[VIS35]

One of the last Lugers that I acquired has a magazine with a marking that I am not familiar with.

Crimped tube, bottom angle cut, aluminum bottom piece. Bottom piece is marked; 2, serial 6933 and "sunburst" over S. No markings other than on bottom piece. The 2 indicates Police issue and from what I understand the "sunburst" is also a Police indicator.

Costanzo, page 174, states this is a 1929-1932 late Police proof, S representing Sonderpolizei. Is this correct and if so, what was the Sonderpolizei? Is this a seldom encountered or common Police marking?

BTW, no indication that the pistol, just a nice 1940 42, was Police procurement.

VIS

 

[Edward Tinker]

I am unsure about this marking. The sunburst over S is not as common, I have seen it before. I am unsure about the Sonderpolizie !!

Anyone??

Sorry no one replied, I am guessing it is because it is one of those unknowns,

Ed

 

[Jan C Still]

Francis
Costanzo did an outstanding job of listing markings; however, he felt obligated to give each one a designation. Some of these designations turned out to have no basis.

The Sunburst over S is a police acceptance stamp. It is probable that the "S" represents a police office or the individual inspector(the letters K,S,D AND L observed). The so called Sonderpolizei did not exist in 1929-1932 and, as I recall, never did exist as a police unit. (see Weimar Lugers page 2 and 40-42)
Jan

 

[VIS35]

Ed, Jan,

Thank you for responding to my inquiry. I understand well that sometimes inquires do not get an answer. Simply the answer is not known.

Costanzo's "Proof Marks", a most useful publication in it's time, does have quite a few problems. Although I still use it quite often none the less.

Jan, I have all of yours from the beginning and they are well used. Hope some day you will get around to doing the one on commercials like you contemplated a few years ago.

Francis
(VIS)