The Stoeger catalogs, which are a collectible specialty in a category of their own are discussed and some pictured in two recent publications:

1. The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1946, © 2010 by Don R. Hallock & Joop van de Kant. The Stoeger catalogs are discussed and several are pictured.
2. The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, © 2010 – 2011 by Görtz/Sturgess.  One Stoeger catalog is mentioned, but not pictured.

In The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, Chapter 11, Manufacturers & Contracts, in a paragraph titled: The “LUGER” Trade Mark, page 760 states the following: “The 1930 catalogue (not pictured) illustrates the 2-line address on a pistol for the first time, pointing out:” to -further- insure identification all our Lugers are stamped on the right forward side of the receiver “A.F. Stoeger, Inc., New York”.

Firstly, the quote does not include the word “further” and secondly the entire quote is not from the 1930 Stoeger catalog. It is from the 1931 and 1931 – 32 Stoeger catalogs on page 130 picturing a photograph of a new model 30 Cal 4¾-inch barrel Luger, showing not only the 2-line receiver stamping, but a 3-line Stoeger marked Luger, ironically pointing only to the 2-line receiver stamping with the below accompanying statement.  

There is no known Stoeger catalog that solely pictures a 2-line stamped Stoeger Luger receiver. All the Stoeger catalogs, starting from 1924 through the 1930 – 31 Winter catalog photographically depict a 1920s, plain chamber, unmarked commercial 30 Cal, short barrel Luger.  

The first catalog, as stated above, to picture a 3-line, American Eagle chamber crested Luger is the 1931 and 1931 – 32 Catalog No. 16. It is interesting to note that the right side frame rail third-line is not a stamping, but was graphically added, including the word GENUINE. This is based on the uneven application of the letter characters with the all the letters forming the words evenly spaced, including the word GENUINE of which the letters in real stampings are tightly grouped together, i.e. GENUINE vs. GENUINE.  Obviously, Stoeger used a file copy photograph of a new model 30 Cal 4¾-inch barrel Luger and added the 2 and 3-line inscription.

The only apparent reason for the lack of a real third-line stamping, especially on an actual photograph is that, even though purportedly ten, 3-line Stoeger Lugers were shipped/delivered to Stoeger in New York from Mauser in August 1930, is that none were apparently available in time, or just plain not used, relying instead on an existing file photograph, marked-up for the 1931 catalog, and the later 1931 - 32 dated “Winter” catalog.

Additionally, the fact that the 1931 and 1931-32 catalogs picture a Luger frame rail with the third-line, had the added, normal letter-spaced word GENUINE in anticipation that the first delivered 3-line Stoegers would have the full third-line stamping, which in actuality they didn’t, probably prompted the earlier August 1930 Stoeger letter to Mauser asking for future deliveries to have the added word GENUINE as originally requested.

The next interesting situation is found in The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1936 on page 444 in a paragraph titled: 8. #16 -#24 (1931- 1934) where it states the 1931 Stoeger catalog No. 16 is the first catalog to picture a 3-line Stoeger Luger shows the catalog cover page dated 1931, catalog No. 16. The accuracy or correctness of the information is not questioned as the identical page with the same information is found in the 1931 – 32 dated “Winter” catalog, curiously also labeled as catalog No. 16. The preceding 1930 Stoeger catalog is identified on the cover as No. 14, whereas the 1930 – 31 Stoeger, this time without the word “Winter” catalog is identified on the cover as No. 15, which exposes a complete inconsistency of the identification and labeling of Stoeger catalogs. The page 444 paragraph title of 8. #16 -#24 (1931- 1934) does not help matters implying four dated catalogs, with eight catalog numbers.

Also stated on page 444 is the following statement: Undoubtedly Stoeger used one of the ten first 3-line Luger pistols that came from Mauser in August 1930, for the new picture that appears in this (1931) catalog for the first time. Since the first ten delivered, 3-line Stoegers lacked the word GENUINE, as stated on page 441 this claim is impossible, additionally considering the information presented above regarding the method of application of the third-line. Later Stoeger catalog issues abandoned the use of photographs altogether in depicting Lugers in their ads, using line drawings or renderings.

Based on the statements presented in The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1946 on page 442 titled; Arguments regarding delivered pistols 400v – 524v:

• Receivers, breechblocks-blocks and barrels were proofed in Berlin with the C/N proof mark. The proof house would not stamp their main parts if a pistol was not completed serialized and tested.
• All reported pistols have these stamps, no exceptions are found. 454V

Using the above theory 94182 was totally assembled and blued by DWM in the 1919 – 1922 era, which is unlikely, based on the frame rail third-line stamping, not available earlier than 1929.

Additionally, the above theory of proofing does not comport with a more accepted theory presented 55 years ago in 1958, where the author Harry Jones of Luger Variations in an excellent section titled; Numbering: Parts and Serial on page 46-47 states: It must be remembered that Lugers were assembled and tested (proofed) before they were serialized; the Luger was disassembled before serializing and bluing.

Another theory presented in The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1946 on page 442 under the same Arguments heading states: 

• The blued finish of these pistols is noticeable more glossy than earlier DWM pistols. The final polishing might have been done by Mauser.

The above argument conflicts with the first theory that: The proof house would not stamp their main parts if a pistol was not completed serialized and tested. Certain aspects of this basic scenario could apply to the early “V” series Stoeger Lugers transferred to Mauser and is more in-line with the Sturgess theory of Mauser involvement with 94182 and, coincidently, the 94182 finish is indeed more “glossy” than earlier (DWM/BKIW) blued pistols.

There are four different Artillery Luger receiver chamber and Artillery barrel tangent rear sight configurations encountered.

1. The original 1914 – 1918 Artillery Luger production military configuration, to accommodate the tangent rear sight, a step was machined to the receiver top forward edge. All military and some post war assembled commercial Artillery Lugers. Example. Mid 1920s assembled commercial Artillery Luger 2504n.
2. Post war Artillery Luger assemblies with standard plain chamber, no step receivers with unmodified Artillery barrel tangent rear sight. Examples.  Post war assembled plain chambered, “Safe and Loaded” Artillery Luger 90715.
3. Post war Artillery Luger assemblies with 2-line and 3-line AE chamber stamped receivers with machined step added to receiver forward edge to accommodate unmodified spare Artillery barrel tangent rear sight.  Examples. Stoeger 2-line, AE Chamber crested Artillery Luger 45i and AE chamber crested Artillery Luger 497i, Stoeger 3-line AE chamber crested Artillery Luger 449v.
4. Post war Artillery Lugers with 2-line and 3-line AE chamber stamped, unmodified receivers, however, with the spare artillery barrels with underside modified tangent rear sights to accommodate receivers without the added step. Examples. The subject 3-line AE chamber crested Stoeger Artillery Luger 94182 and 2-line blank chamber Stoeger Artillery Luger 74i.