Serial # question...

Marc · 08-04-2002, 02:35 AM

Hello everyone,

About those serial #s...

I was wondering how the serial numbering scheme worked for Lugers...

I was under the impression that DWM, Erfurt, Mauser..Lugers ect each had ser # s that increased along the timeline that they were produced and that from the serial #, you could, in theory, determine exactly when (and where)it was made.

See, I got a 1916 DWM with serial# 7121e. I saw another DWM (it was a 1918) with a ser# in the 6XXX range!!! How is this possible [img]confused.gif[/img]

Cheers

Marc

Doug G. · 08-04-2002, 09:04 AM

You forgot to mention that they sarted at 1 a every new year.

Doubs · 08-04-2002, 01:14 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Marc:
<strong> I was under the impression that DWM, Erfurt, Mauser..Lugers ect each had ser # s that increased along the timeline that they were produced and that from the serial #, you could, in theory, determine exactly when (and where)it was made.
See, I got a 1916 DWM with serial# 7121e. I saw another DWM (it was a 1918) with a ser# in the 6XXX range!!! How is this possible [img]confused.gif[/img]
Marc</strong><hr></blockquote>

Marc, DWM had at least THREE serial numbering schemes; Contract, Commercial and Military. The commercial range did indeed progress numerically through the years and would seem to have been continuous, AFAIK.

Military serial numbers, such as on your 1916 DWM, began EACH new year with serial number 1 (no suffix letter) and went to 9999. At that point in production, they then began over with 1 a (1 with suffix letter a). That progressed until 9999a was reached and then 1 b began... and so on and so forth through the alphabet. In no year did DWM ever use all letters of the alphabet. It's very important that you record the make (DWN or ERFURT), year on the chamber and the full serial number including any suffix letter. Only then can you be certain that you have the correct information to positively ID YOUR Luger. Erfurt, to the best of my knowledge, made only military Lugers and all were serial numbered as explained above.

DWM Contract guns used both military style serial numbering (the Finn contract, for instance) that continued within an existing block of numbers or commercial style numbering in special blocks of numbers apart from other serial number ranges.

Serial numbers were stamped in the military style and the commercial style. Military will have numbers on the side of the receiver, side plate, locking bolt and front toggle. Commercial style will have the side plate and locking bolt numbers on the underside where they can't be seen by a casual glance. Commercial will not have a number on top of the front toggle or the side of the receiver. However, the Finn contract used military style numbers but stamped in a commercial manner.

Yep.... it can get confusing.

That's the basics. I suggest acquiring the books by Still, Kenyon and others and doing some reading. Reading about Lugers is almost as nice as having a bunch of them.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Marc · 08-05-2002, 12:02 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Again, I'll go to bed a little smarter thanks to you all. [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

08-04-2002, 02:35 AM	#1
Marc User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Serial # question... Hello everyone, About those serial #s... I was wondering how the serial numbering scheme worked for Lugers... I was under the impression that DWM, Erfurt, Mauser..Lugers ect each had ser # s that increased along the timeline that they were produced and that from the serial #, you could, in theory, determine exactly when (and where)it was made. See, I got a 1916 DWM with serial# 7121e. I saw another DWM (it was a 1918) with a ser# in the 6XXX range!!! How is this possible [img]confused.gif[/img] Cheers Marc

08-04-2002, 09:04 AM	#2
Doug G. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 713 Thanks: 1 Thanked 53 Times in 17 Posts	You forgot to mention that they sarted at 1 a every new year. __________________ Suppose you were an idiot.....and suppose you were a member of Congress.....But I repeat myself" ~~ Mark Twain

08-04-2002, 01:14 PM	#3
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	[quote]Originally posted by Marc: <strong> I was under the impression that DWM, Erfurt, Mauser..Lugers ect each had ser # s that increased along the timeline that they were produced and that from the serial #, you could, in theory, determine exactly when (and where)it was made. See, I got a 1916 DWM with serial# 7121e. I saw another DWM (it was a 1918) with a ser# in the 6XXX range!!! How is this possible [img]confused.gif[/img] Marc</strong><hr></blockquote> Marc, DWM had at least THREE serial numbering schemes; Contract, Commercial and Military. The commercial range did indeed progress numerically through the years and would seem to have been continuous, AFAIK. Military serial numbers, such as on your 1916 DWM, began EACH new year with serial number 1 (no suffix letter) and went to 9999. At that point in production, they then began over with 1 a (1 with suffix letter a). That progressed until 9999a was reached and then 1 b began... and so on and so forth through the alphabet. In no year did DWM ever use all letters of the alphabet. It's very important that you record the make (DWN or ERFURT), year on the chamber and the full serial number including any suffix letter. Only then can you be certain that you have the correct information to positively ID YOUR Luger. Erfurt, to the best of my knowledge, made only military Lugers and all were serial numbered as explained above. DWM Contract guns used both military style serial numbering (the Finn contract, for instance) that continued within an existing block of numbers or commercial style numbering in special blocks of numbers apart from other serial number ranges. Serial numbers were stamped in the military style and the commercial style. Military will have numbers on the side of the receiver, side plate, locking bolt and front toggle. Commercial style will have the side plate and locking bolt numbers on the underside where they can't be seen by a casual glance. Commercial will not have a number on top of the front toggle or the side of the receiver. However, the Finn contract used military style numbers but stamped in a commercial manner. Yep.... it can get confusing. That's the basics. I suggest acquiring the books by Still, Kenyon and others and doing some reading. Reading about Lugers is almost as nice as having a bunch of them. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

08-05-2002, 12:02 AM	#4
Marc User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the replies. Again, I'll go to bed a little smarter thanks to you all. [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]