Luger Help

[chenny]

I acquired this Luger with the holster and two magazines as brought back by the vet. The pistol itself is all matching except for the trigger. The serial is four digits (40**). There are no markings on the top except for the last two digits of the serial. The safety is stamped Gesichert under the switch. Under the full serial stamped on the barrel and the front of the frame is a script undercase "u". There is a half visible imperial or Weimar eagle on the right side of the barrel where it meets the slide. On the slide itself where it meets the barrel there are three barely visible stamps; from left to right: another eagle as on the barrel, possibly a second eagle, and then what looks like a crown. The markings are barely visible because it looks like the pistol has been refinished at some time although I know without a doubt it has not been touched since the end of the Second World War. Both magazines have aluminum bottoms. One has an aluminum body and is marked with an arrow containing "Haenel" which points to "Schmeisser Patent" and then a straight winged WaffenAmt with a small "L" to the right side of it. The bottom is marked with a serial that does not match the pistol. The other magazine has a blued unmarked body with a bottom that is marked with another unmatched serial and a script "f" with a straight winged eagle that has no swastika but a "63" under it. The holster is marked on the back with an unmatched serial and inside the flap it is marked "R______" in an arch with "M____" and 1918 or 1916 underneath. Inside the tool pouch there was a folded piece of paper with a name and number written on it. The pistol definately saw use but remains in relatively good condition while the holster is worn and the mags are very nice. I have never seen another Luger like this and I have seen/shot quite a few. Unfortunately, I will not have access to a digital camera for some time but when I do I will post some better photos. Feel free to ask all the questions you want as I'd really like to know about this piece. Thank you, Karl S.

[chenny]

Magazines:

[chenny]

Can anyone decipher this?

[chenny]

I can't fit the holster on my scanner, sorry. As I said, when I have access to a digital camera I will post more photos. Please give me your thoughts

[GWA]

Photos of the top, left side with proof and front of frame with both the serial number on the frame and barrel displayed will help.

[chenny]

GWA- I can't get detailed images at this time, but I should have a digital camera within a week or two. If there is anything specific you would like me to describe I can certainly do so. My first post should cover all the details of this pistol. I believe this Luger was made for the First World War and then refinished and renumbered sometime before the Second.

[phild]

GWA- I believe this Luger was made for the First World War and then refinished and renumbered sometime before the Second.

The description sounds like a series 1929 made between then and the early 1930s...essentially a tranistion piece from DWM (or BKIW as it was then known) and the take over company Mauser. The u serial number suffix is also correct for this type. These no date, no maker marked Lugers were in the past always referred to as "Sneaks" by the collecting community as it was assumed that they were not marked in order to deceive the Allied enforcement authorities.

Some of these types were also made by Simson&Co.

[GWA]

Are the markings that you refer to as being on the "slide" on the left or right side? Is there a serial number on the left side of the receiver ("slide") just back of the barrel?

[chenny]

GWA- There is no serial number on the left side of the receiver (or the right side). The markings I referred to are on the right side and there are 3 characters. Just to the right of them, on the barrel, is a Weimar eagle. There is also a similar eagle on the left side of the bolt where it protrudes above the receiver right in front of the pin that connects it to the toggle bar. I have discovered a stamp on the straw colored pin that connects the toggle to the receiver. It is only visible when the toggle is pulled back and looks like "Uo.17.", with an umlaut over the U. The "17" is in an odd stylized font that may actually be an "N". Removing the trigger plate reveals a "B" stamped on the frame in a 2 o'clock position above the trigger. Inside the plate there is stamped a tiny "x". The plate itself is unserialed. I hope this helps

[GWA]

Thanks for the further details. I agree with phild's assessment it's an early Mauser.

[chenny]

Can anyone read the name written on that scrap of paper? It looks like Folkmann? I have searched the War Graves Commission and found nothing. What other options do I have to research the name or the number? And has anyone ever seen an engraved pin like the one I described? It looks like "Uo." (Unteroffizer?) followed by either a stylized 12, 17, 1Z, or N. If there are any June gunshows in eastern PA or southern NY state that anyone here plans to attend, I'd like to meet up and have someone look at this pistol. Please PM me

[GWA]

I will be at the Allentown PA show 12-13 July. The markings on the pin probably indicate that it is an oversized pin used at some point to replace the original worn pin.