Is this really a VOPO

www.prussia.us · 10-31-2012, 07:58 PM

Hey Guys,

The serial numbered mag looks VOPO, but it would be a generic refurb:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=314538028

skeeter4206 · 10-31-2012, 08:20 PM

Wow! what a funcky looking serial number on the trigger guard.

lugersrkewl · 10-31-2012, 08:45 PM

serials look vopo, dipped blue looks vopo. doesnt look buffed. grips are vopo but theres no circle in the grips. too bad he doesnt show a pic of the right side. I see no vopo markings or ground off vopo markings but it does look like the real deal.
but what do I know?

(seriously not much )

ps. I think legacy collectibles is a legitimate knowledgeable company I remember reading somewheres

I woudnt go over 700 shipped and ffled on it but Im jaded with buying lugers

skeeter4206 · 10-31-2012, 09:17 PM

Im curious what does VOPO stand for, and whats the difference between a VOPO and a russian capture luger.

rolandtg · 10-31-2012, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter4206

Im curious what does VOPO stand for, and whats the difference between a VOPO and a russian capture luger.

VolksPolizei - the Luger was used by the East German police after WWII.
Technically I suppose a VOPO would be a Russian "capture" since they captured all of East Germany.

skeeter4206 · 10-31-2012, 09:51 PM

thanks! I have been curious about that for a minute now

mrerick · 11-01-2012, 12:12 PM

Nice shooter Luger from a dealer with a very good reputation.

The grips are not VoPo, but rather the bakelite type used at the end of WW-II. Can't tell if they are original or reproduction from the pics.

Marc

John Sabato · 11-01-2012, 03:15 PM

Marc,

These are Reproduction "plastic" Grips IMHO. Border is too wide for OEM grips. They are functional, ...but beautiful they "ain't"...

George Anderson · 11-01-2012, 04:30 PM

Mixed parts VOPO Lugers always have the parts renumbered to match. This is not a VOPO.

Vlim · 11-01-2012, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Mixed parts VOPO Lugers always have the parts renumbered to match

George, not true:
The receiver, if mismatched, is force matched to the frame.
Small parts normally have their original number x-out, and replaced by the 'new' 2 digits.
In many cases, they even didn't bother to renumber certain small parts.

This pistol is put together, using at least part of a Vopo pistol (+ magazine). But the giveaway is the mismatched frame number. If the receiver was matched to the frame, it would have been a VoPo.

George Anderson · 11-01-2012, 05:13 PM

Vlim, all I have seen, and that is many, all parts were renumbered.

Vlim · 11-01-2012, 06:00 PM

Perhaps the American VoPo's got this treatment, but the European VoPo's display a different pattern. It is possible that some form of refurbishing was carried out in the 1970s when the first VoPo's made in onto the US market via Interarms.

Of course, the guns that didn't need renumbering are the exception. You can find excellent quality pistols with all original parts (usually sans barrel) still there.

Side plates tend to get renumbered, though.

All in all, describing the VoPo pistol is never an exact science.

skeeter4206 · 11-01-2012, 08:57 PM

I have a VOPO which has the frame and upper receiver matching. Toggle is mismatched and all SN's are marked out on the toggle and the trigger mechanism in the upper receiver. None have been renumbered except the sideplate.

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lugersrkewl · 11-01-2012, 09:34 PM

since the gangs all here.... when and what circumstances did they put a vopo proof marking on the pistol? I take it not all received these marks.
thanks in advance.
your friend in lugers

skeeter4206 · 11-01-2012, 10:18 PM

WoW! Mine has alot of stamps on it but none like that. but Im glad you brought up stampings on these type guns. Mine has a proof stamp on the side that is stamped over with a different proof stamp. Whats your thoughts on that.

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Also I was just in a gun shop tonight and saw a norenco that actually had VOPO stamped on the side with a "X" marked on it. Wonder if someone facked that or did the russians do that gun that way. Hmm!

olearyjms2 · 11-02-2012, 05:51 AM

i was new to lugers a while back and discovered that i had a VOPO ive attached my previous thread. thanks again for all those who helped.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=28378

james

alanint · 11-02-2012, 07:37 AM

Skeeter,

Are you saying you saw a Norinco Luger in a gun shop?????

Dwight Gruber · 11-02-2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugersrkewl

since the gangs all here.... when and what circumstances did they put a vopo proof marking on the pistol? I take it not all received these marks.
thanks in advance.
your friend in lugers

The Police Luger book (which will be available about mid-month) has an extensive section on Deutsche Volkspolizei ("VoPo") Lugers which should answer many of your questions.

--Dwight

Schupo · 11-02-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugersrkewl

since the gangs all here.... when and what circumstances did they put a vopo proof marking on the pistol? I take it not all received these marks.
thanks in advance.
your friend in lugers

The newly made pistols were pressure proof marked at the East German proof house in the same manner as other newly manufactured firearms. The two pix you show are of DDR proof markings and are not Volkspolizei (VOPO) proofs.

The VOPO star marking indicates the pistol went through the Volkspolizei Armory and is not a proof marking. These markings will be found on various East German firearms, not just the P.08 pistols.

I think Dwight's book will point this information out in detail.

skeeter4206 · 11-02-2012, 02:39 PM

Alan,
No not norinco luger, just a norinco. But isaw them VOPO and and "X" mark on the reciever next to the trigger guard. This was in mobile alabama the other night when I stopped there to spend the night. Saw the gun shop and just walked in to see what they had. They also had a swiss made rifle, that I didnt know what it was, neither did they. But it had a ring on the back where you would have a charging handle. But it had the swiss crest just like the swiss lugers. I almost bought it just out of curiousity. They only wanted 200 bucks for it and it was very clean. But I wouldnt think the plant I was workin at would like me bringing in a fifle in my back seat.

10-31-2012, 07:58 PM	#1
www.prussia.us User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 40 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is this really a VOPO Hey Guys, The serial numbered mag looks VOPO, but it would be a generic refurb: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=314538028

11-01-2012, 12:12 PM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Nice shooter Luger from a dealer with a very good reputation. The grips are not VoPo, but rather the bakelite type used at the end of WW-II. Can't tell if they are original or reproduction from the pics. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

11-01-2012, 03:15 PM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Marc, These are Reproduction "plastic" Grips IMHO. Border is too wide for OEM grips. They are functional, ...but beautiful they "ain't"... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

11-01-2012, 08:57 PM	#13
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Small parts are not re-numbered I have a VOPO which has the frame and upper receiver matching. Toggle is mismatched and all SN's are marked out on the toggle and the trigger mechanism in the upper receiver. None have been renumbered except the sideplate.

11-01-2012, 09:34 PM	#14
lugersrkewl Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ussr Posts: 425 Thanks: 198 Thanked 75 Times in 58 Posts	since the gangs all here.... when and what circumstances did they put a vopo proof marking on the pistol? I take it not all received these marks. thanks in advance. your friend in lugers Attached Images

10-31-2012, 08:20 PM	#2
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Wow! what a funcky looking serial number on the trigger guard.

10-31-2012, 08:45 PM	#3
lugersrkewl Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ussr Posts: 425 Thanks: 198 Thanked 75 Times in 58 Posts	serials look vopo, dipped blue looks vopo. doesnt look buffed. grips are vopo but theres no circle in the grips. too bad he doesnt show a pic of the right side. I see no vopo markings or ground off vopo markings but it does look like the real deal. but what do I know? (seriously not much ) ps. I think legacy collectibles is a legitimate knowledgeable company I remember reading somewheres I woudnt go over 700 shipped and ffled on it but Im jaded with buying lugers

10-31-2012, 09:17 PM	#4
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Im curious what does VOPO stand for, and whats the difference between a VOPO and a russian capture luger.

10-31-2012, 09:51 PM	#6
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	thanks! I have been curious about that for a minute now

11-01-2012, 04:30 PM	#9
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Mixed parts VOPO Lugers always have the parts renumbered to match. This is not a VOPO.

11-01-2012, 05:13 PM	#11
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Vlim, all I have seen, and that is many, all parts were renumbered.

11-01-2012, 06:00 PM	#12
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Perhaps the American VoPo's got this treatment, but the European VoPo's display a different pattern. It is possible that some form of refurbishing was carried out in the 1970s when the first VoPo's made in onto the US market via Interarms. Of course, the guns that didn't need renumbering are the exception. You can find excellent quality pistols with all original parts (usually sans barrel) still there. Side plates tend to get renumbered, though. All in all, describing the VoPo pistol is never an exact science.

11-01-2012, 10:18 PM	#15
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	WoW! Mine has alot of stamps on it but none like that. but Im glad you brought up stampings on these type guns. Mine has a proof stamp on the side that is stamped over with a different proof stamp. Whats your thoughts on that. Also I was just in a gun shop tonight and saw a norenco that actually had VOPO stamped on the side with a "X" marked on it. Wonder if someone facked that or did the russians do that gun that way. Hmm!

11-02-2012, 05:51 AM	#16
olearyjms2 User Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i was new to lugers a while back and discovered that i had a VOPO ive attached my previous thread. thanks again for all those who helped. http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=28378 james

11-02-2012, 07:37 AM	#17
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Skeeter, Are you saying you saw a Norinco Luger in a gun shop?????

11-02-2012, 02:39 PM	#20
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Alan, No not norinco luger, just a norinco. But isaw them VOPO and and "X" mark on the reciever next to the trigger guard. This was in mobile alabama the other night when I stopped there to spend the night. Saw the gun shop and just walked in to see what they had. They also had a swiss made rifle, that I didnt know what it was, neither did they. But it had a ring on the back where you would have a charging handle. But it had the swiss crest just like the swiss lugers. I almost bought it just out of curiousity. They only wanted 200 bucks for it and it was very clean. But I wouldnt think the plant I was workin at would like me bringing in a fifle in my back seat.