White lettering on WWII guns?

[milsurp]

Interesting... In what context does it explain that this is the case?

I hope nobody laughs because this is such an old thread..... I just joined up here.


According to an original Denckler MG 08/15 manual, page 27: "Marks and numbers are filled with white sealing wax." This manual is undated, but clearly states that this is what was used. I hope to finish up translating this manual within the next month or so. It'll be on my website when it's done.

[bergfurher]

I too never knew exactly how they or anyone put the white in. I own many full auto German weapons, none have it, BUT,one of my K43's has it, and its a direct vet pick up, and he never touched it since bringing it home, or so he claims, I figured it came that way, but ?

[Matt Weber]

Boy, I can't believe somebody brought this old thread up! I was banging my head over this topic over 2 years ago! Just this past summer I was finally able to put it to rest and sleep at night! Now someone brought it back to my nightmares!!!!!


As I stated earlier in this thread, we will never know the true facts of the white lettering on firearms, since so many collectors have added it to thier guns.
Thus there is no way to tell which guns originally had it from the factory, and which guns were "enhanced" by collectors.

I do believe that we have proved that is was done before the war and during the war by some manufacturers, however, there is no way to tell which ones did it, and what time periods they were done.

This matter will never be resolved.......................................... .........

Matt

[jbaum]

well, I'm not allowed to post a picture on here, but the specific paragraph is talking about the sight assembly range numbers.

[milsurp]

Thanks John.

well, I'm not allowed to post a picture on here, but the specific paragraph is talking about the sight assembly range numbers.

[Ron Weinand]

Whitening of Numbers

As one who has purchased hundreds of captured weapons from US veterans over the years in motel buys, I can state that I have never found any German or Japanese weapons with numbers that were whitened.
I have, however, found several sniper scopes with colored numbers and some three barrel flare guns from Japan with colored numbers and markings.
It must have been a practice that certain weapons and item's numbers were enhanced for some purpose. This can especially be seen on weapons used in manuals and pictured in reference books.
Also, many captured weapons were utilized in books by historians like W.H.B. Smith and, if you look closely at the photos, some markings are enhanced.
I don't think there were any rules that were followed at the time.
Even today, I know of several dealers and collectors who practice this whitening of numbers and it causes no problems with most collectors.
I don't, however, feel that manufactures of the period did this on a routine basis.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria

[Ed Hicks]

White Numbers on Weapons

Man, the things you guys come up with on this board...It's quite plain actually, if the weapon in question has white lettering it MUST be the special "white letter" edition and a custom issue piece!!! (Think white letter tires here!)...It's a factory option!

[Henry Crun]

My part in keeping this thread alive...

I have noticed that a certain dealer, OK, it's phoenixinvestmentarms, has most of their 'premium' lugers with the stampings picked out in white. My understanding (largely gleamed from this die hard thread) is that with the possible exception of some makers stamps (e.g. DWM) and the safety markings, stampings were not picked out in white at the factory. Rather this was done by dealers and collectors. An interesting example is a DWM artillery luger on the above dealer's site:

http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com/1884Arty14.htm

You can clearly see that the DWM and safety markings are in a cream enamel, whilst the serial numbers are picked out in an almost pure white. Given the age of the gun, the white should also have discoloured.

This would seem to be a good example of dealer/collectors picking out the stampings in white...I have asked that dealer to confirm the practice.


Peter

[Johnny Peppers]

Without going back through the entire thread to read what has been posted, the markings of Lugers were not whited in when manufactured with the exception of the safety marking. Some collectors like it, Jan Still's books use it probably to make the markings show up in the photographs, and possibly used for the same reason by dealers posting photographs. Maybe Phoenix Arms redid the right side acceptance and proof markings, as these are typically shallow and may have lost their paint from a previous application.

The white paint is easy to remove if you don't care for it. Brownells sells lacquer sticks for coloring the markings, and it removes easily with gun oil an a toothbrush.

[steve wilko]

White Markings?

Hi Gents, Just to jump on the band wagon here; if any "collectors" from down -under can help out with this, in Australia here a lot of K98's and other mil surp guns had the "F" painted in RED paint twenty odd years ago and most times on the same gun the "white" lettering appeared. Usually done by the importer I think for Australian firearms regulations.

[Johnny Peppers]

It was not unusual to find M1 Rifles that came through the NRA/DCM or CMP to have the serial number whited in. Probably a lot easier for someone in the arms room to read, certainly wasn't done at Springfield Armory, and had not been in civilian hands.