Interesting Swiss

Strider · 10-11-2002, 10:24 AM

Hello Everyone,
At a gun show this past weekend I came across a 1927 Swiss that was threaded at the end of the barrel. This is the first time that I have seen anything like this. The person who was selling it said that the threads were for a silencer. Was there ever a silencer made for a Luger? Are there any around still and does anyone have a picture of this? Were the threads put on at the factory or was this done by someone else? It had DWM stamp and a 3 digit number w/holster. Price was $3500. Any answers will be appreciated. Thanks for your help.
Sid.

Edward Tinker · 10-11-2002, 11:54 AM

Sid, this was brought up a while ago, and although I am sure that silencers were made for Lugers, the feeling was that the threading was for a 4 or 5mm (22) for practice for the range.

This is what I remember the discussion was about, I imagine a search for the word "threads" or "threading" might show this information.

Strider · 10-11-2002, 02:59 PM

I think I remember something about that. I will check it out on Monday when I get back to a computer. Thanks.
Sid.

Ron Wood · 10-11-2002, 06:32 PM

Sid,
If the front sight was still on the barrel and the threaded portion was forward of the muzzle and considerably smaller than the diameter of the barrel, it was a subcaliber insert that Ed mentioned. All pictures of real silencers that I have seen (never been fortunate enough to see one personally) required removal of the front sight. The sight and barrel band are threaded and can be removed, the silencer is then screwed on to the barrel where the sight was. An excellent picture of such a setup is in "Kenyon's Lugers at Random", page 363. According to Kenyon, probably very few factory silencer rigs were produced. The purpose of a silencer may not be as sinister as might be assumed. I think they were intended mainly for noise reduction for indoor or urban target shooting.

Herb · 10-11-2002, 07:39 PM

Sid, there definitely was a scilencer for the Luger. See pages 132-145-146-and 147, Datig's The Luger Pistol, and pages 247 and 248 of Walters The Luger Book.

Strider · 10-14-2002, 01:12 PM

Ron, thanks for the info about the location of the threaded portion of the barrel. The threads were in front of the sight. I was able to handle this and remove the cap to see where the location of the threads were.

Herb, thanks for your reply also. I do not have any of these books. Would it be possible for you to post these photos?

Again thanks both of you.
Sid.

Pete Ebbink · 10-15-2002, 10:32 PM

Hello Sid,

Here are the photos Herb referenced in the Datig and Walther books :

It looks like the front sights are still on the pistols fitted with silencers...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Ron Wood · 10-16-2002, 02:25 AM

The front sights are on the examples shown, since neither uses a threaded attachment. I can't find the reference, but I believe the Maxim silencer used a bayonet type attachment with a split collar that rotated around the front sight base to secure it. The silencer shown in Walter is fitted to the barrel insert of a .22 cal. coversion unit. Thanks for digging up those pictures, I had completely forgotten about them (too many things to try to remember plus the onset of CRS syndrome). [img]frown.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

Strider · 10-16-2002, 03:08 PM

Pete, thanks for posting the photos. I appreciate the time and effort that you spent on this. I tell you, every day I learn something new. Thanks.
Sid.

Big Norm · 12-11-2002, 05:24 AM

If memory serves me right, there was a forums Luger of the Month Luger with a silencer a while back. Maybe someone could contact Dok for it. I think there was a nice write up and an excellent picture.
Big Norm

Lugerdoc · 12-11-2002, 09:46 AM

I recall years ago having an opportunity to purchase a 9mm "Maxim" brand scilenser for a luger. But at the time, living in California, I would have had to have a Class 3 MG FFL to own it legally, so I passed.

Hugh · 12-11-2002, 08:51 PM

Our very own John Dunkle is the proud owner of a Luger that the front sight screws off so that a silencer may be screwed on. It was the Luger of the Month one time on the old forum with a nice writeup about it by John.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

10-11-2002, 10:24 AM	#1
Strider User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 256 Thanks: 26 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interesting Swiss Hello Everyone, At a gun show this past weekend I came across a 1927 Swiss that was threaded at the end of the barrel. This is the first time that I have seen anything like this. The person who was selling it said that the threads were for a silencer. Was there ever a silencer made for a Luger? Are there any around still and does anyone have a picture of this? Were the threads put on at the factory or was this done by someone else? It had DWM stamp and a 3 digit number w/holster. Price was $3500. Any answers will be appreciated. Thanks for your help. Sid. __________________ Sid. Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit. ~German Proverb If it is made before 1930 ..........It is a prototype.

10-11-2002, 11:54 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,034 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Sid, this was brought up a while ago, and although I am sure that silencers were made for Lugers, the feeling was that the threading was for a 4 or 5mm (22) for practice for the range. This is what I remember the discussion was about, I imagine a search for the word "threads" or "threading" might show this information. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

10-11-2002, 02:59 PM	#3
Strider User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 256 Thanks: 26 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think I remember something about that. I will check it out on Monday when I get back to a computer. Thanks. Sid. __________________ Sid. Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit. ~German Proverb If it is made before 1930 ..........It is a prototype.

10-11-2002, 06:32 PM	#4
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	Sid, If the front sight was still on the barrel and the threaded portion was forward of the muzzle and considerably smaller than the diameter of the barrel, it was a subcaliber insert that Ed mentioned. All pictures of real silencers that I have seen (never been fortunate enough to see one personally) required removal of the front sight. The sight and barrel band are threaded and can be removed, the silencer is then screwed on to the barrel where the sight was. An excellent picture of such a setup is in "Kenyon's Lugers at Random", page 363. According to Kenyon, probably very few factory silencer rigs were produced. The purpose of a silencer may not be as sinister as might be assumed. I think they were intended mainly for noise reduction for indoor or urban target shooting. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-11-2002, 07:39 PM	#5
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Sid, there definitely was a scilencer for the Luger. See pages 132-145-146-and 147, Datig's The Luger Pistol, and pages 247 and 248 of Walters The Luger Book. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

10-14-2002, 01:12 PM	#6
Strider User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 256 Thanks: 26 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ron, thanks for the info about the location of the threaded portion of the barrel. The threads were in front of the sight. I was able to handle this and remove the cap to see where the location of the threads were. Herb, thanks for your reply also. I do not have any of these books. Would it be possible for you to post these photos? Again thanks both of you. Sid. __________________ Sid. Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit. ~German Proverb If it is made before 1930 ..........It is a prototype.

10-15-2002, 10:32 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hello Sid, Here are the photos Herb referenced in the Datig and Walther books : It looks like the front sights are still on the pistols fitted with silencers... Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

10-16-2002, 02:25 AM	#8
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	The front sights are on the examples shown, since neither uses a threaded attachment. I can't find the reference, but I believe the Maxim silencer used a bayonet type attachment with a split collar that rotated around the front sight base to secure it. The silencer shown in Walter is fitted to the barrel insert of a .22 cal. coversion unit. Thanks for digging up those pictures, I had completely forgotten about them (too many things to try to remember plus the onset of CRS syndrome). [img]frown.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-16-2002, 03:08 PM	#9
Strider User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 256 Thanks: 26 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pete, thanks for posting the photos. I appreciate the time and effort that you spent on this. I tell you, every day I learn something new. Thanks. Sid. __________________ Sid. Patience is a bitter plant, but it has sweet fruit. ~German Proverb If it is made before 1930 ..........It is a prototype.

12-11-2002, 05:24 AM	#10
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	If memory serves me right, there was a forums Luger of the Month Luger with a silencer a while back. Maybe someone could contact Dok for it. I think there was a nice write up and an excellent picture. Big Norm

12-11-2002, 09:46 AM	#11
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	I recall years ago having an opportunity to purchase a 9mm "Maxim" brand scilenser for a luger. But at the time, living in California, I would have had to have a Class 3 MG FFL to own it legally, so I passed. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

12-11-2002, 08:51 PM	#12
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Our very own John Dunkle is the proud owner of a Luger that the front sight screws off so that a silencer may be screwed on. It was the Luger of the Month one time on the old forum with a nice writeup about it by John. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*