Strange 1920 Commercial

Lyn Islaub · 03-19-2005, 10:24 PM

Wish I could post scans, but I saw this one at a Gun Show here in Phoenix today and they didn't allow cameras.
It looked to be a very clean & normal 7.65 cal. 1920 Commercial Luger with the serial numbers in the normal places; side plate, take down lever, rear toggle and trigger. The full S/N was 2965 with no suffix. It had the relieved sear bar, stock lug and Crown N proofs you would expect to see on a 1920 Commercial, but the strange part, was that where you would normally find the alpha suffix on the barrel and frame, there was a Crown stamped. The crown was similar in style to the one used in the proofs above the "N", but was 3 times the size. It almost looked as if the crowns had been stamped over the original letters, but I couldn't state that for sure. The owner told me a long tale as to why it was a 1911 Commercial and was worth $1400, but I declined to tell him it might be otherwise. Have any of you encountered these "crown" stamps before???
Thx, Lyn

Lugerdoc · 03-20-2005, 10:09 AM

Lyn, I have owned several of these over the years with the Swedish looking Crown stamp over the suffix letter on the frame (usually and s or t). I'm not really sure of it's origin either, but probably some country's mark of possession. I have even heard of these refered to as "Rif" contract lugers by some; but if you figure it out, let me know. TH

Luke · 03-20-2005, 03:37 PM

Lyn -

Sorry I can't help with identification, but it sure would be interesting to see pictures of the "proofs" you are describing.

Luke

03-19-2005, 10:24 PM	#1
Lyn Islaub Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 435 Thanks: 3 Thanked 152 Times in 72 Posts	Strange 1920 Commercial Wish I could post scans, but I saw this one at a Gun Show here in Phoenix today and they didn't allow cameras. It looked to be a very clean & normal 7.65 cal. 1920 Commercial Luger with the serial numbers in the normal places; side plate, take down lever, rear toggle and trigger. The full S/N was 2965 with no suffix. It had the relieved sear bar, stock lug and Crown N proofs you would expect to see on a 1920 Commercial, but the strange part, was that where you would normally find the alpha suffix on the barrel and frame, there was a Crown stamped. The crown was similar in style to the one used in the proofs above the "N", but was 3 times the size. It almost looked as if the crowns had been stamped over the original letters, but I couldn't state that for sure. The owner told me a long tale as to why it was a 1911 Commercial and was worth $1400, but I declined to tell him it might be otherwise. Have any of you encountered these "crown" stamps before??? Thx, Lyn

03-20-2005, 10:09 AM	#2
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	Lyn, I have owned several of these over the years with the Swedish looking Crown stamp over the suffix letter on the frame (usually and s or t). I'm not really sure of it's origin either, but probably some country's mark of possession. I have even heard of these refered to as "Rif" contract lugers by some; but if you figure it out, let me know. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

03-20-2005, 03:37 PM	#3
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Lyn - Sorry I can't help with identification, but it sure would be interesting to see pictures of the "proofs" you are describing. Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther