Frame mark; Can't ID.

loogee · 02-22-2010, 08:33 AM

Enclosed a fairly accurate rendering of a front-frame mark under the serial number. Gun has comm'l features, 4", 9mm,
upright left-side proof,etc. Mark looks similar to a Navy mark found in one of my books....?
Thanx in advance for any info.
Be back at this 'puter on Wed.
Charlie

Don M · 02-22-2010, 11:03 AM

Hi Charlie,

It is a crown stamped over the suffix of an Alphabet DWM - probably an "s" or "t." There are a number of these out there, particularly on police pistols. I have not been able to figure out what these overstamps mean.

Does this pistol have any police markings or a sear and/or mag safety?

loogee · 02-25-2010, 01:06 PM

Hey Don...
Thanx for the reply. The gun has no police features. I had a nice collection of double-dates and police Lugers, so I'm familiar with front strap markings, etc. It just looks like a commercial
Luger in 9mm with a 4" barrel. Just another gun-mystery for all the experts to solve, eh?
Regards, Charlie.

Don M · 02-25-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loogee

Just another gun-mystery for all the experts to solve, eh?
Regards, Charlie.

One of many!

drbuster · 02-25-2010, 06:10 PM

I think this crown stamping, made over the letter suffix to obliterate it, was an attempt of the factory to "commercialize" the gun as it is known commercial guns do not gerneally have a letter suffix (some 1920 era commecials excepted).

loogee · 02-25-2010, 10:59 PM

If a military Luger is reworked into a commercial, why couldn't they just remove the suffix letter when all the military markings and numbering were removed during the restoration ?

drbuster · 02-25-2010, 11:19 PM

It's just a guess since I wasn't there, but it seems easier to just overstamp a letter than file it down and have to re rust blue it.

Don M · 02-25-2010, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbuster

I think this crown stamping, made over the letter suffix to obliterate it, was an attempt of the factory to "commercialize" the gun as it is known commercial guns do not gerneally have a letter suffix (some 1920 era commecials excepted).

I don't think "commercialization" was the reason for the overstamping. There are many, many examples of commercial 30-cal. and 9-mm Lugers with suffixes that were manufactured from 1921 through 1929. This overstamp is found on Lugers with a variety of police markings making me believe it was done either at the factory (for reasons I can't imagine) or by someone after the war. I have seen it only on 29 DWMs.

loogee · 02-26-2010, 08:42 AM

Yeah Don....
I agree. Just like that tiny eagle that is stamped on trigger guard webs of ac43 and ac44
P-38's. Had several of those when I collected P-38's back in the 1970's, and still today no one knows their significance.
Anyway, thanx to all for inputs.
Charlie.

02-22-2010, 08:33 AM	#1
loogee User Join Date: May 2008 Location: WI Posts: 84 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Frame mark; Can't ID. Enclosed a fairly accurate rendering of a front-frame mark under the serial number. Gun has comm'l features, 4", 9mm, upright left-side proof,etc. Mark looks similar to a Navy mark found in one of my books....? Thanx in advance for any info. Be back at this 'puter on Wed. Charlie Attached Thumbnails

02-22-2010, 11:03 AM	#2
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	Hi Charlie, It is a crown stamped over the suffix of an Alphabet DWM - probably an "s" or "t." There are a number of these out there, particularly on police pistols. I have not been able to figure out what these overstamps mean. Does this pistol have any police markings or a sear and/or mag safety? __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

02-25-2010, 01:06 PM	#3
loogee User Join Date: May 2008 Location: WI Posts: 84 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey Don... Thanx for the reply. The gun has no police features. I had a nice collection of double-dates and police Lugers, so I'm familiar with front strap markings, etc. It just looks like a commercial Luger in 9mm with a 4" barrel. Just another gun-mystery for all the experts to solve, eh? Regards, Charlie.

02-25-2010, 06:10 PM	#5
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	I think this crown stamping, made over the letter suffix to obliterate it, was an attempt of the factory to "commercialize" the gun as it is known commercial guns do not gerneally have a letter suffix (some 1920 era commecials excepted).

02-25-2010, 10:59 PM	#6
loogee User Join Date: May 2008 Location: WI Posts: 84 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If a military Luger is reworked into a commercial, why couldn't they just remove the suffix letter when all the military markings and numbering were removed during the restoration ?

02-25-2010, 11:19 PM	#7
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	It's just a guess since I wasn't there, but it seems easier to just overstamp a letter than file it down and have to re rust blue it.

02-26-2010, 08:42 AM	#9
loogee User Join Date: May 2008 Location: WI Posts: 84 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yeah Don.... I agree. Just like that tiny eagle that is stamped on trigger guard webs of ac43 and ac44 P-38's. Had several of those when I collected P-38's back in the 1970's, and still today no one knows their significance. Anyway, thanx to all for inputs. Charlie.