Luger Mark Help

[VE45]

Hello, just picked up this nice 1940 dated Luger that has a strange asterisk mark (circled in green) on the barrel. Does anyone know what it is? Someone told me it might be an SS School mark so I wanted your opinions. Thanks, Jay

[VE45]

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[VE45]

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[Johnny Peppers]

If I remember correctly, it is a part that was originally rejected, but corrected and used.

[GWA]

I've heard the possibility Johnny mentions but also that it is a test mark for steel hardness.

[rajko84]

If I remember correctly, it is a part that was originally rejected, but corrected and used.

I heard the same thing

[Luis22]

Wow thats a really nice Luger , who ever had it before really kept care of it. You can ask the Guys from the www.Lugerforum.com they will sure have an answer.

[ramon]

Costanzo references this mark as "Reportedly represents end of production run."

Page 156, World of Lugers Proof Marks, note 2.



Ramon

[Johnny Peppers]

I have seen that in Costanzo's book, but I don't believe there is much support for that theory.
During WWI parts were marked with Crown/RC if they were first rejected and then corrected for use. This was to protect the manufacturer in case a problem arose later on with the part, as the marking indicated that the part had been corrected and passed government inspection. The Crown/RC is very common on the Erfurt manufactured pistols, but rare on the DWM pistols.