[Guest]

I am buying a Navy Luger that appears different from the what I have found so far in the books. I have "Navy Lugers" ordered, but it will not be here for a week or so. I want to try to find out what I have.

It is a 1906 Navy Luger (grip safety). It has very faint commercial proof on the left side of the receiver. It is an unaltered first issue with the safe in the up position. Has a British proof on the barrel and appears to have been refinished and issued in WWII. Finish is very worn and consistent with a WWII era British refinish.

The strange part is the receiver proof and serial number. The proof appears to me to be stamped backward on the reciver (e.g. upside down). And serial number is 7647, about mid-way in the Navy contract production -- obviously not within the Navy 1906 commercial serial number range according to the reference books I have seen (John Walter, Kenyon, and Davis) -- but clearly about within about 2/3 of the production in the Navy range if estimate of 12,000 produced is correct. The dealer/collector I bought it from believes it is part of the Navy military contract and was issued to the Imperial Navy prior to WWI.

Anybody have any thoughts on its history?

Malcolm Pipes

 

[taudelt]

Malcolm....... Not sure what you mean about the proof. Could you post some pictures??? They really help in figuring things out.

 

[Guest]

Have not taken delievery -- it is on layaway -- but it is an otherwise correct commercial proof mark that is reverse-oriented to what the books show. Stamped upside down in other words. It is also very faint. It may have been buffed in that area when refinished is why it is faint, because the number marking on that part of the frame also looks relatively light. But I do not believe that it was buffed. All other marks appear to be consistent with an Imperial Navy as well. If it were not for the proof, you would think it is an ordinary Imperial Navy from about 2/3 into the first issue that was never altered. I do believe it a WWI capture that was issued again in WWI.

From everything I and the dealer can see, it is definitely from the Imperial Navy contract when considering the serial number. But the visible proof is an inconsistency. I am aware that some guns were not proof marked initially and were proof marked later. Any thoughts anyone?