M-23 Finnish Lugers?

SS109 · 12-03-2007, 11:35 PM

My 7mm which I thought was a commercial looks like its import marking says M-23.
Somoene told me that meant it was part of a Finnish order. Would this have been bough in 1923? Or is that too easy?

Ron Wood · 12-04-2007, 12:29 AM

7mm?

Dwight Gruber · 12-04-2007, 12:46 AM

Jeff,

Waaaaay too easy. What is the full serial number, with letter suffix if present? What are the proof marks? What is the caliber really? How long is the barrel, what does the frong sight look like, is there a T within a triangle stamped on the barrel? Is there a SA inside a box stamped on the receiver? What does the import marking actually say?

Any pictures to post?

--Dwight

SS109 · 12-05-2007, 07:11 PM

7.65mm.
Serial number is #4433 o
I have been doing some reading on Finnish Lugers since my first post so now I am curious to see if it is a DWM barrel or a Finnish so I will measure it when I get home. The matching serial number is on the barrel & the gun is fairly accurate.

The import mark starts off with M-23, but I will double check it too.

The proof marks have been removed so that must mean it is ex-military?

Edward Tinker · 12-05-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SS109
7.65mm.
Serial number is #4433 o
I have been doing some reading on Finnish Lugers since my first post so now I am curious to see if it is a DWM barrel or a Finnish so I will measure it when I get home. The matching serial number is on the barrel & the gun is fairly accurate.

The import mark starts off with M-23, but I will double check it too.

The proof marks have been removed so that must mean it is ex-military?

1. Finn lugers came in 5 and 4 inch

2. Isn't M23 what the finns called their luger? Although it doesn't matter, it sounds like the importer assigned what they thought the "model" was

3. Never heard this before... At times old proof and acceptance were removed when the luger was refurbished in Germany to sell as a commercial, but I have not heard that the finns removed any markings....

Ed

MFC · 12-06-2007, 12:52 AM

Jeff,
Do you see evidence of proofs on the right side of the receiver, that were there before, and have been removed? If so, it is an ex-military receiver, but with a 7.65 mm barrel possibly added later.
Mike C.

Dwight Gruber · 12-06-2007, 01:36 AM

Jeff,

There is no reason for the Finns to have removed military proof marks from one of their Lugers. Your serial number suggests that this is an Alphabet Commercia Luger. Look for a crown-over-N proof on the left breechblock. If you do not see a T within a triangle on the barrel (the hallmark of Tikkakoski Oy, the usual source for Finn Luger barrels) it is probably original--particularlyl if it also has a c/N proof mark.

12-03-2007, 11:35 PM	#1
SS109 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jefferson, CO Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	M-23 Finnish Lugers? My 7mm which I thought was a commercial looks like its import marking says M-23. Somoene told me that meant it was part of a Finnish order. Would this have been bough in 1923? Or is that too easy? __________________ 1916 LP08 1923 9mm P08 Commercial Import 1920 .30 Luger Commercial

12-04-2007, 12:29 AM	#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 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	7mm? __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

12-06-2007, 12:52 AM	#6
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Jeff, Do you see evidence of proofs on the right side of the receiver, that were there before, and have been removed? If so, it is an ex-military receiver, but with a 7.65 mm barrel possibly added later. Mike C. __________________ Mike C.

12-04-2007, 12:46 AM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Jeff, Waaaaay too easy. What is the full serial number, with letter suffix if present? What are the proof marks? What is the caliber really? How long is the barrel, what does the frong sight look like, is there a T within a triangle stamped on the barrel? Is there a SA inside a box stamped on the receiver? What does the import marking actually say? Any pictures to post? --Dwight

12-05-2007, 07:11 PM	#4
SS109 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jefferson, CO Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	7.65mm. Serial number is #4433 o I have been doing some reading on Finnish Lugers since my first post so now I am curious to see if it is a DWM barrel or a Finnish so I will measure it when I get home. The matching serial number is on the barrel & the gun is fairly accurate. The import mark starts off with M-23, but I will double check it too. The proof marks have been removed so that must mean it is ex-military? __________________ 1916 LP08 1923 9mm P08 Commercial Import 1920 .30 Luger Commercial

12-06-2007, 01:36 AM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Jeff, There is no reason for the Finns to have removed military proof marks from one of their Lugers. Your serial number suggests that this is an Alphabet Commercia Luger. Look for a crown-over-N proof on the left breechblock. If you do not see a T within a triangle on the barrel (the hallmark of Tikkakoski Oy, the usual source for Finn Luger barrels) it is probably original--particularlyl if it also has a c/N proof mark.