My first Luger! What did I get?

hker71 · 04-28-2013, 01:27 PM

Hello,

I am new to the world of Lugers. I have always wanted one and finally bought one. The numbers match except for the magazine.

I am worried by the red 9 on the grips. The grips numbers on the inside of the grips actually match the serial number. From what I have seen the red 9 was on later artillery pistols. The barrel numbers match as well.

Can anyone help a new guy identify what he has? I love this thing already. Thanks in advance.

hker71

padredan · 04-28-2013, 05:49 PM

very nice , congrats on your first one .

Jack Lawman · 04-28-2013, 08:10 PM

The "Red 9" was normally used on the C96 pistol. During the 1st World War, there were C96's (broomhandles) in two calibers, the 7.63 Mauser and the government contract 9mm. The original government contract Red 9 C96 pistols left the factory with unmarked grips. To avoid confusion, armorers were ordered to mark the C96 pistols in 9mm with a red "9". Later gov't contract broomhandles were marked before they left the factory. That's why you see a great variation in the grip marks of early contract C96 pistols (unit armorer applied), and later pistols with a standardized marking (from the factory).

Anyways, story is that many unit armorers marked all 9mm pistols with a red 9, even though they were not required to do so. This may be the case with your luger.

Curly1 · 04-28-2013, 11:14 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Ron Smith · 04-29-2013, 09:29 AM

The unit mark on the grip strap appears to be for a Truppenübungsplatz (Troop Training Center) although not marked to regulation.

If so, they may have had both, 9mm and 7.65 (.30 Luger) pistols in inventory. This would account for the Red 9 grips, which look correct and legitimate.

All in all, a nice find...

Ron

04-28-2013, 01:27 PM	#1
hker71 New User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first Luger! What did I get? Hello, I am new to the world of Lugers. I have always wanted one and finally bought one. The numbers match except for the magazine. I am worried by the red 9 on the grips. The grips numbers on the inside of the grips actually match the serial number. From what I have seen the red 9 was on later artillery pistols. The barrel numbers match as well. Can anyone help a new guy identify what he has? I love this thing already. Thanks in advance. hker71 Last edited by hker71; 04-28-2013 at 03:38 PM. Reason: Added pictures

04-28-2013, 05:49 PM	#2
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	very nice , congrats on your first one . __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

04-28-2013, 08:10 PM	#3
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	The "Red 9" was normally used on the C96 pistol. During the 1st World War, there were C96's (broomhandles) in two calibers, the 7.63 Mauser and the government contract 9mm. The original government contract Red 9 C96 pistols left the factory with unmarked grips. To avoid confusion, armorers were ordered to mark the C96 pistols in 9mm with a red "9". Later gov't contract broomhandles were marked before they left the factory. That's why you see a great variation in the grip marks of early contract C96 pistols (unit armorer applied), and later pistols with a standardized marking (from the factory). Anyways, story is that many unit armorers marked all 9mm pistols with a red 9, even though they were not required to do so. This may be the case with your luger. __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

04-28-2013, 11:14 PM	#4
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,230 Thanks: 113 Thanked 703 Times in 365 Posts	Welcome to the forum. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

04-29-2013, 09:29 AM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	The unit mark on the grip strap appears to be for a Truppenübungsplatz (Troop Training Center) although not marked to regulation. If so, they may have had both, 9mm and 7.65 (.30 Luger) pistols in inventory. This would account for the Red 9 grips, which look correct and legitimate. All in all, a nice find... Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...