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David Hiorth

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Researching WW1 Luger Markings

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    #1

    Researching WW1 Luger Markings

    I've got a DWM 1918 Luger that is unit marked, "L. I. R. 387".

    The best that I have been able to figure is that it is for the Landwehr Infantry Regimetn 387.

    Could it be anything else?
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    #2
    It's a non standard marking. A photo of the actual marking and the left side of the pistol would help.

    Comment

      #3
      unit marking

      Here is a photo of the unit marking, between the grips. It is a DWM 1918, serial# 352.

      I'll get a picture of the left side of the pistol later.

      Thanks for your help. -Chad
      Attached Files

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        #4
        As I stated above, it's non standard and thus hard to pin down. Your Landwehr idea has merit but you also might want to consider Leib-Infanterie-Regiment and Lehr-Infanterie-Regiment. Since it is a 1918 dated pistol and unit marking had been pretty much discontinued in 1916/17, the training unit might make sense.

        I'd still like to see the left side of the pistol.

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          #5
          2

          2
          Attached Files

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            #6
            4

            4
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              #7
              5

              5
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                #8
                Thanks Chad for the additional photos. I would bet on Lehr-Infanterie...a training unit unless I were selling it in which case it would be the Leib-Infanterie-Regiment.

                Just a little humor.

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                  #9
                  one more thing

                  I have found some information on the 387th Landwehr Infantry Regiment, but that is not definitive either. From what I have learned, that regiment was formed in 1916 and was part of the 20th Landwehr Division through 1917. In 1918 that division went to the Ukraine, but according to 251 Dvisions of the German Army Which Participated in the War, the 387th was no longer in the division. If this group is what the markings were referring to, than they may have been so depleted that the survivors were rolled into another regiment. I think the low serial number of the pistol does not contradict this.

                  Of course, the markings could be something else entirely.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Chad

                    The serial number of the Luger or even a rifle has nothing to do with the unit it was assigned to. The grip number, 387 indicates there were at least 386 other Lugers in that [?] unit.

                    Rather unusual to find a 1918 dated Luger with Imperial unit markings, as mentioned above, that practice was discontinued. But as in any large orgaization like the Imperial Army, not everyone gets the message.

                    Good luck with your Luger.
                    Joe

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                      #11
                      good ideas

                      Thanks guys for your thoughts on the luger.

                      Have a good one! -Chad

                      Comment

                        #12
                        "Landwehr-Infanterie Regiment 387". One other P-08, S/N 8331a is also recorded with this unit marking.
                        Lyn

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                          #13
                          As Joe stated above, the number "387" on this pistol is not a unit designator. It is the weapon number.

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                            #14
                            A new thought.

                            I was thinking about the "L. I. R." being for a training (Lehr) unit, but I have a hard time thinking that a training regiment would be getting new pistols in early 1918.

                            Perhaps I am wishing it were the Leib Regiment, but I know they fought on the Western Front for much of 1918. It seems reasonable that the pistol could have been captured there and brought to the US as a trophy.

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                              #15
                              I'm not sure what information Joe is using to make his judgement on this, as there is a variety of research data out there to refer to. I used Knoll's "The Imperial German Regimental Marking" as a guide and have found it to be quite relaible. Knoll was specific with the ID I provided earlier in this post.The . after the number 387 suggests that there might at one time have been a weapon number after it that was removed at one time or the other. Pure speculation on my part, but based some on my experience with Imperial and Weimar unit markings over the last few years.
                              Lyn

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