Inherited a Luger

Tizz · 04-22-2012, 01:23 AM

Love the gun, trying to learn all I can about it. Can anyone give me any info on this one? Serial number is 465, pics attached.

alanint · 04-22-2012, 07:41 AM

Welcome to the forum, Tizz!

You have a police pistol that had once possibly belonged to a Bavarian Army unit. The pistol still retains its police sear safety but the magazine safety has been removed, (which is typical).
What is interesting is that it appears thast the army year of manufacture was totally ground off and the 1920 Weimar Republic property mark added. Usually you will find both dates, (This is conjecture based on the position of the 1920 mark, very low down in the chamber area).

It would be interesting if you would try to make out all the letters and numbers, which were "X"ed out, so that a determination could be made of where it was originally issued.
The gun was chromed sometime in its life and is now a very interesting shooter. Also, if your magazine base still shows a serial number or other markings, please show them as well.

Norme · 04-22-2012, 08:14 AM

Hi Todd, To narrow down the year in which your Luger was made, we need some more information from you. Does this gun have a stock lug, it's not visible in the photo? Does it have a hold-open installed? Can we see a photo of the markings, if any, on the left side of the receiver. I, too, would like to welcome you to the forum. Regards, Norm

padredan · 04-22-2012, 08:54 AM

Welcome to the forum, nice looking shiney police luger you have

Curly1 · 04-22-2012, 10:43 AM

Welcome to the forum nice piece.

Dwight Gruber · 04-22-2012, 10:52 AM

Unit mark is the Berlin Schutzpolizei. Any chance there are remnants of markings on the right receiver or left breechblock?

--Dwight

Douglas Jr. · 04-22-2012, 01:37 PM

The gun has a relieved sear bar, which narrows its manufacturing date as something between 1916-1918.

Tizz · 04-22-2012, 11:57 PM

Hey guys, on the right side of the gun, there are no numbers but there are 3 small marks on there that looks like snowflakes. There is absolutely no markings at all on the magazine. All of the letters X'd out on the bottom of the grip are: B. I I F 268 5418.

From what I'm reading, this isn't much of a collectors piece, but an interesting shooter type gun.

MFC · 04-23-2012, 01:49 AM

I beleive 1920 is the date of manufacture. If it were a property stamp it would be higher on the chamber area, usually above a date if it had one.
Database here...
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=25334

DavidJayUden · 04-23-2012, 07:03 AM

It is more than "a shooter type gun" if you inherited it. Enjoy!
dju

John Sabato · 04-23-2012, 09:03 AM

The location of the "1920" stamping on the chamber appears identical to the long barreled photo in the thread mentioned by Mike C. above...

Don M · 04-23-2012, 06:27 PM

The pistol is a 1920 dated DWM. It is one of the ones in the perplexing "n" suffix range.

As Dwight says, the unit markings are from the Schutzpolizei of Berlin. Although the photo doesn't fully support it, I am positive that the original marking, in accordance with the 1922 instructions, is S.B.W.I.R.268. which was from the Charlottenburg Inspectorate (see HWIS, Chapter 5). In 1932, this marking was partially canceled and replaced with S.B.5418. in accordance with new marking instructions.

Tizz · 04-24-2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

It is more than "a shooter type gun" if you inherited it. Enjoy!
dju

You're definitely right about that!

04-22-2012, 01:23 AM	#1
Tizz New User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Inherited a Luger Love the gun, trying to learn all I can about it. Can anyone give me any info on this one? Serial number is 465, pics attached. Attached Thumbnails

04-22-2012, 08:54 AM	#4
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	Welcome to the forum, nice looking shiney police luger you have __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

04-22-2012, 10:43 AM	#5
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,247 Thanks: 125 Thanked 717 Times in 374 Posts	Welcome to the forum nice piece. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

04-23-2012, 01:49 AM	#9
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	I beleive 1920 is the date of manufacture. If it were a property stamp it would be higher on the chamber area, usually above a date if it had one. Database here... http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=25334 __________________ Mike C.

04-23-2012, 09:03 AM	#11
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	The location of the "1920" stamping on the chamber appears identical to the long barreled photo in the thread mentioned by Mike C. above... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-22-2012, 07:41 AM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Welcome to the forum, Tizz! You have a police pistol that had once possibly belonged to a Bavarian Army unit. The pistol still retains its police sear safety but the magazine safety has been removed, (which is typical). What is interesting is that it appears thast the army year of manufacture was totally ground off and the 1920 Weimar Republic property mark added. Usually you will find both dates, (This is conjecture based on the position of the 1920 mark, very low down in the chamber area). It would be interesting if you would try to make out all the letters and numbers, which were "X"ed out, so that a determination could be made of where it was originally issued. The gun was chromed sometime in its life and is now a very interesting shooter. Also, if your magazine base still shows a serial number or other markings, please show them as well.

04-22-2012, 08:14 AM	#3
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 Todd, To narrow down the year in which your Luger was made, we need some more information from you. Does this gun have a stock lug, it's not visible in the photo? Does it have a hold-open installed? Can we see a photo of the markings, if any, on the left side of the receiver. I, too, would like to welcome you to the forum. Regards, Norm

04-22-2012, 10:52 AM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Unit mark is the Berlin Schutzpolizei. Any chance there are remnants of markings on the right receiver or left breechblock? --Dwight

04-22-2012, 01:37 PM	#7
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	The gun has a relieved sear bar, which narrows its manufacturing date as something between 1916-1918.

04-22-2012, 11:57 PM	#8
Tizz New User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey guys, on the right side of the gun, there are no numbers but there are 3 small marks on there that looks like snowflakes. There is absolutely no markings at all on the magazine. All of the letters X'd out on the bottom of the grip are: B. I I F 268 5418. From what I'm reading, this isn't much of a collectors piece, but an interesting shooter type gun.

04-23-2012, 07:03 AM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	It is more than "a shooter type gun" if you inherited it. Enjoy! dju

04-23-2012, 06:27 PM	#12
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	The pistol is a 1920 dated DWM. It is one of the ones in the perplexing "n" suffix range. As Dwight says, the unit markings are from the Schutzpolizei of Berlin. Although the photo doesn't fully support it, I am positive that the original marking, in accordance with the 1922 instructions, is S.B.W.I.R.268. which was from the Charlottenburg Inspectorate (see HWIS, Chapter 5). In 1932, this marking was partially canceled and replaced with S.B.5418. in accordance with new marking instructions. __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com Last edited by Don M; 04-24-2012 at 04:43 PM.