Commercial Luger

GeorgeBranton · 03-06-2009, 06:02 PM

I was given a Luger recently and it was identified to me as a 1914 Commercial. However after reading several posts here, I do not believe it to be that. The serial number seems to fall into the range for the 1923 Commercial Luger. Can someone give me some pointers on this. A couple of different things regarding this Luger. It has SAFE printed on it rather than the German equivalent. I have attached some pictures. I hope this helps.

MFC · 03-07-2009, 12:13 AM

George,
You are correct, it is a 1923 commercial according to (Kenyon- LAR). The more recent classification would be 20 DWM (Still- Weimar Lugers). It was part of the Stoeger contract, made for the American market in early 1921. It is classified as a Safe and Loaded. If you pull up the extractor it should have LOADED stamped on it. Does the mag bottom have anything stamped on it?

GeorgeBranton · 03-07-2009, 10:48 AM

No, when the Safety is up, there is nothing written underneath. Also, I don't think that the magazine I have is the correct one for the gun. It is an all aluminum magazine. (pictured below)

GeorgeBranton · 03-07-2009, 11:00 AM

Mike,
The gun appears to have matching serial numbers on all parts that I can see. I have not taken it apart (since I don't know how) and I'm not sure what internal parts would have the stamped 82 on them. The magazine has no markings on it at all. Would you be able to give me a guesstimate on the value? Since the gun belonged to my stepfather who collected Lugers for 35 years, I will probably hold on to it. My stepbrother gave me the gun as a keepsake after my stepfather died.

Thanks for your help,
George B.

wlyon · 03-07-2009, 02:31 PM

George
One would need to field strip the weapon and really look it over before giving you a value. It could be $1000 or $1600 depending on finish, matching numbers ,bore. etc. From the pictures it looks nice. If it was me and a family item it would remain in the family. Bill

MFC · 03-08-2009, 12:42 AM

George,
If you lift up the (extractor) not the safety, it should have LOADED stamped on it. The reason I asked about your mag is that some Stoeger marked Lugers came with aluminum bottom mags that were stamped MADE IN GERMANY or just GERMANY. Your Luger originally had a wood bottom mag, but I thought that it might have a spare mag that was ordered for it years later. If numbers were not removed from the bottom of your mag it is a commercial mag (made in the 30's).

uncle art · 05-14-2009, 09:57 PM

Hi George, I'm a newbie with a similar pistol. mine does not have a date stamped on it either which makes it difficult to know for sure when the pistol was made. the cartridges that came with mine are also made from aluminum but have wood bottoms with no markings. I'll post some pictures as soon as I fiqure out how to do it. good luck with your search.

uncle art

Edward Tinker · 05-14-2009, 10:56 PM

Art, it depends on the serial number and "type" to figure out your gun.

Start another thread with information such as serial number, markings, etc.

Mike, not to disagree and I realize this posting is several months old, but I know that Stoeger imported lugers, but so did other companies. So, it could be Stoeger or other companies I think.

I hadn't heard before that blank aluminum magazines were for commericial lugers; perhaps because I am more familiar with police lugers from the mid to late 1930's and they have wood and aluminum bases.

Ed

MFC · 05-17-2009, 12:47 AM

Ed,
Stoeger had a contract for 'safe, loaded' marked Lugers. I'm not sure about the other importers like Pacific Arms. I think unmarked aluminum bottom mags were supplied with commercial Banners... same as the earlier commercial unmarked wood bottom mags. I've also seen a GERMANY stamped aluminum bottom mag with a 2 line Stoeger. I believe that the method of stamping or (not stamping) commercial mags didn't change.

Lugerdoc · 05-18-2009, 10:45 AM

MFC, IMHO the Germany marked wood & aluminum bottomed mags that we see, were ones that were imported separately from the guns, so they were required to be marked with the country of origin. If a mag came into the USA with a Germany marked pistol, it was not required to be marked. TH

03-06-2009, 06:02 PM	#1
GeorgeBranton New User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Commercial Luger I was given a Luger recently and it was identified to me as a 1914 Commercial. However after reading several posts here, I do not believe it to be that. The serial number seems to fall into the range for the 1923 Commercial Luger. Can someone give me some pointers on this. A couple of different things regarding this Luger. It has SAFE printed on it rather than the German equivalent. I have attached some pictures. I hope this helps. Attached Thumbnails

03-07-2009, 12:13 AM	#2
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	George, You are correct, it is a 1923 commercial according to (Kenyon- LAR). The more recent classification would be 20 DWM (Still- Weimar Lugers). It was part of the Stoeger contract, made for the American market in early 1921. It is classified as a Safe and Loaded. If you pull up the extractor it should have LOADED stamped on it. Does the mag bottom have anything stamped on it? __________________ Mike C.

03-07-2009, 10:48 AM	#3
GeorgeBranton New User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Magazine No, when the Safety is up, there is nothing written underneath. Also, I don't think that the magazine I have is the correct one for the gun. It is an all aluminum magazine. (pictured below) Attached Thumbnails

03-07-2009, 02:31 PM	#5
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 3,210 Thanked 2,613 Times in 969 Posts	George One would need to field strip the weapon and really look it over before giving you a value. It could be $1000 or $1600 depending on finish, matching numbers ,bore. etc. From the pictures it looks nice. If it was me and a family item it would remain in the family. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

03-08-2009, 12:42 AM	#6
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	George, If you lift up the (extractor) not the safety, it should have LOADED stamped on it. The reason I asked about your mag is that some Stoeger marked Lugers came with aluminum bottom mags that were stamped MADE IN GERMANY or just GERMANY. Your Luger originally had a wood bottom mag, but I thought that it might have a spare mag that was ordered for it years later. If numbers were not removed from the bottom of your mag it is a commercial mag (made in the 30's). __________________ Mike C.

03-07-2009, 11:00 AM	#4
GeorgeBranton New User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mike, The gun appears to have matching serial numbers on all parts that I can see. I have not taken it apart (since I don't know how) and I'm not sure what internal parts would have the stamped 82 on them. The magazine has no markings on it at all. Would you be able to give me a guesstimate on the value? Since the gun belonged to my stepfather who collected Lugers for 35 years, I will probably hold on to it. My stepbrother gave me the gun as a keepsake after my stepfather died. Thanks for your help, George B.

05-14-2009, 09:57 PM	#7
uncle art User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 9 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi George, I'm a newbie with a similar pistol. mine does not have a date stamped on it either which makes it difficult to know for sure when the pistol was made. the cartridges that came with mine are also made from aluminum but have wood bottoms with no markings. I'll post some pictures as soon as I fiqure out how to do it. good luck with your search. uncle art

05-14-2009, 10:56 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,962 Thanks: 2,063 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Art, it depends on the serial number and "type" to figure out your gun. Start another thread with information such as serial number, markings, etc. Mike, not to disagree and I realize this posting is several months old, but I know that Stoeger imported lugers, but so did other companies. So, it could be Stoeger or other companies I think. I hadn't heard before that blank aluminum magazines were for commericial lugers; perhaps because I am more familiar with police lugers from the mid to late 1930's and they have wood and aluminum bases. Ed __________________ 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

05-17-2009, 12:47 AM	#9
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Ed, Stoeger had a contract for 'safe, loaded' marked Lugers. I'm not sure about the other importers like Pacific Arms. I think unmarked aluminum bottom mags were supplied with commercial Banners... same as the earlier commercial unmarked wood bottom mags. I've also seen a GERMANY stamped aluminum bottom mag with a 2 line Stoeger. I believe that the method of stamping or (not stamping) commercial mags didn't change. __________________ Mike C. Last edited by MFC; 05-17-2009 at 01:43 AM.

05-18-2009, 10:45 AM	#10
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	MFC, IMHO the Germany marked wood & aluminum bottomed mags that we see, were ones that were imported separately from the guns, so they were required to be marked with the country of origin. If a mag came into the USA with a Germany marked pistol, it was not required to be marked. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net