Luger

[Johnny Peppers]

I hadn't noticed the absence of a stock lug. But has that left grip been cut for a police magazine safety just back from the trigger? It looks like part of the safety is visible in that left photo.

Sorry, I misunderstood your post about part of the magazine being visible behind the trigger.

The grip was slightly notched for the magazine safety, but that grip is simply broken off, and appears that it wasn't done that long ago.

Also, the OP's Luger does not have the cut in the frame where the magazine safety would have been installed. There would also be another modification to the frame, but is covered by the side plate.

[DougO]

Here are some better pictures of the markings on the gun, including the markings on the handle part of the frame. Thanks for all of the information so far, I'm looking forward to see what these additional pictures reveal.
Doug

[DougO]

Numbers under the barrel...

[Johnny Peppers]

The three markings on the front left of the receiver are the proof mark on the left and the two crown/letter acceptance marks on the right.

Interesting unit marking, but can't make anything out of it. It also appears to have had the hold open added.

[Infanteer]

....probably killed a lot of the enemy

Seriously? I hope that was a joke. It's a pistol, which account for less combat "kills" than pretty much any other weapon in a military's arsenal.

Personally, I would love the pistol for what it is and once it was made serviceable I would shoot and enjoy it for what it is.

[lugar05]

infanteer, really this is an honest lugar ,yes used but honest , no no a shooter but a keeper I have over 30 lugers and this is a very collectible luger how many do you have

[lugar05]

Doug and Johnney ,
yes the markings are faint but I a gree with Johnny

[MikeP]

Guess I am just old-my generation is not keen on this restoration stuff.
This is an early piece, intact, and matching.
Even cleaning grips shines out and appears artificial and invasive.
Gentle work on collected crud and surface rust is in order, but making it look new again is just a waste of a survivor.
Would you take a nice worn and faded 1st Gen Colt SAA and buff and shine it up?
The faint markings on this Luger would disappear with any buffing.
Everybody is entitled to enthusiasm, but sometimes you got to chuckle over extrapolations about use and history of things.
Being a vet, and an accumulator over 50 years, I rarely put any credence to a bring back story, even from people I know.
Old gent I have known all my life and respect highly has a T99 Arisaka he brought back. His story is absolutely impossible, but I would never correct him.
At least he was there.

[lugernut]

I stand by what I said the 1ST Issue 1908 Army's are hard to find the reason being they were the first Luger issued to the German Army and got used up fast and hard. I have only come across maybe five that were completely matching And most of that was in a single collection ten years ago in Santa Barbara CA. I happen to have one that's all matching unit marked to the Bavarian 1ST Ulan without a hold open device which is only the 3rd reported Luger with that unit mark. It's unfortunate the GI who brought it back had it chromed which was a common practice after the war. If the 1908 was in good original condition it would be worth around $2800/$3500 to an advance collector. Link to my 1908 1ST Issue http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...08-b-1-u-r-3-3

[MikeP]

I have a matching 1910 marked, I believe, to 1st Uhlans.

Added hold open.

There was something engraved on the flat in front of the safety and somebody took a grinder to it.

I bought it in 1968.

[Johnny Peppers]

1911 dated P.08, matching except magazine, no hold open added, no unit markings. Is it the Gesichert marking that has been removed on your 1910 date?

[lugernut]

The unit mark is very hard to make out but I believe it's 14.A.R which means it's the 14th Recruiting Depot of a Field Artillery Regiment. If so the 14 Regiment was part of the 28 Inf Div 14th Army Corps of Baden. Their is no doubt your 1908 saw service during WWI with one of the best INF Divisions the German Army had to offer.

[MikeP]

Here is the defacement.
Having owned a hundred or so Lugers in 50 yrs I am familiar with the gesichert stamp.

Don't have the pistol at hand, but strap is "1U 3 14" or very similar.
The company and rack numbers may be different. I'll see this wknd.

[Johnny Peppers]

Gesichert is on a flat in front of the safety. Maybe if you had described the left frame flat both of us would have know what you were describing. I was in no way questioning your knowledge of Lugers; just trying to be helpful.

Nice Luger.

[phild]

You have a 1ST Issue 1908 Army which are hard to find if all matching it would be worth restoring. The serial number 323 with no suffix means it was the 323 made on the first run. You should have a serial number on the bottom of the trigger plate. And if you take the plate off you will find a serial number on the trigger.

For this reason and some others I would do nothing to it including even dreaming of shooting it. This is very early....one of the very first after the test issues and then this adoption contract. I would be surprised if there are more than a couple of others if that many lower numbered than this one known from the "1st Issue"