+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: P-08 "Luger" proof marks

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Legacy Member Emri's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    03-10-2022 @ 09:10 AM
    Location
    Alabama Gulf Coast
    Posts
    479
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:18 AM

    P-08 "Luger" proof marks

    Anyone have a site where they are shown? Just got one in the shop, a Mauser, S/42 toggle, 1936 over the chamber. Doesn't have the swasticka eagle marks, but what one might call an eagle. Books say Navy guns are worth more. What designates a "Navy" pistol ??

    TIA,

    Emri
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. #2
    Legacy Member lboos's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    06-18-2023 @ 03:52 PM
    Location
    GA.
    Posts
    422
    Real Name
    Louis Boos
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:18 AM
    Ermi,
    Try: pistole parbellum luger forum. best one on luger's.

  3. Thank You to lboos For This Useful Post:


  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Jim K's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    12-01-2009 @ 03:41 PM
    Posts
    505
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:18 AM
    When the books refer to the Navy Luger, they usually mean the 1906/1908 Lugers made on a direct Germanicon navy contract. For other pistols, the only indication of navy use is an eagle over an "M" (for "Marine", German for Navy).

    The gun should have the typical WaffenAmt inspection stamps on the barrel and breechblock, plus two other WaA stamps and an eagle/swastika proof mark/acceptance stamp on the right side of the receiver. The grips should be wood, the finish salt blued (not rust blued). The trigger, takedown lever, safety, and ejector will be blued, not straw color.

    Almost every part of the pistol was numbered with the last two digits of the serial number and they should match on an original gun.

    BTW, a note on Luger serial numbers. The Germans went from 1 to 9999, then to 1a -9999a, 1b to 9999b, etc. Further they went back to 1 at the start of each year, and each contractor ran its own series. So a proper identification of a Luger must inclued the number, the suffix letter (if present), the date, and the manufacturer. (S/42 is Mauser.) Failure to understand that system has resulted in confusion and problems where not all the information on a crime gun was recorded and innocent people have been subject to police scrutiny.

    Jim

  6. #4
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Johnny Peppers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    05-01-2015 @ 11:25 PM
    Posts
    1,810
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:18 AM
    An S/42 P.08 would be rust blued with strawed small parts if original. The change to hot salt blue was mid 1937.
    The WWII Germanicon Navy obtained their pistols through the Army. They have all the normal acceptance and proof marks of the Army P.08, but are identified by their Navy property mark on either the frontstrap or rear strap. The property mark is preceded by an O for Ostee (Baltic Sea) or N for Nordsee (North Sea) fleets.
    As to proofs, the pistol should have the small Eagle/Swastika on the right side of the receiver, the right side of the barrel just ahead of the receiver, and on the left side of the breeckblock right at the pivot point.
    In WWII the serial numbers did not start over each year with n/s, a, b, and so on letter suffix. Wherever the suffix was at the beginning of the new year, it was continued on from there. The 1936 pistols started with letter suffix f and went through p suffix. The 1937 pistols started in the left over p suffix block and went through the n/s and into the a letter suffix block.

  7. #5
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Dave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    09-22-2009 @ 12:15 PM
    Location
    Durand, MI. Born & raised and lived in Blue Island, Ill. till retired.
    Posts
    213
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:18 AM
    On Germanicon rifles the use of the Nazi Eagle w/swastika did not come into use until the 1938-39 time period. I believe this is also true for pistols. That is why he states "what one might call an eagle", it is a Wiemer eagle w/droped wings.

  8. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Johnny Peppers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    05-01-2015 @ 11:25 PM
    Posts
    1,810
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:18 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave View Post
    On Germanicon rifles the use of the Nazi Eagle w/swastika did not come into use until the 1938-39 time period. I believe this is also true for pistols. That is why he states "what one might call an eagle", it is a Wiemer eagle w/droped wings.
    You are correct. The Weimar style eagle was used for the proof mark until late 1939 on the P.08. Should have checked my information.

  9. #7
    Legacy Member Emri's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    03-10-2022 @ 09:10 AM
    Location
    Alabama Gulf Coast
    Posts
    479
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:18 AM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks Guys!!

    The pistol is not a great rarity, but way better than the usual P08 we get in to clean and repair. It is definitely rust blued with strawed parts, the eagles have no swastickas. They look more like stick figures. No Navy "M" mark so I guess it is a $1200 pistol instead of a $2500.
    People constantly ask me what their "Luger" is worth and my standard reply is $350 up to $135000, depends on condition and rarity!
    This one as stated is better than most. About 70-80% blue and 50-60% straw. Very little scattered light rust pitting. Definitely NOT re-finished.
    I do quite well judging original finishes, it's just there are so many guns out there, I can't know all the details for each one.

    Thanks again,

    Emri

  10. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Jim K's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    12-01-2009 @ 03:41 PM
    Posts
    505
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    08:18 AM
    Gotta get the eyes checked. Emri wrote 36, I read 38. Sorry for the misinformation.

    Jim

  11. #9
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Hans-Ulrich Rudel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Last On
    03-30-2013 @ 02:12 PM
    Location
    Oklahoma City
    Posts
    3
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:18 AM

    Help!

    Any idea what these markings are?

    Thank you!

  12. #10
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Johnny Peppers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    05-01-2015 @ 11:25 PM
    Posts
    1,810
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:18 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Hans-Ulrich Rudel View Post
    Any idea what these markings are?

    Thank you!
    It would help to know what pistol the marking is on. Do you have a photograph of the left side of the pistol to help determine if it is police or not?

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Artillery Luger "Snail" Drum
    By Light Infantry in forum Other Military Service Pistols and Revolvers
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 07-22-2016, 05:46 PM
  2. 8mm Mauser with Eagle proof marks
    By Saltpeter in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 08-15-2011, 03:07 PM
  3. "P" proof on un-fired barrel
    By Bufordm1 in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-28-2009, 12:20 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks