1918 DWM Luger 'Geco' Marked

David1969 · 01-11-2022, 12:36 PM

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum. I have recently purchased a 1918 DWM Luger. Here in England we are not allowed to possess live firearms, pistols etc, so there is a huge market here, and in Europe, for deactivated weapons. These 'Old Spec' weapons do everything but live fire.
I noticed on the right side of the slide, to the left of the 4 proof markings, a mark which I have now identified as 'Geco'. This company was founded in Germany in 1887 as a surplus arms dealer and ammunition manufacturer. The company is still in existence today! It apparently sold weapons and accessories to soldiers after the First and Second World Wars!
Has anyone any further information about these 'Geco' marked pieces or the selling of surplus weapons by this company in the inter war years. Many thanks in advance,

Edward Tinker · 01-11-2022, 01:12 PM

Welcome to the forum

Can you take pictures? I have never seen one that was attributed to Geco.

Full top, both sides, close up of external items of interest.

Doubs · 01-11-2022, 08:15 PM

If your Luger has been deactivated, my thought is that Geco may be the company that did the work.

Geco makes ammunition and other firearm related products. I have a P.38 holster marked "Geco" and it's very well made.

lugerholsterrepair · 01-12-2022, 12:22 PM

Geco makes ammunition and other firearm related products. I have a P.38 holster marked "Geco" and it's very well made.

It must be post war?

mrerick · 01-12-2022, 02:36 PM

Here is their modern incarnation, and something of their history:

https://geco-ammunition.com/en/geco-...us/brand-story

Gustav Genschow & Co. has been a mainstream arms and accessories manufacturer for a long time. They have always been associated with quality products.

In order to survive independently this long, they are agile and attentive to the market.

Doubs · 01-12-2022, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

Geco makes ammunition and other firearm related products. I have a P.38 holster marked "Geco" and it's very well made.

Quote:

It must be post war?

It is.

Prior to the war, Geco made rifles in .22LR (5.6mm). Until this Covid crisis I was using a lot of Geco .22LR "Semi-Auto" cartridges. It shoots amazingly well for the cost and easily better than some costing twice the amount. I haven't seen any for sale in a long time.

Eugen · 01-13-2022, 11:52 AM

"Deactivated", a term and friendly reminder of how fortunate vintage firearm enthusiasts are on this side of the pond.

David1969 · 01-15-2022, 11:43 AM

Thank you everyone for your responses. Apologies for the delay in my response but i have been away from home for the last 4 days. I will post a series of photographs as soon as I can. The pistol is stamped 1918 and profusely stamped with matching numbers, although though the side plate and locking bolt pin are un-numbered.
Thank you again.

David1969 · 01-15-2022, 11:56 AM

The deactivation was carried out by a registered firearms dealer in 2001 and authorised by the London Proof House the same year. This pistol was sold by Geco sometime after the First World War. With its condition I'm not sure it ever saw active service. It was manufactured in late 1918 which is why, it's my opinion, some of its parts were not stamped or marked, just as happened at the end of World War Two due to reduced production time. Thank you all,

01-11-2022, 12:36 PM	#1
David1969 New User Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1918 DWM Luger 'Geco' Marked Hello Everyone, This is my first post on this forum. I have recently purchased a 1918 DWM Luger. Here in England we are not allowed to possess live firearms, pistols etc, so there is a huge market here, and in Europe, for deactivated weapons. These 'Old Spec' weapons do everything but live fire. I noticed on the right side of the slide, to the left of the 4 proof markings, a mark which I have now identified as 'Geco'. This company was founded in Germany in 1887 as a surplus arms dealer and ammunition manufacturer. The company is still in existence today! It apparently sold weapons and accessories to soldiers after the First and Second World Wars! Has anyone any further information about these 'Geco' marked pieces or the selling of surplus weapons by this company in the inter war years. Many thanks in advance,

01-11-2022, 01:12 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	Welcome to the forum Can you take pictures? I have never seen one that was attributed to Geco. Full top, both sides, close up of external items of interest. __________________ 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

01-12-2022, 12:22 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,933 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Geco makes ammunition and other firearm related products. I have a P.38 holster marked "Geco" and it's very well made. It must be post war? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

01-12-2022, 02:36 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Here is their modern incarnation, and something of their history: https://geco-ammunition.com/en/geco-...us/brand-story Gustav Genschow & Co. has been a mainstream arms and accessories manufacturer for a long time. They have always been associated with quality products. In order to survive independently this long, they are agile and attentive to the market. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-13-2022, 11:52 AM	#7
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 790 Thanks: 394 Thanked 631 Times in 334 Posts	"Deactivated", a term and friendly reminder of how fortunate vintage firearm enthusiasts are on this side of the pond. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

01-11-2022, 08:15 PM	#3
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,698 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,684 Times in 553 Posts	If your Luger has been deactivated, my thought is that Geco may be the company that did the work. Geco makes ammunition and other firearm related products. I have a P.38 holster marked "Geco" and it's very well made.

01-15-2022, 11:43 AM	#8
David1969 New User Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you everyone for your responses. Apologies for the delay in my response but i have been away from home for the last 4 days. I will post a series of photographs as soon as I can. The pistol is stamped 1918 and profusely stamped with matching numbers, although though the side plate and locking bolt pin are un-numbered. Thank you again.

01-15-2022, 11:56 AM	#9
David1969 New User Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The deactivation was carried out by a registered firearms dealer in 2001 and authorised by the London Proof House the same year. This pistol was sold by Geco sometime after the First World War. With its condition I'm not sure it ever saw active service. It was manufactured in late 1918 which is why, it's my opinion, some of its parts were not stamped or marked, just as happened at the end of World War Two due to reduced production time. Thank you all,