A Hello and and an ID

USMC81 · 02-10-2023, 05:59 PM

Hello all! I am new to the forum, a long time fan of the Luger, and a new owner of a 1915 Luger.

My Luger has all matching #'s to include internals and the inside the wood grips. The proof stamps are three crowns and an eagle, which I traced as a German Army issue proof. It still has the stock lug, and there are no export stamps or anything other than what is supposed to be on an original example.

So, my question is, were Luger's able to get to sent or exported any other way than a war bring back? Considering everything that is all that I can come up with. I'd love to know the history, but aside from it's origins, I have nothing.

Please ask me for any info you may need to know or if you require more pictures please let me know.

Stay Frosty & thanks in advance!

Mike

P.S. Sorry for the crappy photos. If you need better examples I'll get my son to take pics with his iphone.

USMC81 · 02-10-2023, 06:03 PM

Let me reiterate, could my Luger have gotten to the states without the export markings between 1915 and the end of the War, or is it likely a bring back?

Vlim · 02-11-2023, 08:42 AM

Hi, anything is possible. Bring back, post-WW1 commercial import and sale, WW2 bring back, post WW2 import and sale. Impossible to tell without a paper trail.

Kiwi · 02-11-2023, 09:11 AM

More likely a bring back as most imports were stamped, but rules change

Vlim · 02-11-2023, 10:30 AM

Plus the fact that when there are rules, it doesn't mean they get followed.

Edward Tinker · 02-11-2023, 09:15 PM

I have moved this because it was in the technical help area

Edward Tinker · 02-11-2023, 09:26 PM

Ok, several possibilities.

1. It was brought back after the war, either WW1 or WW2
2. AFTER the war it was brought back by a GI or civilian in the 50's, 60's, 70's - as a personal item it could have been allowed and brought back - you could buy guns in the post exchange
3. It could have been imported into Canada, no import mark required
4. It could have accidently not be export marked (germany) or import marked after 1968
5. During the 1920's and into the 1930's money was very hard to come by, scores of German distributors may not have properly marked them 'germany' before exporting to the USA
At some point the 'germany requirement kind of was ignored, so tens of thousands of arms came into the USA in the 1950's and 1960's and were not marked germany
.
.

Edward Tinker · 02-11-2023, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMC81

Let me reiterate, could my Luger have gotten to the states without the export markings between 1915 and the end of the War, or is it likely a bring back?

Not to be a pain, but this is not how it worked.
During WW1, no firearms were exported from Germany unless to a axis power. Some guns would have been brought back by a GI injured and I imagine some shipped home before the end of the war in 1918. But most came to the USA after 1919 and during occupation. But tens of thousands were still in use and hidden in germany and used through the Weimar era and during the nazi era.

USMC81 · 02-12-2023, 12:04 PM

Thank you all for the replies. Edward Tinker, that is exactly what I was wanting to know. I was hoping someone knew of multiple ways in which it may have came to the states in it's condition.

#3 was interesting. I take it Canada at the time just sold them as surplus firearms?

Thank you all again!

Stay Frosty

02-10-2023, 05:59 PM	#1
USMC81 New User Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	A Hello and and an ID Hello all! I am new to the forum, a long time fan of the Luger, and a new owner of a 1915 Luger. My Luger has all matching #'s to include internals and the inside the wood grips. The proof stamps are three crowns and an eagle, which I traced as a German Army issue proof. It still has the stock lug, and there are no export stamps or anything other than what is supposed to be on an original example. So, my question is, were Luger's able to get to sent or exported any other way than a war bring back? Considering everything that is all that I can come up with. I'd love to know the history, but aside from it's origins, I have nothing. Please ask me for any info you may need to know or if you require more pictures please let me know. Stay Frosty & thanks in advance! Mike P.S. Sorry for the crappy photos. If you need better examples I'll get my son to take pics with his iphone. Attached Thumbnails

02-11-2023, 09:26 PM	#7
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	Ok, several possibilities. 1. It was brought back after the war, either WW1 or WW2 2. AFTER the war it was brought back by a GI or civilian in the 50's, 60's, 70's - as a personal item it could have been allowed and brought back - you could buy guns in the post exchange 3. It could have been imported into Canada, no import mark required 4. It could have accidently not be export marked (germany) or import marked after 1968 5. During the 1920's and into the 1930's money was very hard to come by, scores of German distributors may not have properly marked them 'germany' before exporting to the USA At some point the 'germany requirement kind of was ignored, so tens of thousands of arms came into the USA in the 1950's and 1960's and were not marked germany . . __________________ 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

02-10-2023, 06:03 PM	#2
USMC81 New User Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Let me reiterate, could my Luger have gotten to the states without the export markings between 1915 and the end of the War, or is it likely a bring back?

02-11-2023, 08:42 AM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, anything is possible. Bring back, post-WW1 commercial import and sale, WW2 bring back, post WW2 import and sale. Impossible to tell without a paper trail.

02-11-2023, 09:11 AM	#4
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 309 Thanks: 216 Thanked 436 Times in 173 Posts	More likely a bring back as most imports were stamped, but rules change

02-11-2023, 10:30 AM	#5
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	Plus the fact that when there are rules, it doesn't mean they get followed.

02-11-2023, 09:15 PM	#6
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	I have moved this because it was in the technical help area

02-12-2023, 12:04 PM	#9
USMC81 New User Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thank you all for the replies. Edward Tinker, that is exactly what I was wanting to know. I was hoping someone knew of multiple ways in which it may have came to the states in it's condition. #3 was interesting. I take it Canada at the time just sold them as surplus firearms? Thank you all again! Stay Frosty