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1908 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY, SERIAL NUMBER 70149, RESERVE INFANTRY REGIMENT 72, MACHINE GUN COMPANY
During late 1913 and 1914 some 1908 and 1914 Commercial Lugers were routed to military service. These do not bear commercial proofs and instead bear the Army Test Proof (DWM) and C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps on the right receiver.
These C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps are found almost exclusively on the 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army and a few 1914 dated DWM Army Lugers which lack a stock lug, in the 8000a-9400a serial range. However, a slightly different style of C/X stamp (single or double) is found on 1913 and 1914 dated DWM Lugers (Costanzo, page 287 and 288). ( The C/X C/X stamp is also found on at least one 1909 dated Erfurt rifle.)
A few of these Commercial Army Lugers bear a 1933 police sear safety. This has lead to the theory that these Lugers were in police service during the Imperial Era. However, a 1908 and a 1914 Commercial Army Luger bear Imperial German Army unit stamps; which, discredits this theory.
A few 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army Lugers lack an Army test proof and instead bear C/N commercial proofs. As Gruber and Coe recently pointed out, these Lugers indicate that under some circumstances, the commercial C/N proof was accepted by the military in place of the Army test proof. As pointed out by Bob Weiss, this is similar to the 1940 dated P08 Banner Army’s with E/655 acceptance stamps, E/N proof, and no Army test Proof. (A real commercial 1908 C/X “Army” by jcoe and 1914 DWM - 8083a No Stock Lug by RockWR)
These 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army Lugers bear a 4 inch barrel with gauge and serial number on the bottom and test proof on the upper right side; bear a hold open and commercial style serial numbers. The 1908 lacks a stock lug while the 1914 bears a stock lug. (A few deviate from the above and a lazy C/N commercial proof on the left receiver, breech block, and bottom of the barrel substitutes for the Army test Proof.)
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MG1.jpg
34.43 KB
Figure 1. Right slant view of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. It bears C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and an Army test proof on the right receiver. This Luger was manufactured with a hold open.
Download Attachment: CARIR72MGK2.jpg
15.16 KB
Figure 2. Top,1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. The serial number placement is hidden (commercial style). An Army test proof is stamped on the right side of the barrel.
Download Attachment: CARIR72MG3.jpg
42.55KB
Figure 3. Left side, 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. Note: the long sear bar.
Download Attachment: CARIR72MGK4.jpg
43.08KB
Figure 4. Right receiver and barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149, showing details of its C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and Army test proof.
Download Attachment: CARIR72MGK5.jpg
32.3 KB
Figure 5. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. The serial number of the take down lever is in the commercial style (hidden). Note: the halo around the digits of the barrel serial number(barley visible) and lack of halo on the frame serial number. The barrel serial number is through the blue.
Download Attachment: CARIR72MGK6.jpg
35.86 KB
Figure 6. Inside of grips, 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. They are unmarked.
Download Attachment: CARIR72MG7.jpg
17.39 KB
Figure 7. Front view of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149, showing the Reserve Infantry Regiment 72, Machine Gun Company unit stamps.
The World War I history of this Luger is covered in this same section under BATTLE HISTORY OF THE R.I.R.72.
For more photographs and information on the Reserve Infantry Regiment 72 and its Lugers see:
Under the section1900-1918: P.08-Army Lugers see: “1908 DWM, SN 6747, R.I.R.72.M.G.34.”
Under the section1900-1918: Long P.08-Artillery Lugers see: “1917 LP08 MINENWERFER”
Under the section 1900-1918: Luger Unit Markings see “FOUR R.J.R.72. LUGERS”.
During late 1913 and 1914 some 1908 and 1914 Commercial Lugers were routed to military service. These do not bear commercial proofs and instead bear the Army Test Proof (DWM) and C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps on the right receiver.
These C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps are found almost exclusively on the 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army and a few 1914 dated DWM Army Lugers which lack a stock lug, in the 8000a-9400a serial range. However, a slightly different style of C/X stamp (single or double) is found on 1913 and 1914 dated DWM Lugers (Costanzo, page 287 and 288). ( The C/X C/X stamp is also found on at least one 1909 dated Erfurt rifle.)
A few of these Commercial Army Lugers bear a 1933 police sear safety. This has lead to the theory that these Lugers were in police service during the Imperial Era. However, a 1908 and a 1914 Commercial Army Luger bear Imperial German Army unit stamps; which, discredits this theory.
A few 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army Lugers lack an Army test proof and instead bear C/N commercial proofs. As Gruber and Coe recently pointed out, these Lugers indicate that under some circumstances, the commercial C/N proof was accepted by the military in place of the Army test proof. As pointed out by Bob Weiss, this is similar to the 1940 dated P08 Banner Army’s with E/655 acceptance stamps, E/N proof, and no Army test Proof. (A real commercial 1908 C/X “Army” by jcoe and 1914 DWM - 8083a No Stock Lug by RockWR)
These 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army Lugers bear a 4 inch barrel with gauge and serial number on the bottom and test proof on the upper right side; bear a hold open and commercial style serial numbers. The 1908 lacks a stock lug while the 1914 bears a stock lug. (A few deviate from the above and a lazy C/N commercial proof on the left receiver, breech block, and bottom of the barrel substitutes for the Army test Proof.)
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MG1.jpg34.43 KB
Figure 1. Right slant view of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. It bears C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and an Army test proof on the right receiver. This Luger was manufactured with a hold open.
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MGK2.jpg15.16 KB
Figure 2. Top,1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. The serial number placement is hidden (commercial style). An Army test proof is stamped on the right side of the barrel.
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MG3.jpg42.55KB
Figure 3. Left side, 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. Note: the long sear bar.
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MGK4.jpg43.08KB
Figure 4. Right receiver and barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149, showing details of its C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and Army test proof.
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MGK5.jpg32.3 KB
Figure 5. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. The serial number of the take down lever is in the commercial style (hidden). Note: the halo around the digits of the barrel serial number(barley visible) and lack of halo on the frame serial number. The barrel serial number is through the blue.
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MGK6.jpg35.86 KB
Figure 6. Inside of grips, 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149. They are unmarked.
Download Attachment:
CARIR72MG7.jpg17.39 KB
Figure 7. Front view of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 70149, showing the Reserve Infantry Regiment 72, Machine Gun Company unit stamps.
The World War I history of this Luger is covered in this same section under BATTLE HISTORY OF THE R.I.R.72.
For more photographs and information on the Reserve Infantry Regiment 72 and its Lugers see:
Under the section1900-1918: P.08-Army Lugers see: “1908 DWM, SN 6747, R.I.R.72.M.G.34.”
Under the section1900-1918: Long P.08-Artillery Lugers see: “1917 LP08 MINENWERFER”
Under the section 1900-1918: Luger Unit Markings see “FOUR R.J.R.72. LUGERS”.
