Luger marking L?

[1945]

Hi.
Can anyone tell me what this big L after serial number means?
Asking for a friend.

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Pretty sure its an East German rework stamp.

[1945]

It has all the original numbers and is number matching in all parts. No x or routed/changed numbers/markings etc. it is by the way a double date 1916/1920 and have Polizei unit marking on the grip, original wood grip panels etc. DWM maker.
No history from East Europe as I knows.

[phild]

It’s not a marking that I recall seeing but I can look in some recent books on police variations of markings as there are many. Much of their work was done at armory level. It is not a factory mark from DWM. The grip strap marking might offer a clue.

I assume it is fitted with a sear safety and removed mag safety. Most police reworks show all the updates of fluted firing pin, numbered toggle axle and often a new barrel as well.

I agree with you that it is not from the former USSR captures and I personally have not seen this mark on a former DDR 08, but often rework Lugers or non standard builds (like the Ku) pick up a marking in that location. The intertwined MA navy rebuild is one of several that come to mind

[1945]

Thanks phild for informative info.
It haven’t this Polizei safety, joust ordinary safety and so on. The Polizei marking on the grip is some thing like “S.Li .......
I think maybe the big letter L after serial number on the side, has something with Polizei to do?

[phild]

Thanks phild for informative info.
It haven’t this Polizei safety, joust ordinary safety and so on. The Polizei marking on the grip is some thing like “S.Li .......
I think maybe the big letter L after serial number on the side, has something with Polizei to do?

Let me see what I can find out

[Alan Smith]

I respectfully suggest that OP provide photos of all aspects of the gun; this will help put it in context.

[phild]

The part of the marking that you provided would represent the protection police unit of Liegnitz. Given the late war and post war history of that region I suspect very few weapons so marked exist any longer. It is very unusual that the gun was not fitted with at least a sear safety. There are many police related inspection related markings that are not identified, others not published and I would think even others still unknown to exist until they turn up on a gun. To really make any kind of judgement on the gun,I would need a lot of photos covering about every aspect including some of hidden areas. The block L (if it is simply the letter L) is not something typical of this period, but a circle S for example is known to be found in this general location on 20s era police reworks so it is possible. Also possible is post WWII rework (for or by some organization)
My guess after much looking at references my is that it relates to a armory facility at Liegnitz. I have no idea if such existed however. One obvious thing to check is the letter suffix on the frame. Of present it will always be small case script but if happens to be a l, I could believe that it was incorrectly restamped beside the serial number on the receiver to make it more seen. Maybe in 1925 or 1955 hard to say.

[zimmerit]

There is zero chance that’s a police or “armory” marking. I agree that it’s very likely post war but with one photo and a scribbled out serial you’re only going to get guesses

[1945]

Thank you gentlemen for taking your time on this, and especially phild. I understand that more pictures must be provided for further search in info and history on this particular gun. I shall try to get more pictures, but it can take some time before I get there.
I also think this is done between ww1 and ww2, but I do not have any info supporting this.
Thank you and take care gentlemen!

[MP41]

I can only add that there was in fact a waffenwerk depot at Liegniz. However, the depot code for it was "Lz", not "L". There is no depot that I know of that had a single letter for it's code.

Matt

[phild]

I can only add that there was in fact a waffenwerk depot at Liegniz. However, the depot code for it was "Lz", not "L". There is no depot that I know of that had a single letter for it's code.

Matt

Matt, I think that the Depot you are taking about was an army waffenwerk. During the third Reich and somewhat earlier they all used the first and last letter of the town they were located in. I also do not think that this L is period related marking but I also wanted to point out that if police and reworked them the police not the army would have likely done the work. Police repair facilities seem much less centralized than the Heer and all were low level of doing simple repairs based on what I have read in period manuals

[MP41]

[QUOTE=phild;8711027]Matt, I think that the Depot you are taking about was an army waffenwerk. During the third Reich and somewhat earlier they all used the first and last letter of the town they were located in.

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Not all depots used the first letter and last letter though, but most did.

Matt

[1945]

This is the marking on the grip.

[1945]

Picture