Swiss '29 'P' on front Frame?

[gerhard]

I have been wondering what the meaning of this P is.If the ser.no. on the side starts with a P,it
is a commercial and military without.Also the P on the mag spines?Thanks,Gary

[Luger1900]

Hello Gary,

To the best of my knowledge, it means 'Private' (sale).

Albert

[gerhard]

Thanks Albert.

Gary

[Pete Ebbink]

Gary,

If the "P" appears on the front of the frame on a M1929 Bern Luger, it is, as Albert indicates, a gun released from Military service and sold off to the retiring soldier. The "P" is also seen as P-36, P-61, etc....with the 2 date numbers indicating the year the gun was "released". These "release" stampings can appear on other surfaces of the gun...not just on the front of the frame. The "release" stamping is usually done by hand, may not be perfectly straight/aligned, etc., usually in a larger font-size that the gun's SN, and can show halo or not (depending if the gun has been refinished after its release-stamping or not).

The scriptic "P" on the metal tube of the M1929 Bern magazines refers to the supplier of the magazines to Bern...in this case the firm of "Paillard Ste Croix". There are other M1929 Bern magazines w/out the scriptic "P" stamping...which we can assume were made by others...(maybe Bern, themselves...?).

Here are a couple of previous discussions about this firm :

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...lard+Ste+Croix

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...lard+Ste+Croix

On M1929 Bern Lugers made for the civilian sales market (and not Military issuance), you will see a "P" as a prefix to the gun's serial number. On such civilian Lugers, you should see the P-xxxxx SN stamping appearing on only two (2) locations on the gun and the P is factory-applied and not a later hand-stamping like the "release" P is :

1. Left side frame rail...just forward of the side trigger plate.

2. Top surface of the rear toggle link. At this location the "P" prefix is positioned above the 5-digit SN.


The "P" of the Military "release" should not be confused with the "P" of the civilian gun's SN with its prefix.


A joke at guns shows goes..." Do you like to see "P" on your Swiss Luger...? "

[gerhard]

Thanks for all the info Pete,I have one for sale and was asked the question,since I'm showing a picture
of it,regards,Gary

[Pete Ebbink]

Hi Gary,

Would you mind indicating SN (i.e. 53xxx okay) and color of the grip panels and magazine ?

[gerhard]

Hi Pete,had to go to Atlanta for a day.This one is fairly early,the ser.no.is 52790 and it has the red grips and red mag.The Holster is 1932 and I found a second mag,which is Brown.Bought it from Gil Hoffman about 12 years ago,have a great day,Gary

[Pete Ebbink]

Thanks, Gary...

Your SN is "solidly" in the SN range where you expect to see the red variation.

According to the production-tables in the V. Bobba book, your red M1929 Bern was made in 1935.

In the bottom of the front frame well (where the TD lever runs through) you might see a number stamping such as " 6.42". In this example...that gun would have been made in June 1942.

Can you report if you see such a number stamping on your gun in the front frame well...???...

[gerhard]

Pete,no numbers,it's all blank,gary

[Big Joe]

Gary, would you say that it's a "better investment than gold"? Beautiful gun!