[JD]

http://ygpmail.aol.com/dig/ygpiframe.adp?url=http://aolsvc.pictures.aol.com%
Hello, I am looking to gather some information on a luger recently given to me by my father. I tried to post some pics with the clip icon below, but had some problems. seemed that my file size may have been to large. Anyhow, here is a link to AOL pictures that should be of help.(till I figure out this post thing) Thanks in advance, John

 

[Edward Tinker]

John, that link didn't work either. The picture sizes just need to be smaller than 300 kb's (if I remember right) and there is a tutorial under the Help section. Ensure that you are using the Reply to Topic and then you can upload images...

Ed

 

[JD]

PIC try again

Download Attachment: RWSluger2 011.jpg
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Download Attachment: RWSluger2 015.jpg
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Download Attachment: RWSluger2 019.jpg
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Download Attachment: RWSluger2 014.jpg
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[taudelt]

John, WELCOME to the board. From your pictures it looks like it started out as a 1917 DWM military issue and got the "government permission" stamp of 1920. They made about 60,000 of the 4 inch Lugers in 1917. I have no idea what the markings over the chamber mean but I would suspect somebody who knows more about these things will chip in. I would suggest that since it does not have a sear safety that it was not a Weimar Police gun. The grips were either replaced or sanded smooth as they came checkered. Jan Still has an excellent book called WEIMAR LUGERS. You might want to check it out.

 

[JD]

Have all three of his luger books and am amazed at Jans& others on this forums knowledge of these pistols. These grips are #ed to the gun twice. Once small, and once large(at time of rework?) I have several other lugers also, and consider myself a novice collector.(or is it an accumulator?) After I found this forum, I ran to get a digital camera to post and see if I could gather more info on this gun. Thanks, John

 

[keoki7]

JD, I believe the unit marking on your Luger would be categorized as a "Provisional Unit Marking" as was directed by the Reichswehr in 1921. Units were specifically instructed to mark weapons in a simple form and in a nonstandard location until such time as the official new unit marking criteria could be developed. These interim marks are most frequently seen in the area of the lanyard loop but I have seen a few marked as yours is.

As to the marking "R.W.S.II.", I have no clue to its meaning, as the period 1919-1922 was chaotic and all kinds of nonstandard stuff was going on. The 1920 confirms that it was a government gun and not Freikorps or Red property. Jan or Klaus would probably be able to help here.

It is an important variation for a collection of Weimar Lugers.

 

[JD]

I believe that R.W.S stands for Reichs Wasser Shultspoleizzi.(spelling?) Waterways proection police. Dad stated that he found a short section on this in Walters book. I also know that he sent pictures and a letter to several of the major authorities on lugers trying to gather more info on this uncommon piece about 15 years ago.Now, with this site, I hope to find information on this unit,owners of any other examples known,for comparrison, how many reported(rarity), and to report this one to collectors/authors. Thanks in advance for any help, And for a great place to talk Lugers, John

 

[Edward Tinker]

JD, I collect Weimar Police Lugers, but am still learning... The advice above is more than I could give but I can say that I seem to remember another gun with "alpha" markings instead of numeric markings on the receiver a few years ago. Otherwise it is an odd and unusual marking (not necessarily a lot more valuable), but still cool.

There are "police" guns that do not have sear safeties, as this was a 1933 addition, and not all police guns are so distinguishable.

Ed

 

[JD]

ED, If you should ever run across any information, pics, etc... please keep me in mind for fowarding it. Thank you, John

 

[Grunt]

I once encountered a Waterways Police Gun.It's
Grips were also sanded smooth.

 

[garfield]

quote:Originally posted by JD

I believe that R.W.S stands for Reichs Wasser Shultspoleizzi.(spelling?) Waterways proection police. Dad stated that he found a short section on this in Walters book.

Walther does state comment on the "R.W.S." stamping, however, he states that "alledgedly" it stands for "Reichs-Wassershutz-Politzei". This would mean that Walther could find no documentation or other proof that would support the validity of such an interpretation. Consequently, his comment is no more than speculation or surmise, at this point.

Perhaps, someone has more on this?

 

[donmaus]

I'm reviving this thread because of recent discussions about the Reichs Wasserschutz: http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6582&SearchTerms=wasserschutz

 

[SCHUPO]

Don,

An interesting marking in an interesting location. The Reichswasserschutz (RWS) would have been operational during the right time period for this pistol to be so marked. It might well have escaped the Prussian Polizei safety modifications since it was not at the time a Prussian Police pistol. The placement could have been done in accordance with the "provisional unit markings" as the time period fits this pistol.

George