Serial Number Fonts

msb_gun_nut · 12-25-2009, 06:50 PM

Is it considered correct for the serial number "font" on the frame to be diffeent than the serial number "font" on the barrel, and the rest of the pistol? Numbers are the same, "fonts" are different.
thanks

MFC · 12-25-2009, 07:04 PM

Bruce,
Some variations have different fonts, such as flat top and rounded top 3's. I can't remember which, but I think it's OK for some Mauser made Lugers. Someone else should be able to tell you which ones are OK to have different styles.

Edward Tinker · 12-25-2009, 07:35 PM

Bruce, welcome, tell us the year and model and we can be more specific.

Ed

msb_gun_nut · 12-25-2009, 10:46 PM

Sorry, I should have included more specific info. The situation I'm asking about is in an auction on Auction Arms #9496591. It's a Mauser "byf" produced in 1941. My original question involved the "1's" on the frame and the barrel. The barrel "1's" look like the font I'm using here on the computer. On the frame, the "1's" in the serial number don't have the horizonal base line under them.
So my question is whether the "one's" in a given serial number be different between the frame and the barrel?

msb_gun_nut · 12-25-2009, 11:14 PM

Here's a couple pictures of the serial number fonts I'm talking about. The "one's" are different and now that I've looked a little closer, the frame serial number "font" is different from the barrel "font" on all the numbers.

Norme · 12-26-2009, 08:50 AM

Hi Bruce, I looked at all the photos of this gun on the AA site and it looks OK to me. Mauser was turning out over 100,000 Lugers a year (thats over 300 a day!), and they would have been using several, perhaps dozens , of number die sets. Regards, Norm

Vlim · 12-26-2009, 10:32 AM

Hi,

Mauser actually used automated numbering equipment in those days as well. Since some parts were stamped on machines and others probably by hand, you can expect different font types.

mneadlck · 12-28-2009, 07:57 PM

Question - on the first picture where the s/n 1271 is.. beneath it is another character... can you tell me what that is... I have the same character on my gun but cannot find anything about what that is in the book I just bought ?

mneadlck · 12-28-2009, 08:00 PM

Another question about picture #2.. beneath that s/n (1271) is another set of characters/numbers ... what is the purpose of those characters ? It also appears that again my pistol has the same characters on the barrel too ?

Norme · 12-28-2009, 08:16 PM

Hi Bruce, Those numbers (8.83) are the measured diameter of the barrel interior, land to land. Regards, Norm

alvin · 12-28-2009, 10:21 PM

Brushing mark is also important, but this one does not, or at least those pictures do not, perform well. Especially on the sear cover.

starshippe · 12-28-2009, 11:35 PM

. . i had the same question. i believe its an "n", and is part of the serial number. i think they went to the next letter after 9999 were made.

bill

alvin · 12-29-2009, 07:39 AM

Here is another example of fonts. I like this one, but timing is wrong for me.

Link : gunbroker.com Mauser 1935 "G"

Frank · 12-29-2009, 09:27 AM

The suffix is a "P", not "N". This is one of the most common errors in suffix identification.

mneadlck · 12-31-2009, 04:49 PM

Thanks... after referencing the technical info on this website, I kind of thought the symbol was a 'P'; not an 'N'. I could not find any information about the numbers 8.83 that was shown on the barrel but now I know what that number means too.
Thanks again... I really appreciate all of your answers. I have to watch out... collecting these lugers could be habit making. Just as an afterthought, is there a way that I could put out a want notice - I'm looking to swap out or buy an extra magazine that has my serial number on it... is there a process ?

alanint · 12-31-2009, 06:46 PM

Getting your serial number is the dream of every collector but next to impossible. Post your magazine on the site's magazine list and look over what others have. If you are lucky enough to find yours or one that is more correct/close to yours, the ownwe may wish to swap or sell to you...

Good Luck!!

12-25-2009, 06:50 PM	#1
msb_gun_nut New User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Serial Number Fonts Is it considered correct for the serial number "font" on the frame to be diffeent than the serial number "font" on the barrel, and the rest of the pistol? Numbers are the same, "fonts" are different. thanks

12-25-2009, 07:35 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,962 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Bruce, welcome, tell us the year and model and we can be more specific. 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

12-25-2009, 11:14 PM	#5
msb_gun_nut New User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Serial Number Fonts Here's a couple pictures of the serial number fonts I'm talking about. The "one's" are different and now that I've looked a little closer, the frame serial number "font" is different from the barrel "font" on all the numbers. Attached Thumbnails

12-28-2009, 10:21 PM	#11
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Brushing mark is also important, but this one does not, or at least those pictures do not, perform well. Especially on the sear cover. Attached Thumbnails

12-28-2009, 11:35 PM	#12
starshippe User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: brunswick, ga. Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	i think its a cursive n . . i had the same question. i believe its an "n", and is part of the serial number. i think they went to the next letter after 9999 were made. bill

12-25-2009, 07:04 PM	#2
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Bruce, Some variations have different fonts, such as flat top and rounded top 3's. I can't remember which, but I think it's OK for some Mauser made Lugers. Someone else should be able to tell you which ones are OK to have different styles. __________________ Mike C.

12-25-2009, 10:46 PM	#4
msb_gun_nut New User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry, I should have included more specific info. The situation I'm asking about is in an auction on Auction Arms #9496591. It's a Mauser "byf" produced in 1941. My original question involved the "1's" on the frame and the barrel. The barrel "1's" look like the font I'm using here on the computer. On the frame, the "1's" in the serial number don't have the horizonal base line under them. So my question is whether the "one's" in a given serial number be different between the frame and the barrel?

12-26-2009, 08:50 AM	#6
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Bruce, I looked at all the photos of this gun on the AA site and it looks OK to me. Mauser was turning out over 100,000 Lugers a year (thats over 300 a day!), and they would have been using several, perhaps dozens , of number die sets. Regards, Norm

12-26-2009, 10:32 AM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, Mauser actually used automated numbering equipment in those days as well. Since some parts were stamped on machines and others probably by hand, you can expect different font types.

12-28-2009, 07:57 PM	#8
mneadlck New User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brooklyn, CT Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Question - on the first picture where the s/n 1271 is.. beneath it is another character... can you tell me what that is... I have the same character on my gun but cannot find anything about what that is in the book I just bought ?

12-28-2009, 08:00 PM	#9
mneadlck New User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brooklyn, CT Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Another question about picture #2.. beneath that s/n (1271) is another set of characters/numbers ... what is the purpose of those characters ? It also appears that again my pistol has the same characters on the barrel too ?

12-28-2009, 08:16 PM	#10
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Bruce, Those numbers (8.83) are the measured diameter of the barrel interior, land to land. Regards, Norm

12-29-2009, 07:39 AM	#13
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Here is another example of fonts. I like this one, but timing is wrong for me. Link : gunbroker.com Mauser 1935 "G"

12-29-2009, 09:27 AM	#14
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 164 Times in 87 Posts	The suffix is a "P", not "N". This is one of the most common errors in suffix identification.

12-31-2009, 04:49 PM	#15
mneadlck New User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brooklyn, CT Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for your help and comments. Thanks... after referencing the technical info on this website, I kind of thought the symbol was a 'P'; not an 'N'. I could not find any information about the numbers 8.83 that was shown on the barrel but now I know what that number means too. Thanks again... I really appreciate all of your answers. I have to watch out... collecting these lugers could be habit making. Just as an afterthought, is there a way that I could put out a want notice - I'm looking to swap out or buy an extra magazine that has my serial number on it... is there a process ?

12-31-2009, 06:46 PM	#16
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Getting your serial number is the dream of every collector but next to impossible. Post your magazine on the site's magazine list and look over what others have. If you are lucky enough to find yours or one that is more correct/close to yours, the ownwe may wish to swap or sell to you... Good Luck!!