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IMPERIAL NAVY PROOFS AND SN (Post updated with Dwight Gruber,10/7; Mike Jones, 10/10; and Garfield, 10/11 data)
Imperial Navy Lugers have always been of great interest to collectors and therefore command a premium price. The high price and demand has lead to replicating. It is well known by collectors that the 1904 and 1916/1917 Navies have been replicated. I am not aware of replicating of 1906 and 1908 Navies. The appearance of the proof stamping is important in determining what constitutes a righteous Imperial Navy Luger. I do not claim to be an Imperial Navy expert, however I thought that I would pass along what observations and information I have concerning Navy proofs. Shown are a number of righteous and two replica Navy Lugers. I would suggest its time to compile a data base of righteous Navy Lugers. If you would take photographs of the proofs on your Navy Luger and present them here it would most helpful. Be sure to indicate the model and serial number (partial with xx is OK).
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Figure 1. 1904 Navy, serial number 51, left receiver proofs. Three lobe.
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Figure 2. 1904 Navy, serial number 51, proof above lanyard. Three lobe.
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Figure 3. 1904 Navy, serial number 79, left receiver proofs. Three lobe.
Based on information from Whittaker* and Jones**, 1904 Navies serial numbers 2, 15, 36, 51, 61, 79 and 94 all have the distinctive 3 lobe Navy test proof shown(figures 1-3) above. The crown floats above the “M”. As documented with photographs by Whittaker on his web site, the use of the three lobe test proof continued on early 1906 Navy Lugers serial numbers 342 and 461.
*web page **phone conversation (updated Oct. 10, 2003 from Mike Jones post.
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Figure 4. 1906 Navy, serial number 3004, left receiver proofs. Three lobe.
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Figure 5. 1906 Navy, serial number 3004, bottom of barrel serial number and proof.
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Figure 6. 1906 Navy, serial number 790a, left receiver proofs. Three lobe
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Figure 7. 1906 Navy, serial number 790a, bottom of barrel serial number and proof.
The above photographs demonstrate that the proof dies wear and Navy proofs are not always well defined. The “M” shown above on the left receiver proofs (Figure 4 and 6) are mostly without the feet at the base of the “M”. This is due to wear and a poor stamping angle. The crown above the “M” is not floating but is mostly tight to the “M”.
The Crown/M on the barrels is different than that on the receivers (Figures 5 and 7). In one case the size is different. In both cases the crown floats above the M.
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Figure 7.1 1906 Navy, serial number 7909a. Pentagon.
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Figure 8. 1908 Navy, serial number 2374b, left receiver proofs. The proofs are well defined and the crown is tight to the “M”.
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Figure 8.1. 1908 Navy, serial number 3939b, left receiver proofs. Pentagon.
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Figure 9. P08 Navy, serial number 135, left receiver proofs. Pentagon. The proofs are well defined and the crown is tight to the “M”.
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Figure 10. P08 Navy, serial number 135, bottom of barrel. Note: there is no proof on the bottom of the barrel.
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Figure 10.1. 1917 Navy, serial number 1040, left receiver proofs. Pentagon.
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Figure 10.2. 1917 Navy, serial number 8958, left receiver proofs. Pentagon.
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Figure 11. 1917 Navy, serial number not available, left receiver proofs. Pentagon. The proofs are well defined and the crown is tight to the “M”. (Volume I, page 11)
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Above, top, photographs of correct proofs for a 1916/1917 dated Navy. Pentagon. The crown is tight to the "M"
Above, bottom photographs of the proofs on a replica 1916 Navy. The crown floats above the M. (From Lukes archive)
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Figure 12. Replica 1904 Navy, serial number 48, barrel proof.
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Figure 13. Replica 1904 Navy, serial number 48, proof above lanyard.
Tom Armstrong presented photographs showing 1904 Navy, serial number 48, in the process of being manufactured. Note: the crown is jammed down into the M and the crown leans slightly to the left.
Imperial Navy Lugers have always been of great interest to collectors and therefore command a premium price. The high price and demand has lead to replicating. It is well known by collectors that the 1904 and 1916/1917 Navies have been replicated. I am not aware of replicating of 1906 and 1908 Navies. The appearance of the proof stamping is important in determining what constitutes a righteous Imperial Navy Luger. I do not claim to be an Imperial Navy expert, however I thought that I would pass along what observations and information I have concerning Navy proofs. Shown are a number of righteous and two replica Navy Lugers. I would suggest its time to compile a data base of righteous Navy Lugers. If you would take photographs of the proofs on your Navy Luger and present them here it would most helpful. Be sure to indicate the model and serial number (partial with xx is OK).
Download Attachment:

88.33 KB
Figure 1. 1904 Navy, serial number 51, left receiver proofs. Three lobe.
Download Attachment:

51.06 KB
Figure 2. 1904 Navy, serial number 51, proof above lanyard. Three lobe.
Download Attachment:

120.4 KB
Figure 3. 1904 Navy, serial number 79, left receiver proofs. Three lobe.
Based on information from Whittaker* and Jones**, 1904 Navies serial numbers 2, 15, 36, 51, 61, 79 and 94 all have the distinctive 3 lobe Navy test proof shown(figures 1-3) above. The crown floats above the “M”. As documented with photographs by Whittaker on his web site, the use of the three lobe test proof continued on early 1906 Navy Lugers serial numbers 342 and 461.
*web page **phone conversation (updated Oct. 10, 2003 from Mike Jones post.
Download Attachment:

38.64 KB
Figure 4. 1906 Navy, serial number 3004, left receiver proofs. Three lobe.
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30.86 KB
Figure 5. 1906 Navy, serial number 3004, bottom of barrel serial number and proof.
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50.15 KB
Figure 6. 1906 Navy, serial number 790a, left receiver proofs. Three lobe
Download Attachment:

22.32 KB
Figure 7. 1906 Navy, serial number 790a, bottom of barrel serial number and proof.
The above photographs demonstrate that the proof dies wear and Navy proofs are not always well defined. The “M” shown above on the left receiver proofs (Figure 4 and 6) are mostly without the feet at the base of the “M”. This is due to wear and a poor stamping angle. The crown above the “M” is not floating but is mostly tight to the “M”.
The Crown/M on the barrels is different than that on the receivers (Figures 5 and 7). In one case the size is different. In both cases the crown floats above the M.
Download Attachment:

37.83 KB
Figure 7.1 1906 Navy, serial number 7909a. Pentagon.
Download Attachment:

53.86 KB
Figure 8. 1908 Navy, serial number 2374b, left receiver proofs. The proofs are well defined and the crown is tight to the “M”.
Download Attachment:

41.19 KB
Figure 8.1. 1908 Navy, serial number 3939b, left receiver proofs. Pentagon.
Download Attachment:

71.84 KB
Figure 9. P08 Navy, serial number 135, left receiver proofs. Pentagon. The proofs are well defined and the crown is tight to the “M”.
Download Attachment:

47.57 KB
Figure 10. P08 Navy, serial number 135, bottom of barrel. Note: there is no proof on the bottom of the barrel.
Download Attachment:

43.19 KB
Figure 10.1. 1917 Navy, serial number 1040, left receiver proofs. Pentagon.
Download Attachment:

157.63 KB
Figure 10.2. 1917 Navy, serial number 8958, left receiver proofs. Pentagon.
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39.93 KB
Figure 11. 1917 Navy, serial number not available, left receiver proofs. Pentagon. The proofs are well defined and the crown is tight to the “M”. (Volume I, page 11)
Download Attachment:

102.45 KB
Above, top, photographs of correct proofs for a 1916/1917 dated Navy. Pentagon. The crown is tight to the "M"
Above, bottom photographs of the proofs on a replica 1916 Navy. The crown floats above the M. (From Lukes archive)
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Figure 12. Replica 1904 Navy, serial number 48, barrel proof.
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Figure 13. Replica 1904 Navy, serial number 48, proof above lanyard.
Tom Armstrong presented photographs showing 1904 Navy, serial number 48, in the process of being manufactured. Note: the crown is jammed down into the M and the crown leans slightly to the left.