[Jan C Still]

S/42 G DATE, ARMY, NAVY, POLICE
The date code for 1935, “G” was applied to the chamber of Mauser Military Code Lugers manufactured during 1935. All bear the early Army test proof. They bear a variety of Army acceptance stamps. The early production is accepted with the following non-eagle stamps:B90, S91, S92, and W154. The droop wing (D)E/211 stamp is included with the early production. The later production were accepted with the DE/63 acceptance stamp. There was a transition period where the DE/63 combined with the S92. Sometimes an acceptance stamp is found on the bottom of the receiver lug. G dates are found in the 930a -5000f serial range with an estimated production of 54,470. Variations are determined as follows (See page 27, Third Reich Lugers):

Subvariation 1. Early production accepted with non-eagle acceptance stamps (and the DE/211 stamp)*

Subvariation 2. Late production with DE/63 acceptance stamp. This includes the transition with the DE/63 acceptance stamp combined with earlier stamps(mainly the S92)*

Two Variations are determined by police or Navy issue. Most of the Navy issue and all of the police issue are the Second Subvariation.

*Serial number and acceptance stamp data in last section near end.



Download Attachment: GDate1.jpg
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Figure 1. Tops, showing the Subvariations and Variations of G date S/42 code Lugers. Bottom, First Subvariation, German Army issue. Middle, Second Subvariation, Kreigsmarine issue. Top, Second Subvariation, German Police issue.

G DATE S/42 LUGER, SUBVARIATION 1.WITH ACCESSORIES, ARMY ISSUE
The first Subvariation G date bears the early non-eagle acceptance stamps (and the DE/211 stamp) Approximate serial range 930a-5000d. Estimated production: 34,070. (See page 27, Third Reich Lugers)



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Figure 2. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a, Subvariation 1. Note the exposed style of serial number placement. This Luger lacks the two receiver relief cuts seen on almost all other Lugers.



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Figure 3. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Top. In 1935 Hitler renounced the armament restrictions established by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles and started openly rearming Germany. In 1935 Luger production greatly expanded with over 54,000 produced. The military date code (G) was discontinued at the end of 1935. After 1935, Mauser Military Lugers bore the full date over their chamber.



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Figure 4. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Right side.



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Figure 5. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Right receiver and barrel, showing early test proof and early B90, S91 non-eagle acceptance stamps that characterize the Subvariation 1.



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Figure 6. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Serial number on the frame and barrel. Note the halo around the barrel serial number digits and the 8.83 barrel gauge.



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Figure 7. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Showing the proper B90 “a” suffix serial range crimped nickel plated magazine,



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Figure 7.5. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a., inside of unnumbered grips.

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Figure 8. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. With its 1935 dated holster.



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Figure 9. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. 1935 dated, C.HEINCHEN / DRESDEN, DE/WaA142, holster. This is the rare Mauser Military Luger holster.



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Figure 10. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Showing the interior of the holster, the tool and proper DE/154 magazine.



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Figure 11. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 4249a. Showing details of the proper S92 accepted tool.

 

[Jan C Still]

G DATE S/42 LUGER, SUBVARIATION 2, POLICE, WITH ACCESSORIES.
The second Subvariation G date bears the late production DE/63 acceptance stamp. This includes the transition with the DE/63 acceptance stamp combined with earlier stamps(mainly the S92) Approximate serial range 5000d-5000f. Estimated production 20,000.

The Police Variation G-Date bears the police required sear and magazine safeties. The issue magazines are numbered 1, 2, or 3 in the police style. 11 are reported in the “e” and “f” serial range. Estimated police procurement 600. (See page 27, 36-37, 108-109, Third Reich Lugers)



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Figure 12. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Left slant view.



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Figure 13. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Top.



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Figure 14. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Right side.



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Figure 15. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Right receiver and barrel, showing early test proof and DE/63 acceptance stamps. The DE/63 acceptance stamps determines that it is a Second Subvariation G date.



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Figure 16. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Serial number on the frame and barrel. Note the halo around the barrel serial number digits.



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Figure 17. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Proper chrome plated, extruded, Haenel, magazine. It bears the early police eagle.



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Figure 18. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Magazine showing side frame inscription.




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Figure 18.5. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 2043f., inside of matching grips.

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Figure 19. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Showing the sear safety. It is held by a rivet at one end and on the opposite end bears a small pin that blocks the sear and prevents the discharge of a partly dissembled Luger. The sear safety was a police requirement introduced by Prussian State Police orders dated August 30, 1933. It was not a military requirement.

The rivets for sear safeties were made of steel (brass or aluminum was not used). Its half rounded head is not deformed and the rivet is in the white.



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Figure 20. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. The bottom of the sear safety rivet. The bottom of the rivet was smashed flat and then the area was filed smooth.


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Figure 21. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Showing the sear safety cut in the top of the side plate. Note that the cut is somewhat crude and in the white .The in the white character and somewhat crude workmanship of the sear safety installation indicates addition by a police arsenal (not the Mauser factory).



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Figure 22. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. With its 1935 police holster.



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Figure 23. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Back of police FRANZ COBAU / BERLIN holster, 1935 dated, and sunburst “K” police accepted.



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Figure 24. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Showing the interior of the holster, tool and extruded chrome plated Haenel magazine.



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Figure 25. Second Subvariation Police S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2043f. Showing the DE/63 tool. Sometimes these bear the Lugers serial number on the back.



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Figure 26. These sear safety military code Lugers bear the police required sear safety, magazines numbered in the police style, and some are matched to police holsters (Still, Axis Pistols, 1989, page 211). They were issued to police units. It has not been established if they were issued to the rural or city police shown here or some other paramilitary police unit. They are one of the rarest Military Code Lugers.

 

[Jan C Still]

G DATE S/42 CODE LUGER, SUBVARIATION 2, KREIGSMARINE VARIATION, WITH ACCESSORIES.
The Second Subvariation G date Luger bears the late production DE/63 acceptance stamp. This includes the transition with the DE/63 acceptance stamp combined with earlier stamps(mainly the S92) Approximate serial range 5000d-5000f. Estimated production 20,000.

The Kriegsmarine (KM)Variation G-Date Lugers bears a N.xxx or O.xxx property number on the front strap. The N property number is engraved crosswise to the strap and has a Kriegsmarine E/M(2) engraved above it. The O property number is engraved along the long axis of the front strap and does not have an associated KM eagle. (A few of the N property numbers are reported without the eagle) The issue magazines are the same as the Army issue but have the KM property number added. 24 G date KM Lugers are reported in the d, e, and f serial range. These are both the First and Second Subvariation. About 700 KM G date Lugers were procured by the German Navy. (See page 27, 32-35, 106, Third Reich Lugers)



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Figure 27. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Left slant view. Note the exposed style of serial number placement.



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Figure 28. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Top.



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Figure 29. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Right side.



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Figure 30. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Right receiver and barrel, showing the early test proof and DE/63 and DE/63 acceptance stamps.



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Figure 31. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Serial number on the frame and barrel. Note: the halo around the barrel serial number digits.



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Figure 32. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Front strap showing the Kriegsmarine E/M(2) engraved on the front strap and North Sea N/1376 Navy property mark below it.



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Figure 33. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. Proper crimped nickel plated magazine, property marked N/1240x, “f”serial number suffix and DE/63 Army acceptance stamp. While not matched, it’s the proper type magazine, in the proper letter suffix range, with the correct DE/63 acceptance stamp.



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Figure 33.5. G date S/42 code Luger, serial number 2927f., inside of matching grips.

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Figure 34. Second Subvariation, Kriegsmarine, S/42 code, G date Luger, serial number 2927f. With KM holster.



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Figure 35. Showing back of holster maker stamped MORGHORST / KIEL / SATTLER and Navy E/M acceptance stamped. Typically these MORGHORST holsters are undated.

The German Navy had a large presence in Norway during World War II. German Navy Lugers and their holsters were left in Norway when the Germans surrendered in 1945. These captured holsters were used by the Norwegian Military that added a metal belt hanger. Numbers of these holsters were imported into the United States during the 1990's. I had the hanger removed, the holes plugged, and the belt loops added.



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Figure 36. Showing the interior of the holster.



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Figure 37. Details of the proper DE/63 tool.



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Figure 38. A German Navy recruiting poster. The Navy Luger shown above was used by the German Navy. About 100 such Lugers would have armed the sailors on a battleship such as that shown in the poster.

 

[Jan C Still]

G DATE SERIAL NUMBERS AND ACCEPTANCE STAMPS**
The following combinations of serial numbers and acceptance stamps have been observed or reported:
4190a B90--S91
4249a B90--S91
5102a B90–S91

6941a B/90--S/92

7211a W154--S92
7466a W154--S92
8628a W154--S92
539b W154--S92
735b W154--S92
808b W154--S92
1504b W154–S92
9236b W154--S92
2736c W154–-S92
5529c W154--S/92
5756c W154--S/92
7622c W154--S92
7895c W154--S92

943d DE/211--S92
1131d DE211--S92
2154d DE211--S92
2323d DE/211--S92
2741d DE/211--S92
3176d DE/211--S92
3278d DE/211--S92
4003d DE/211--S92
4437d DE/211--S92

5936d DE/63--S/92

8752d DE/63–DE/63
200e DE/63--DE/63
2508e DE63--DE/63
2971e DE/63--DE/63
3705e DE/63--D/E63
3823e DE/63--DE/63
5111e DE/63--DE/63
5745e DE/63--DE/63
6008e DE/63--DE/63
9376e DE/63--DE/63
9491e DE/63–DE/63
70f DE/63--DE/63
1689f DE/63–DE63
2043f DE/63--DE/63
2927f DE/63--DE/63
**Note: Frank is collecting G date data in a separate thread. He will post the results on this Forum. Please help him out. Post your G date. His work will benefit us all.
Thanks Jan


THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THE RIGHT RECEIVER ACCEPTANCE STAMPS OF SELECTED G DATE LUGERS
The following photographs (from this Forum) are included to show the manufacturing and application variance of G date acceptance stamps.



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Figure 39. Photograph above showing sn 8628a, W154--S92 collection of John D



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Figure 40. Photograph above showing sn 943d, DE/211–S92 collection of Dave Molchen



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Figure 41. Photograph above showing sn 2741d, DE/211–S92 collection of Peter. This Luger also has an E/211 acceptance stamp on its receiver lug.



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Figure 42. Photograph above showing sn 4437d, DE/211--S92 collection of John James.

 

[lugercollector]

Truly informative and interesting!!!...Thanks to Jan for a good part of my Luger knowledge

 

[Jan C Still]

G DATE SERIAL NUMBERS, WITH KM AND POLICE DATA, AND ACCEPTANCE STAMPS (aaa) Updated 03/25/2005 (Old table will not be updated)
The following combinations of serial numbers and acceptance stamps been observed or reported:
(930a, estimated transition from K date to G date, from Still, 1988)
2155a B90--S91
3000a B90--S91
3770a B90--S91
4190a B90--S91
4249a B90--S91
5102a B90–S91
5887a B90--S91

6109a B90--S92
6712a B90--S92
6941a B90--S92
7200a B90--S92

7211a W154--S92
7466a W154--S92
7875a W154--S92
8069a W154--S92
8628a W154--S92 (Mag.. 9398a , B90, K date?)
539b W154--S92
628b W154--S92
735b W154--S92
808b W154--S92
829b W154--S92
1504b W154–S92
2895b W154--S92
6018b W154--S92
6463b W154--S92
8452b W154–S92
8463b W154–S92
8560b W154--S92
8846b W154--S92
9236b W154--S92
9329b W154--S92
5c W154--S92
97c W154--S92
399c W154--S92
1772c W154--S92
1849c W154--S92
2512c W154--S92
2736c W154–S92
3514c W154--S92
5008c W154--S92
5529c W154--S92
5756c W154--S92
5887c W154--S92
6669c W154-- S92
7328c W154-- S92
7449c W154-- S92
7622c W154-- S92
7895c W154--S92
8735c W154--S92
269d DE/211--S92
691d W154–S92
723d W154--S92

822d DE/211--S92 (730d E/211 Mag.)
943d DE/211--S92
1131d DE211--S92
2133d DE/211--S92
2154d DE211--S92 (2159d W154 Mag?)
2301d DE/211--S92
2323d DE/211--S92
2344d---- KM N 1082
2377d DE/211--S92
2626d---- KM O.1431
2641d DE/211--S92
2741d DE/211--S92
3176d---- DE/211--S92 KM E/M(2) N1138
3266d---- KM O.2014
3278d DE/211--S92
3697d---- KM N 993
3791d DE/211--S92
3868d---- KM O.2440
3976d---- KM N 1022
3992d---- KM O.2464
4003d DE/211--S92
4249d---- KM O.2097
4437d DE/211--S92
4504d---- KM N1091
4522d---- KM N1180
4548d DE/211–S92
4599d DE/211–S92
4464d---- KM N 1646
4770d DE/211--S92 (5207d E/211 Mag.)

5518d DE/63--S/92
5690d DE/63--S/92
5936d DE/63--S/92
5963d DE/63--S/92
6523d---- KM 0.2717
6794d DE/63--S/92
6943d DE/63--S/92

8096d DE/63–DE/63
8752d DE/63–DE/63
9599d DE/63-DE/63
200e DE/63--DE/63
*417e DE/63–DE/63 (Typo? Not counted)
*1417e DE/63–DE/63
1690e---- Police Sear Safety
2199e DE63--DE/63
2508e DE63--DE/63
2971e DE/63--DE/63
3343e DE/63–DE/63
3705e DE/63--D/E63
3823e DE/63--DE/63
4991e DE63--DE/63
5111e DE/63--DE/63
5745e DE/63--DE/63
6008e DE/63--DE/63
6032e DE/63--DE/63
6523e---- KM O.2717
6919e---- KM N 1341
7218e DE/63--DE/63
7937e---- KM O.2634
8304e DE/63--DE/63
9336e---- Police Sear Safety
9369e DE/63--DE/63
9376e DE/63--DE/63
9419e---- Police Sear Safety
9430e---- Police Sear Safety
9448e---- Police Sear Safety
9460e---- Police Sear Safety
9491e DE/63–DE/63
9524e---- Police Sear Safety
9602e DE/63–DE/63
9748e---- Police Sear Safety
9784e---- Police Sear Safety
9816e---- Police Sear Safety
70f DE/63--DE/63
965f----- KM N 1299
1015f---- KM N1185
1016f---- KM N 1213
1289f---- KM N 1292
1382f---- KM N 1382
1481f---- KM N1344
1490f---- KM N 1300
1689f DE/63–DE63
1869f---- KM N 1309
1989f DE/63--DE/63
2043f DE/63--DE/63 Police Sear Safety
2723f----- KM N 1302
2927f DE/63--DE/63 KM N 1376
6035f DE/63--DE/63 (not confirmed)
(6000f? estimated transition from G date to 1936 date)


G DATE VARIATIONS: SERIAL NUMBER RANGES, ACCEPTANCE STAMPS, AND ESTIMATED PRODUCTION (Using interpolation and then rounding to approx. numbers. Note: police sear safety and KM without acceptance stamp information not counted in total )
Accept. Stamps - Number Rep.-Serial Range -- Est. No. Lugers Mfg.
B90--S91 ---------- 7 ---------- 930a to 6000a -------- 5,070 Lugers

B90--S92 ---------- 4 --------- 6000a to 7200a ------- 1,200 Lugers

W154--S92 -------- 40 --------- 7200a to 800d --------- 23,600 Lugers

DE/211--S92 ------ 19 ----(269d)800d to 5150d --------- 4,350 Lugers

DE/63--S/92 ------ 6 ---------- 5150d to 7500d ------- 2,350 Lugers

DE/63–DE/63(end 6000f?) 30 ---- 7500d to 6000f ------- 18,500 Lugers


Total --------- 105 -------- 930a to 6000f --------- 55,070