[Guest]

Have a 1916 navy with I.S.B. 639. on the rea frame. Any help would be most welcome. Thanks

 

[Edward Tinker]

Daniel, what information are you trying to find out? I am no expert on navy markings, so maybe someone else can help there.

Can you provide pictures?

Tell us the markings on the toggle, the proofs on the side of the frame / receiver?

Ed

 

[Gercolctor]

Daniel
The unit marking on your Luger, I.S.B.639 means it was issued to the 1st Marine Battalion, stationed at the Kiel navel yard.

There were three marine battalions, called "Seebataillons" The letters in your unit mark, S B means, seebataillon.

 

[Gercolctor]

The number, 639 is the naval inventory number for the Luger issued to this battalion.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick replies. I have put up some photos, but my understanding of technology probably ends with the year this gun was made. Did these imperial marines provide the same functions as our marines do today? Once again, thanks for the replies. By the way, the gun is a 1916 DWM, serial # 693.

Download Attachment: luger1.JPG
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Download Attachment: luger2.JPG
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Download Attachment: luger4.JPG
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[Joop van de Kant]

Daniel,

Your Navy Luger is what is called the 1914 variation Navy. About 7900 with the year 1916 on the chamber were delivered to the 'Kriegsmarine'. Only few survived the war. And the treaty of Versailles after the war, where barrels longer than 4" were banned, took care of again many of the survivors. A lot of barrels where then shortened from 6" to 4".

What strucks me, is that you state a serial number of 639. I suppose that this is the # you can find on the frame, under the barrel, and also on the barrel itself. In your case it would mean that the serial number of the weapon matches the serial number given by the First Sea Batallion.

In Jan Still's 'Imperial Lugers' on page 195 there is only one more Luger reported with this unit marking: I.B.S. 681. It is not clear is that Luger had also a matching Serial Number of its own... May be Jan could look to that.

You have a fine Navy. Keep to it!

Regards

 

[Guest]

Joop,
Thank you very much for the information you gave me in your reply. The pistol serial number is #693. The property mark is #639. The pistol is completely matching except for the clip which is #102 with a navy "M" proof. Again, thanks very much.
Danny

 

[Joop van de Kant]

Daniel,

Very good news that the SN and the Batallion number are matching.
I am wondering if this is a purely coincidence, or that may be on delivery of the 1916 batch to the First Sea Batallion someone decided to take the SN as the Batallion registration #?

May be others might have a clue to this puzzle.
If Jan Still is back, he might be able to answer this question.

B.t.w., your barrel does have the 6" length? And have you seen a stamp with 1916 on the left side of the front sight base?
That would help to identify this Navy more precisely.

Regards,

 

[Guest]

Joop,
Sent pm. Thanks.
Regards,
Danny