crossed rifles, not an "X"

03-02-2002, 07:23 PM

Guys, I took my 1939 Mauser Luger to a local collector who told me that the "X" in front of the chamber serial is actually a pair of crossed Russian rifles indicating the pistol had been captured by the Russians at some point. Does this hurt or help the value ? Is this an uncommon marking ? Thanks fellers - I know yer 'bout ready to run me off 8^) .

Orv Reichert · 03-02-2002, 10:37 PM

Someone came forward with this theory...but it is BS in my estimation.

about 20% of them had this stamped somewhere when the big batch came in from the Ukraine a few years back..most are two stikes of a chisel and often they don't even cross..

It certainly is not the IMPERIAL crossed rifle stamp which was used [only, I am told] during the Czar's reign!

Orv Reichert

Joe · 03-03-2002, 12:25 AM

I believe that the Imperial Russian crossed rifles were stamped on the chamber, where most of the military Lugers are dated. They actually looked like rifles. The Lugers that were imported from Russia in the early '90s, that were blue dipped, have the small X mark.

03-04-2002, 09:18 PM

Well shoot ! I thought I'd seen WW2 98ks with the crossed rifles but I have to admit they were more cearly stamped than. Thanks !

03-02-2002, 07:23 PM	#1
gewehr guy Guest Posts: n/a	crossed rifles, not an "X" Guys, I took my 1939 Mauser Luger to a local collector who told me that the "X" in front of the chamber serial is actually a pair of crossed Russian rifles indicating the pistol had been captured by the Russians at some point. Does this hurt or help the value ? Is this an uncommon marking ? Thanks fellers - I know yer 'bout ready to run me off 8^) .

03-02-2002, 10:37 PM	#2
Orv Reichert RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SW Washington State Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It is an "X" Someone came forward with this theory...but it is BS in my estimation. about 20% of them had this stamped somewhere when the big batch came in from the Ukraine a few years back..most are two stikes of a chisel and often they don't even cross.. It certainly is not the IMPERIAL crossed rifle stamp which was used [only, I am told] during the Czar's reign! Orv Reichert

03-03-2002, 12:25 AM	#3
Joe User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 96 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: It is an "X" I believe that the Imperial Russian crossed rifles were stamped on the chamber, where most of the military Lugers are dated. They actually looked like rifles. The Lugers that were imported from Russia in the early '90s, that were blue dipped, have the small X mark.

03-04-2002, 09:18 PM	#4
gewehr guy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: It is an "X" Well shoot ! I thought I'd seen WW2 98ks with the crossed rifles but I have to admit they were more cearly stamped than. Thanks !