1914 Commercial

gto kid · 02-15-2009, 05:37 PM

Hi all, I recently aquired what I believe is a 1914 commercial. s/n is 71445 which falls out of that 71500-73500 s/n range. I can't imagine what else it could be???? It came with 2 mags (non marked) as is correct and commercial holster...
Will post pictures soon...
Thanks guys

Ron Wood · 02-15-2009, 08:03 PM

Pictures will be essential to identify positively, but you are probably correct that it is a 1914 Commercial. The serial number range was an estimate established by observing known examples. Your Luger is only 55 numbers away from the estimate so that is close enough. The serial numbers were undoubtedly mixed in with the so called "1913 Commercials" (which is a misnomer as they were also manufactured in 1914). The serial numbers of these two "variations" are not contiguous, so it is not at all unusual to find examples that do not precisely fit in the estimated range, and it is unlikely that very many of either type were manufactured, certainly not in the thousands and probably less than 100 of each.

gto kid · 02-16-2009, 11:37 AM

not the best photos but best I could do

Ron Wood · 02-16-2009, 11:56 AM

Very nice looking piece and from what I can tell from the photos, it looks original. I presume that the Crown/N on the right side of the receiver is horizontal and the numbers all match? Looks like you found a keeper. Commercial holsters are not common, could we have a photo or two of it as well? Thanks.

gto kid · 02-16-2009, 06:46 PM

Thanks for input..Yes definitely not a reblue and I would say about 98%... I will be recieving the other mag and holster this week. I will post pictures of holster as soon as I get it...
Thanks again

gto kid · 02-16-2009, 06:47 PM

oh yes the crown n is horizontal....

George Anderson · 02-16-2009, 09:34 PM

What, if anything, is stamped on the front of the front sight base just above the muzzle?

gto kid · 02-18-2009, 11:26 PM

There is definiyely something stamped there. Can't find my glass right now to tell you what it says, but I will let you know as soon as I find it..

gto kid · 02-18-2009, 11:31 PM

I just got the holster and 2nd mag for the gun. Holster is in very good shape and has cleaning rod, tool and punch included. There is some writing inside, can't quite make it out as well as s/n of gun stamped in ink...There is no Germany on the gun so I assume it was German commercial sale..Here are some pics

MFC · 02-18-2009, 11:47 PM

Gorgeous rare rig!!! I'm jealous. I hope someone can translate the German writing for you.

Ron Wood · 02-19-2009, 02:34 AM

Spectacular. You really hit the jackpot. The kind of stuff that makes your mouth water. Congratulations.

alanint · 02-19-2009, 09:59 AM

While the pistol is commercial the ink writing in the holster seems to be a last name, (REHM) then a military ID.

I make out 2nd. GNB? Regiment. Can you elaborate on the middle set of letters?

gto kid · 02-19-2009, 11:21 AM

Can't quite make them out ,definitely put there by the owner it looks like....
either GNE, GNB, GNO, first letter could also be a Y I suppose
number again is S/N

cma22inc · 02-19-2009, 02:23 PM

Outstanding rig.

Thanks for sharing!

George Anderson · 02-19-2009, 11:10 AM

This is a classic example of an officer's pistol. I would like to see a clear close-up of the inked markings in the holster lid. There were eight officers in the Prussian army named Rehm in 1914. I haven't looked at Bavaria or Wurtemberg yet.

George Anderson · 02-19-2009, 03:34 PM

I think it's 2 Grend. Regt.

alanint · 02-19-2009, 05:10 PM

Bingo!
Any match-ups with "Rehn" and this regiment, George?

George Anderson · 02-19-2009, 05:27 PM

Not that clean as some were reservists and attached to Bezirkskomando prior to August 1914. I will go at it from 1919 information and see if he shows up that way.

gto kid · 02-19-2009, 10:13 PM

Looking at the letters under a glass it looks mor like The first letter after the 2 being a y, G, or J (not sure of the writing style) and the next look more like (n 1 0 )or (n i o) and then the RGT most definitely looks like 2 letters there instead of a (d) as previously thought
Also looks like some type of mark on the gun's front sight front above the muzzle opening..Need a better glass but looks like 2 x's or 2 crosses with something in between.... all together looks like a vehicle ?????
Chris

klaus 3338 · 06-19-2009, 03:04 PM

What a nice rig!
Officers in the old German Army had to buy their pistol and the holster with their own money. Here is a nice example of this practise. Many of the commercial P08/ Lugers were sold to the officers. They could buy their Luger for a lower price. It seems that only DWM Lugers were sold to the officers.
Is it possible to see a closer photo of the acceptance mark on the cleaning rod?
Sorry for my poor English!
Regards from Germany Klaus

02-15-2009, 05:37 PM	#1
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 Commercial Hi all, I recently aquired what I believe is a 1914 commercial. s/n is 71445 which falls out of that 71500-73500 s/n range. I can't imagine what else it could be???? It came with 2 mags (non marked) as is correct and commercial holster... Will post pictures soon... Thanks guys

02-15-2009, 08:03 PM	#2
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 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Pictures will be essential to identify positively, but you are probably correct that it is a 1914 Commercial. The serial number range was an estimate established by observing known examples. Your Luger is only 55 numbers away from the estimate so that is close enough. The serial numbers were undoubtedly mixed in with the so called "1913 Commercials" (which is a misnomer as they were also manufactured in 1914). The serial numbers of these two "variations" are not contiguous, so it is not at all unusual to find examples that do not precisely fit in the estimated range, and it is unlikely that very many of either type were manufactured, certainly not in the thousands and probably less than 100 of each. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-16-2009, 11:37 AM	#3
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 commercial photos not the best photos but best I could do Attached Thumbnails

02-16-2009, 11:56 AM	#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 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Very nice looking piece and from what I can tell from the photos, it looks original. I presume that the Crown/N on the right side of the receiver is horizontal and the numbers all match? Looks like you found a keeper. Commercial holsters are not common, could we have a photo or two of it as well? Thanks. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-16-2009, 06:46 PM	#5
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 Comm Thanks for input..Yes definitely not a reblue and I would say about 98%... I will be recieving the other mag and holster this week. I will post pictures of holster as soon as I get it... Thanks again

02-16-2009, 06:47 PM	#6
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 comm oh yes the crown n is horizontal....

02-16-2009, 09:34 PM	#7
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	What, if anything, is stamped on the front of the front sight base just above the muzzle?

02-18-2009, 11:26 PM	#8
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 comm There is definiyely something stamped there. Can't find my glass right now to tell you what it says, but I will let you know as soon as I find it..

02-18-2009, 11:31 PM	#9
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 commercial holster I just got the holster and 2nd mag for the gun. Holster is in very good shape and has cleaning rod, tool and punch included. There is some writing inside, can't quite make it out as well as s/n of gun stamped in ink...There is no Germany on the gun so I assume it was German commercial sale..Here are some pics Attached Thumbnails

02-18-2009, 11:47 PM	#10
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Gorgeous rare rig!!! I'm jealous. I hope someone can translate the German writing for you. __________________ Mike C.

02-19-2009, 02:34 AM	#11
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 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Spectacular. You really hit the jackpot. The kind of stuff that makes your mouth water. Congratulations. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-19-2009, 09:59 AM	#12
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	While the pistol is commercial the ink writing in the holster seems to be a last name, (REHM) then a military ID. I make out 2nd. GNB? Regiment. Can you elaborate on the middle set of letters?

02-19-2009, 11:21 AM	#13
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	letters Can't quite make them out ,definitely put there by the owner it looks like.... either GNE, GNB, GNO, first letter could also be a Y I suppose number again is S/N

02-19-2009, 02:23 PM	#14
cma22inc User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tampa Bay FL Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Outstanding rig. Thanks for sharing!

02-19-2009, 11:10 AM	#15
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	This is a classic example of an officer's pistol. I would like to see a clear close-up of the inked markings in the holster lid. There were eight officers in the Prussian army named Rehm in 1914. I haven't looked at Bavaria or Wurtemberg yet.

02-19-2009, 03:34 PM	#16
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	I think it's 2 Grend. Regt. Attached Thumbnails

02-19-2009, 05:10 PM	#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	Bingo! Any match-ups with "Rehn" and this regiment, George?

02-19-2009, 05:27 PM	#18
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	Not that clean as some were reservists and attached to Bezirkskomando prior to August 1914. I will go at it from 1919 information and see if he shows up that way.

02-19-2009, 10:13 PM	#19
gto kid User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1914 holster commercial Looking at the letters under a glass it looks mor like The first letter after the 2 being a y, G, or J (not sure of the writing style) and the next look more like (n 1 0 )or (n i o) and then the RGT most definitely looks like 2 letters there instead of a (d) as previously thought Also looks like some type of mark on the gun's front sight front above the muzzle opening..Need a better glass but looks like 2 x's or 2 crosses with something in between.... all together looks like a vehicle ????? Chris

06-19-2009, 03:04 PM	#20
klaus 3338 User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 517 Thanks: 0 Thanked 411 Times in 160 Posts	What a nice rig! Officers in the old German Army had to buy their pistol and the holster with their own money. Here is a nice example of this practise. Many of the commercial P08/ Lugers were sold to the officers. They could buy their Luger for a lower price. It seems that only DWM Lugers were sold to the officers. Is it possible to see a closer photo of the acceptance mark on the cleaning rod? Sorry for my poor English! Regards from Germany Klaus