Upside Down Made in Germany Stamp

bwavefront · 02-11-2011, 06:01 PM

I recently purchased a 1920 Commercial and the Made in Germany stamp is upside down. I did some research on the forums and I understand the stamp could be placed anywhere but I didn’t see any info on the stamp being upside.

My main question is has anyone seen this before and would this make my Plain Jane Commercial any more or less unique.

I’m guessing whoever did the stamping had a bad day or too much to drink

but if anyone else has a better explanation let me know.

Thanks in Advance

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sheepherder · 02-11-2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwavefront

I’m guessing whoever did the stamping had a bad day or too much to drink

but if anyone else has a better explanation let me know.

Poor work attitude???

spartacus38 · 02-11-2011, 07:24 PM

Never seen one upside down.
Bob

mrerick · 02-11-2011, 07:54 PM

When the proof stamps go up,
Who cares how they come down,
That's not my department -
Says Inspector Braun!

Marc (paraphrasing Tom Leher...)

MFC · 02-11-2011, 11:09 PM

I've seen 'Germany' and 'Made in Germany' stamped upside down on several 20 DWM's and Alphabet commercials. Weird locations too... like on the frame ears near the safety marking.

rivieraranch · 02-12-2011, 07:54 AM

It's like when a car is repainted and the lettering and scripts are replaced in the wrong position.

Vlim · 02-12-2011, 04:08 PM

Since the marking was only required for the US market, it is quite probable that the markings were applied by the importer in the US itself and not in Germany.

That said, I must say that I frequently put my stamps upside down on shooting registers over here. It happens

MFC · 02-13-2011, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

Since the marking was only required for the US market, it is quite probable that the markings were applied by the importer in the US itself and not in Germany.

I assumed that US customs required a country of origin stamp/label upon arrival at any US port. Was it OK to add the stamp after the fact?

sheepherder · 02-13-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFC

I assumed that US customs required a country of origin stamp/label upon arrival at any US port. Was it OK to add the stamp after the fact?

I have this mental picture of crates of Lugers, Mausers, Walthers spread out on a warehouse floor...and an import drone ("who's on my poop list today?") sitting there with a BMFH (that's a kind of hammer) and a steel stamp...All day long...Stamp, toss, next...Stamp, toss, next...Stamp, toss, next...Watched by an equally bored BATFE drone (same type of list), and an armed guard or two...

Ron Wood · 02-12-2011, 07:27 PM

Maybe it was stamped in Australlia.

alanint · 02-13-2011, 12:31 PM

Back when these were brought in it would most likely have been a customs or treasury agent and the goverment trusted you to apply the stamps without supervision!!

dharger · 02-14-2011, 09:16 AM

I have a 1920 commercial (95xxL serial#) that has the same upside down stamp in the same place. I had never seen one stamped like this before either, but doubted it was worth any more, or less, than any other 1920 commercial.

Dwight Gruber · 02-23-2011, 07:52 PM

By law the country-of-origin stamps had to be applied before the gun entered this country.

--Dwight

Vlim · 02-24-2011, 05:38 AM

Hi Dwight, correct, but there were special customs areas at the major ports where material could be stored, marked and prepped before being imported into the US officially. These customs areas would not qualify as 'US', so products could be stored and worked on without being subjected to import laws.

alanint · 02-24-2011, 06:07 AM

This is correct. They are known as Bonded Areas and are legally considered "neutral ground". Goods do not pay import duties either until they leave these areas and are patriated into the US.

02-11-2011, 06:01 PM	#1
bwavefront New User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Upside Down Made in Germany Stamp I recently purchased a 1920 Commercial and the Made in Germany stamp is upside down. I did some research on the forums and I understand the stamp could be placed anywhere but I didn’t see any info on the stamp being upside. My main question is has anyone seen this before and would this make my Plain Jane Commercial any more or less unique. I’m guessing whoever did the stamping had a bad day or too much to drink but if anyone else has a better explanation let me know. Thanks in Advance

02-11-2011, 07:54 PM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	When the proof stamps go up, Who cares how they come down, That's not my department - Says Inspector Braun! Marc (paraphrasing Tom Leher...) __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

02-11-2011, 11:09 PM	#5
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	I've seen 'Germany' and 'Made in Germany' stamped upside down on several 20 DWM's and Alphabet commercials. Weird locations too... like on the frame ears near the safety marking. __________________ Mike C.

02-12-2011, 07:27 PM	#10
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	Maybe it was stamped in Australlia. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-11-2011, 07:24 PM	#3
spartacus38 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Lake Tahoe,CA. Posts: 695 Thanks: 0 Thanked 70 Times in 56 Posts	Never seen one upside down. Bob

02-12-2011, 07:54 AM	#6
rivieraranch User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 101 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	It's like when a car is repainted and the lettering and scripts are replaced in the wrong position.

02-12-2011, 04:08 PM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,042 Thanks: 1,032 Thanked 3,920 Times in 1,193 Posts	Since the marking was only required for the US market, it is quite probable that the markings were applied by the importer in the US itself and not in Germany. That said, I must say that I frequently put my stamps upside down on shooting registers over here. It happens

02-13-2011, 12:31 PM	#11
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Back when these were brought in it would most likely have been a customs or treasury agent and the goverment trusted you to apply the stamps without supervision!!

02-14-2011, 09:16 AM	#12
dharger User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have a 1920 commercial (95xxL serial#) that has the same upside down stamp in the same place. I had never seen one stamped like this before either, but doubted it was worth any more, or less, than any other 1920 commercial.

02-23-2011, 07:52 PM	#13
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	By law the country-of-origin stamps had to be applied before the gun entered this country. --Dwight

02-24-2011, 05:38 AM	#14
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,042 Thanks: 1,032 Thanked 3,920 Times in 1,193 Posts	Hi Dwight, correct, but there were special customs areas at the major ports where material could be stored, marked and prepped before being imported into the US officially. These customs areas would not qualify as 'US', so products could be stored and worked on without being subjected to import laws.

02-24-2011, 06:07 AM	#15
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	This is correct. They are known as Bonded Areas and are legally considered "neutral ground". Goods do not pay import duties either until they leave these areas and are patriated into the US.