G
Guest
·Guys hi
I am a newcomer who is just amazed by the depth of knowledge available on this forum, and who also has an info request.
(forgive me if this is a kind of thread which has been done to death in the past)
History – skip this if you want to cut to the chase
I have an LP08 with a continuous provenance from WW1. My grandfather was a regular soldier in the British Army and served in the RASC on the Western front all through 1914-1919. As a sergeant he commanded a convoy of steam lorries mobilized from Chatham Barracks across to France on the very day war broke out in August 1914. He retired a Regimental Sergeant Major, after further service in India post-war and died in 1972.
At some point towards the end of the 14-18 war (his memoirs are not distinct on the dates) he was involved in a small-unit action against a German section armed with a pair of machine guns; they fought to the end and he took the Luger from the body of the officer, complete with holster, stock and 37 (39?) round magazine. Sadly the stock and holster rotted away in the 1930’s.and were discarded.
The Luger has passed from him to me via my late father, also a professional soldier.
Long ago I remember it being fired by my grandfather and father and seems in good used condition. A beautiful piece of precision engineering in design and manufacture.
It hurts me to have to say that our knee-jerk UK Government insisted that it be deactivated or destroyed in the 1990’s along with many others, and having the barrel plugged was the only way to keep it in our family. But let’s not get into the stupidity of politicians, it’s too depressing.
Despite the above butchery, it goes with saying that this memento is not ever going to be for sale, and my own sons will take over custody in due course.
It has the markings
1917
Proof marks
Ornate gothic engraved script DW(?) On top of the “knuckle”
The front sight is fixed
Serial number “4008” (or “08”) on every part including inside the wooden grips
Crudely marked “JR448.10.X” on the rear of the metal core of the hand grip (the side that fits into the palm of your hand)
The big round magazine is marked both
“115629” and “B/N” in a number of places (with the B over a horizontal line with N underneath)
Help request
Can you confirm what (I think) I understand from previous posts; that this unit marking JR448.10.X means “448th Infantry Regiment, 10th Company, Gun number X (roman 10)” and any more about the weapon?
And can you point me at German online casualty lists or unit histories that would let me identify/ shortlist the probable original owner? Any information at all would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help
Regards
GATOH
I am a newcomer who is just amazed by the depth of knowledge available on this forum, and who also has an info request.
(forgive me if this is a kind of thread which has been done to death in the past)
History – skip this if you want to cut to the chase
I have an LP08 with a continuous provenance from WW1. My grandfather was a regular soldier in the British Army and served in the RASC on the Western front all through 1914-1919. As a sergeant he commanded a convoy of steam lorries mobilized from Chatham Barracks across to France on the very day war broke out in August 1914. He retired a Regimental Sergeant Major, after further service in India post-war and died in 1972.
At some point towards the end of the 14-18 war (his memoirs are not distinct on the dates) he was involved in a small-unit action against a German section armed with a pair of machine guns; they fought to the end and he took the Luger from the body of the officer, complete with holster, stock and 37 (39?) round magazine. Sadly the stock and holster rotted away in the 1930’s.and were discarded.
The Luger has passed from him to me via my late father, also a professional soldier.
Long ago I remember it being fired by my grandfather and father and seems in good used condition. A beautiful piece of precision engineering in design and manufacture.
It hurts me to have to say that our knee-jerk UK Government insisted that it be deactivated or destroyed in the 1990’s along with many others, and having the barrel plugged was the only way to keep it in our family. But let’s not get into the stupidity of politicians, it’s too depressing.
Despite the above butchery, it goes with saying that this memento is not ever going to be for sale, and my own sons will take over custody in due course.
It has the markings
1917
Proof marks
Ornate gothic engraved script DW(?) On top of the “knuckle”
The front sight is fixed
Serial number “4008” (or “08”) on every part including inside the wooden grips
Crudely marked “JR448.10.X” on the rear of the metal core of the hand grip (the side that fits into the palm of your hand)
The big round magazine is marked both
“115629” and “B/N” in a number of places (with the B over a horizontal line with N underneath)
Help request
Can you confirm what (I think) I understand from previous posts; that this unit marking JR448.10.X means “448th Infantry Regiment, 10th Company, Gun number X (roman 10)” and any more about the weapon?
And can you point me at German online casualty lists or unit histories that would let me identify/ shortlist the probable original owner? Any information at all would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help
Regards
GATOH
09.JPG
LP083.JPG
