P08 Luger

[Matt Weber]

I agree. A very nice matching, British capture!

Matt

[BenVK]

Ron, that's a stunner. Still shoots I guess?

[phild]

Just to play the spoiler, why do we use the term "British Capture" on these type of Lugers?

The markings show that the Lugers went into and perhaps out of the UK ....sometime after WWII. In other words these markings are simply British proof marks that are required by British law on all weapons SOLD within the UK and exported out of the UK....We don't know the circumstance of how this Luger get into the UK or when.

I'm not trying to be an A%$ but only to get to the facts...I could easily be missing something and if so I would appreciate knowing what. I've owned these in the past including a WWI with British black enamel finish applied...I think that they are interesting Lugers....but are they in fact "capture"?

[Matt Weber]

Phil,

I'm terribly sorry for tossing around common terms again. How about I use the term "British proofed" luger?

Matt

[phild]

Phil,

I'm terribly sorry for tossing around common terms again. How about I use the term "British proofed" luger?

Matt

Maybe I should be the one to apologize since I defended the nickname "black widow", I really have no problem calling these British Captures.....actually I think that both nicknames are attributed to the same guy!..What ever the actual facts may be.

[Matt Weber]

Phil,

That just made me laugh! Thank you!

I think you're correct. It has to be the same guy who came up the with the "black widow" name! Boy, we've got to find that guy one of these days!!

But then again, why do we call the Russian captures, "Russian captures?" I think it's because they ended up in the hands of the Russians. The same can be said for the British proofed lugers like this one. They somehow ended up in the British proof house!? How each one got there, is a different story.

Matt

[phild]

The same can be said for the British proofed lugers like this one. They somehow ended up in the British proof house!? How each one got there, is a different story.

Matt

I'm with you on that. They may have been brought back during or after the war...but the British were not supposed to do that...but we all know about rules.


As for the name, I was recalling that back in the early 70's Ralph Shattuck called these both British Captures and "British Commando" Lugers (I am not joking on this last one) if they had the black paint type British military finish (no, I dId NOT get the one that used to own from Ralph or because of his attribution for those Lugers!) Maybe some were used by the British military.

I mention this because many feel that Ralph S. also coined the term Black Widow. I know he used it...and used it often....I'm just not sure it originated with him.

[phild]

Sorry double post

[Death-Ace]

It's just a shame we never see any "German Capture" SVT40s for sale...I'd to death with tears in my eyes.

phild and Matt: He's probably in hiding right now from some angry collectors who heard that he coined the names... and probably the reason "black widows" cost so durn high! >:|

[JoeW]

Yes, it was Ralph who coined "Black Widow", along with "Eastern Airforce" and "SD-Gestapo" Lugers. In the World of Lugers, nothing is impossible. Think of any major dealers like him from the early 1970s. I can't think of any. Gil Hoffman was in Michigan too and he sold parts.

[Rylan]

Looks like a nice one, congrats. I have never seen a British proofed 3rd reich Luger before. Are they somewhat uncommon?

[phild]

Looks like a nice one, congrats. I have never seen a British proofed 3rd reich Luger before. Are they somewhat uncommon?

I would not say rare by any standard. I have personally seen maybe 20-30 for sale that I noticed...mow thats been since about 1970. I would have to beleive that thousands went through the British poof houses.


It is well known and documented in several Luger references that a few different variations of these proof mark 'sets' can be found on Lugers and it seems that the type of marking set has to do with when the Luger was proofed there. There were a few changes to British Laws between WWI and the 1960s. I would have to dig a book out to determine if the proofig on this Luger post dated 1950 or so.