+ mark on wood bottom?

jvm · 08-17-2020, 03:51 PM

What does the + Mark mean?

I'm a newbie to lugers

Edward Tinker · 08-17-2020, 03:54 PM

See the FAQ, it will give you a lot of information

For army lugers, the + marking means it is the 'second' of 2 magazines, the first just has the number

for police guns, it is a 1 for the first and a 2 or 3 depending on how many are issued

jvm · 08-17-2020, 05:30 PM

The mag is from an American Eagle 1900
No idea if it is original to the gun

I can't find any proof marks on it the serial number is in the trials range

ithacaartist · 08-17-2020, 09:59 PM

Since mags serialized to their guns are a Military deal, I wouldn't expect one for an American Eagle to be marked at all since it is a Commercial. The Test Lugers were also Commercials, strictly speaking. You'd expect an unmarked walnut bottom and a nickel plated mag body assembled by the criimp/stake method. A mag with its wooden bottom coincidentally marked with a number in the "Test" range had nothing to do with the test Lugers, as one mag out of every ten thousand military mags--and Commercials beginning in the 20s-- will have that same number. Now, if you have a M1900 Luger with a Commercial serial number in the test range, that's a different story.

SteveM · 08-18-2020, 11:49 AM

OP didn't say if mag was numbered, could be a Swiss Cross.

Whoops! Just saw that he said that it was numbered.

jvm · 08-19-2020, 01:30 AM

The mag is from an American Eagle 1900 possibly a trials gun from the serial number 6248

Ron Wood is helping me get pics posted. Have not checked inside the frame for the ordnance bomb.

For give me, but I'm new to Lugers and know very little other than they are fancenating to me.

mrerick · 08-20-2020, 12:40 AM

Be sure to download our FAQ PDF document, as mentioned above by Ed. You'll find it interesting, and a useful reference.

hayhugh · 08-20-2020, 03:55 AM

Attached is a photo of a mark on the bottom of mag I got with Test Luger:

Ron Wood · 08-20-2020, 03:01 PM

Hugh,
The mark is a DWM inspector's mark and there is no assurance that these magazines were issued with the Test Lugers. Folks like to put them in the Test guns since the mark is also found in the frame well, and I admit I have a magazine so marked in one of my Test Lugers.

Ron

08-17-2020, 03:51 PM	#1
jvm User Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 34 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	+ mark on wood bottom? What does the + Mark mean? I'm a newbie to lugers

08-17-2020, 03:54 PM	#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	See the FAQ, it will give you a lot of information For army lugers, the + marking means it is the 'second' of 2 magazines, the first just has the number for police guns, it is a 1 for the first and a 2 or 3 depending on how many are issued __________________ 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

08-17-2020, 09:59 PM	#4
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,347 Thanks: 7,285 Thanked 2,579 Times in 1,366 Posts	Since mags serialized to their guns are a Military deal, I wouldn't expect one for an American Eagle to be marked at all since it is a Commercial. The Test Lugers were also Commercials, strictly speaking. You'd expect an unmarked walnut bottom and a nickel plated mag body assembled by the criimp/stake method. A mag with its wooden bottom coincidentally marked with a number in the "Test" range had nothing to do with the test Lugers, as one mag out of every ten thousand military mags--and Commercials beginning in the 20s-- will have that same number. Now, if you have a M1900 Luger with a Commercial serial number in the test range, that's a different story. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

08-18-2020, 11:49 AM	#5
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	OP didn't say if mag was numbered, could be a Swiss Cross. Whoops! Just saw that he said that it was numbered. Last edited by SteveM; 08-18-2020 at 01:44 PM.

08-20-2020, 12:40 AM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Be sure to download our FAQ PDF document, as mentioned above by Ed. You'll find it interesting, and a useful reference. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

08-17-2020, 05:30 PM	#3
jvm User Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 34 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	The mag is from an American Eagle 1900 No idea if it is original to the gun I can't find any proof marks on it the serial number is in the trials range

08-19-2020, 01:30 AM	#6
jvm User Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 34 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	The mag is from an American Eagle 1900 possibly a trials gun from the serial number 6248 Ron Wood is helping me get pics posted. Have not checked inside the frame for the ordnance bomb. For give me, but I'm new to Lugers and know very little other than they are fancenating to me.

08-20-2020, 03:55 AM	#8
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 857 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	Attached is a photo of a mark on the bottom of mag I got with Test Luger: Attached Thumbnails

08-20-2020, 03:01 PM	#9
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	Hugh, The mark is a DWM inspector's mark and there is no assurance that these magazines were issued with the Test Lugers. Folks like to put them in the Test guns since the mark is also found in the frame well, and I admit I have a magazine so marked in one of my Test Lugers. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction Last edited by Ron Wood; 08-20-2020 at 03:52 PM.