numbers, or property markings on a Luger, the metal is sharpe or fresh from the fresh stamp, and not buffed over like the originals. To hide this, they fill them in with "white" paint, or marker. That is why you want to be very careful when looking at Navy property markings or very rare marked guns when they have white in them. Original ones did not have white on them. Hope that is what you were looking for?

09-02-2001, 05:11 PM	#8
Uncle Mike User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 53 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers:How? Hi,Sorry for the confusion but thats what I wanted to know!Thanks,MC

09-03-2001, 08:20 AM	#9
Dieter Guest Posts: n/a	Re: white letters and numbers but the letters "gesichert" are always white??? from every producer? (in my case: erfurt 1918 and mauser 1934?

09-03-2001, 10:05 AM	#10
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: white letters and numbers Yes, always painted the white or an off white almost ivory color, but I have noticed that the safety painting on the older WWI DWMs a lot of time look tan. I am not sure if this is from the original paint color or from years of overlying oils discoloring the original. All the WWII Mausers I have seen look lighter in color than the DWMs. ~Thor~

09-04-2001, 05:45 AM	#11
Dieter Guest Posts: n/a	Re: white letters and numbers Thanks Thor, great help.