The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - P08 Luger serial # has three digits..not four

James K · March 25, 2012, 05:00 PM

German military numbering always began at 1 (no leading zeros), then to 9999, then to 1a to 9999a, 1b to 9999b and so on for each manufacturer in each year.

So there would be a fair number of three digit numbers, even if those with letter suffixes are not included.

But there may be a problem with that gun. S/42 is a WWII era code for Mauser, starting in 1934, but the Germans did not use unit markings in WWII, and by 1934 there was no separate Bavarian army. Maybe I am missing something but could the gun be mismatched?

Pictures would help.

Jim

March 25, 2012, 05:00 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	German military numbering always began at 1 (no leading zeros), then to 9999, then to 1a to 9999a, 1b to 9999b and so on for each manufacturer in each year. So there would be a fair number of three digit numbers, even if those with letter suffixes are not included. But there may be a problem with that gun. S/42 is a WWII era code for Mauser, starting in 1934, but the Germans did not use unit markings in WWII, and by 1934 there was no separate Bavarian army. Maybe I am missing something but could the gun be mismatched? Pictures would help. Jim