Another V-suffix 3-line Stoeger Luger, with an unrecorded serial number 405V has surfaced in the last couple of months. The Stoeger Luger was identified by a simple public domain web site search for 3-line Stoeger Lugers, which resulted in an April 2013 series of questions posed to the Jan Still Luger Forum by a collector titled:Newbie with 3-line Stoeger proof question.  Basically, the individual stated he had no knowledge of Stoeger Lugers and no idea whatsoever of the value of 405V, had the opportunity to acquire it from a relative, stating that the gun was in an attic for the last 40 years. The gun was described as a 3-line Stoeger American Eagle chamber crested Luger with a 9mm, 6-inch replacement barrel. The majority of responses being mostly negative, citing questions regarding the lack of a C/N nitro proof on the un-serialized toggle link assembly breechblock and the 2-line Stoeger receiver left side. For the exact contents of the question and answer query go to the web and search “3-line Stoeger Lugers”.

Well, apparently the relative decided he didn’t want it or he sold it and the next guy didn’t want it, as I was notified by Simpson Ltd, two months later in June 2013 that they would be shortly receiving 405V which, immediately upon receipt by Simpson LTD was shipped to me with an asking price of $18,500. A following conversation with Simpson I was assured the gun was absolutely correct. When asked about the price I was told that was “what the seller wanted” and was non-negotiable.

The following is a detailed description and assessment of 405V. The evaluation was made, partially using information contained in The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1946 by D. Hallock and Joop van de Kant, © 2010 and information and comments from details and pictures provided to Dr. G.L. Sturgess, author of The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, © 2011 & 2012.

Description

The frame is absolutely authentic with 405 stamped on the front of the frame with the proper size font and style, along with a GERMANY export stamp under the serial number and above the left-of-center V-suffix. The take-down lever, side plate and trigger are the only small parts of the gun stamped with 05. The receiver chamber top is correctly stamped with a variation 2 American Eagle with triangulated tail feather termination. The right side receiver 2-line Stoeger roll die stamping and Germany export stamping is correct, however, the receiver left side lacks a DWM/BKIW C/N nitro proof.  The barrel is a 9mm caliber, 150mm or 6-inch long replacement with an unusual, high luster salt-blue finish. The non-DWM manufacturer of the barrel is not known. Also, for reasons unknown, stamped on the barrel underside is a large, 3mm high number 5 with a corresponding number 5 stamped on the receiver underside, forward of the stop lug, along with a crudely stamped barrel flange witness mark.^[1]  The Loaded stamped extractor is a replacement, being not original to the breechblock, as it has a 2-digit (68) on the underside rear tang with no corresponding number on the rear breechblock face.  The toggle link assembly is devoid of any proofs, serial numbers or factory inspection marks whatsoever.  The breechblock top surface is a high polish blue contrasted with a dull extractor surface, whereas the middle and rear link are a dull matt blue. The top of the gun photographs poorly, mainly due to the toggle link assembly, where it exhibits a purple hue.  Simpson of Simpson Ltd.firmly believes the toggle link assembly and replacement barrel was changed out by A.F. Stoeger in New York with the gun being a typical Stoeger rework.

Sturgess comments

Sturgess agrees that: the frame marks and serial number look OK, but states that the rest of the gun appears to have been made up to suit. The Y of NEW YORK was not struck with the same die as my 431v (see Fig 11-80), and other Stoegers in this serial number range, which have the damaged upper right leg of the Y, (actually the defective “Y” appears after 416v). The lack of crown/N on the receiver is quite atypical - my "Peruvian" P.08 serial number 339v is very close to this gun's serial number, and has the C/N proof, as does 431v.

Sturgess further states: The barrel and associated marks are very unlike Stoeger's 150 mm barrels - compare the receiver flange with the shape of the two shown in Fig 11-77. The serial numbers on the extractor shows it to be an obvious replacement, but also the tapering of the LOADED marking is much less than similar Stoegers in this range, which have smaller DED letters than this one. The 05 serial number marks on the stripping lever and side plate also look after market, the 0 being far smaller than the 5, and not at all like the sizing of other guns in the range, the conclusion being the small parts 05 stampings are not original.

An authentic 3-line Stoeger Artillery Luger serial number 421V, not listed in the Table 24.02, has been identified as part of a French collection. The frame and frame serial number font size and style of 421V is identical to 405V. Fortunately, a picture of the frame and the take-down lever was available to compare against the identical 405V frame and take-down lever, showing that the 2 in 21 is smaller than the 1, being identical in size to the 0 in 05 of 405V, thus debunking the Sturgess theory or claim of aftermarket stamping of the 405V small parts. If the small parts stampings were aftermarket, then the actual small parts themselves would not be original, which would explain the very tight fitting take-town lever, which is also bent or curved out, probably done to clear the side-plate tang, however, since that is not the case, another explanation is needed.

Pictured on page 285, Figure 87c of Weimar and Early NAZI Lugers Copyright 1993 by J. Still is another 3-line marked Stoeger Luger with a 6-inch barrel that, based on the lack of the word GENUINE, was not sent to Stoeger, New York. The caption states that it is Mauser C/U proof stamped, but no proofs can be seen on the 403 stamped barrel or the receiver left side. The caption also does not mention the caliber. The barrel appears to be a replacement by Mauser, based on the Mauser style numerical 403 serial number stamped barrel and additionally that this gun is listed in on page 442, Table 24.02 of The Mauser Parabellum 1930-1946, unfortunately, confusing the issue, as it is identified as a 4-inch, 7.65 m/m caliber barrel. Despite the barrel serial number 403 being stamped parallel to the bore axis, it is identical in font style and size to the perpendicular located 421 barrel serial number, making both 3-line Stoeger Lugers 403V and 421 rebarreled by DWM or Mauser in in Berlin or Oberndorf.

421V is an perfect example of a legitimate, justifiable 3-line Stoeger, Safe and Loaded Luger rebarrel with supportable features and attributes. The Safe marked frame is correct and the 421V frame serial number is a correct DWM font style and size, the toggle link assembly rear link is a correctly configured artillery part as it lacks a rear link integral site notch. A spare C/N nitro proofed stamped artillery barrel is installed in a 2-line Stoeger C/N nitro proofed receiver that lacks a step in the Variation 2 American Eagle stamped chamber top to accommodate the forward adjustable artillery ramped site at rest. Note, as a result, the absolute minimum, no contact clearance from the top of the chamber and the bottom of the site. The different and smaller numerical font size and style 421V barrel serial number was probably stamped by Mauser as attested by the Mauser barrel C/C/U proof added after receipt from DWM. If, for example, the barrel serial number was applied by DWM prior to Mauser delivery, one would expect the frame and barrel serial number font style and size to be identical. Whether the V-suffix stamped barrel was done by DWM or Mauser is indeterminate, but due to the displaced metal, err toward Mauser application.

Sturgess concludes his comments/critique with the following: All in all, I would avoid it totally, regardless of the price, as it is an assemblage of parts made to look as if they are right, and of no value except to flag up another Stoeger number, as the 405v and frame marking look OK.

Discussed is another reason 405V was never shipped to/or received by Stoeger, therefore, not reworked by Stoeger in New York.  In retracting the toggle link assembly to its rear locking position, it was noted that the recoil spring of 405V is weak. An inspection of the recoil mainspring determined that it is the original mainspring of a 30 Cal 4-inch barrel Luger with fewer coils. Per the Stoeger catalogs, from the late 1920s into the 1930s, they stated they would change out any barrel per customer request, but emphasized in their catalogs that if they installed a 9mm barrel to a 30 Cal frame and receiver they would also change the mainspring from a 7.65m/m caliber recoil spring to a 9mm caliber recoil spring, especially important if the 9mm barrel replacement was 6-inches (150mm) or longer, therefore, based on documented Stoeger catalog barrel replacement criteria, the barrel was not replaced by Stoeger.  Pictured is a typical 30 Cal, 4-inch recoil mainspring compared against 405V.

Since the frame is legitimate, a reasonable conclusion is that this gun, as originally assembled by Mauser with a 4-inch, 30 Cal barrel was originally destined for the Electric Company of Israel – of the Palestine Lugers originally sold to Palestine in the late 1930s, some were purchased/received by American collectors from Palestine in the 1980s. Regarding the lack of GENUINE on the frame rail of 405v, which more than likely, if shipped to Stoeger by Mauser would have been applied by Stoeger upon receipt. An alternate theory is that an enterprising mechanic located a “Stoeger” 6-inch 9mm barrel^[2] and could have “sacrificed” a 3-line Palestine Luger or a Palestine parts Luger to create a 3-line v suffix “Stoeger” Luger.  A parts Luger would explain the odd, unmarked toggle link assembly with a LOADED extractor replacement. There is the possibility that an American customer could have sent a Palestine 4-inch barrel 30 Cal 3-line Luger to Stoeger to rebarrel, but that seems unlikely, as there is no way a Palestine 3-line Stoeger marked Luger would be in this country in the 1930s, therefore, the aftermarket rebarreling occurred much later, perhaps in the 1980s.

Apparently, the 3-line Stoeger Lugers sold to the Electric Company of Israel, i.e. Palestine in the mid to late 1930s were Germany export stamped on the receiver, and frame in anticipation of shipping to A.F. Stoeger in New York, however, as stated above were subsequently sold to Palestine, and as cited in The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1946 on page 442 where it identifies in Table 24-02 known 3-line Stoeger Lugers, including Palestine Lugers located in Palestine, most all with 4-inch 30 Cal barrels, and as stated on the same page titled Properties of the 3-line Stoeger Luger pistols as listed in Table 24-02, including the listed Palestine examples, that one of the “properties” being: “Germany” (was) stamped on left, (sb right) receiver and on the front of the trigger guard.

Additionally, as stated in The Mauser Parabellum 1930 – 1946 on page 441 that the first ten 3-line Stoeger Lugers delivered by Mauser to Stoeger in August 1930, coincidently too late for the 1930 Stoeger catalog, were not marked with GENUINE.  The V-suffix serial numbers of these August 1930 first ten delivered Lugers were not necessarily sequential and also did not necessarily start with 400V through 410V as pointed out in Table 24-02 that, at least one gun, 409V is identified as Palestine and possibly more as serial numbers not identified are 402V, 404V, 405V, 406V, 407V, 410V.  Table 24.02 was modified to reflect the addition of 405V and incorporate, for clarity, the unidentified guns in the 400v – 410v range.

The first ten 3-line Stoeger Lugers, lacking the word GENUINE, with various barrel lengths delivered to Stoeger, New York in August 1930 were, inexplicably, from the high end of the 3-line marked Stoegers with serial numbers above 500V^[3] and also interspersed in that range are 3-line Stoeger marked Palestine Lugers as also indicated by Table 24.02. One would suspect that Stoeger added GENUINE to these guns soon after receipt and that a possible reason these particular guns were selected by Mauser for the first shipment is that they had barrels of various lengths and calibers, specifically requested by Stoeger and that except for the lack of the word GENUINE, Stoeger would have no reason to replace barrels in this batch.

There is no plausible explanation, at this time, for the 405V lack of a receiver DWM/BKIW applied C/N nitro proof, however, 2-line Stoeger receiver examples without C/N nitro proofs must have existed, as some later 3-line Mauser Stoeger Lugers have been identified with Mauser C/C/U stamped receivers.

It is uncertain when Mauser “changed-out” a 3-⅝-inch 30 Cal barrel to a 9mm, especially 6-inches or longer per a Stoeger request, did they change the mainspring or were these 9mm Stoeger requested barrels actually “change-outs” or simply installed at initial assembly, although if original 3-⅝-inch 30 Cal barrels were actually “replaced” then certainly Mauser replaced mainsprings when required.  The rework of 405V was not done simply to replace the original 3-⅝-inch 30 Cal barrel as, apparently the original C/N nitro proofed toggle link assembly, which would be totally acceptable and not need to be replaced, was apparently missing at the time of the rebarreling, requiring a replacement which had a Geladen stamped extractor that also required replacement to “conform” to a 3-line Safe and Loaded Stoeger Luger.

The vast majority of V-suffix 3-line Stoeger Lugers listed on Table 24.02 have 3-digit barrel stamped serial numbers, many with the V-suffix on the barrel. In the comment column of pistol attributes of Table 24.02 there is no mention or identification of a 3-line V-suffix Stoeger Luger with a barrel replaced by A.F. Stoeger, Inc., New York. In fact, the longest barrel offered by Stoeger is installed on a 2-line Stoeger, serial number 3032 with a C/N nitro proofed 8,83 stamped, 16-⅞-inch barrel, installed by DWM, then shipped to Stoeger. Barrels replaced or changed-out by Stoeger in New York would be standard commercial Lugers, sent to Stoeger by Luger owners in response to Stoeger catalog ads, and as such, would be rebarrelled/reworked by stated Stoeger catalog criteria. These Stoeger rebarrelled Lugers would not have any special markings and would not be recognized as Stoeger rebarreled Lugers.

Pictured is 405V as subsequently listed and described on the dealers’ web site.

9mm Luger; 98% blue, 90% straw, excellent bore, excellent grips, 6'' barrel, Original blue finish, strawed small parts and checkered walnut grips. The numbered parts are matching, side-plate, trigger, takedown lever. The barrel is stamped on the bottom near the shank only with the number 5. The toggle assembly has no numbers or proofs on any of the components, which is common as these guns were assembled from parts, and many times barreled up in the US according to special order requirements.^[4] The grips are not numbered. The magazine is proper, stamped along the tail of the wood base GERMANY. The top of the toggle is stamped with the DWM logo and the chamber is roll stamped with the American Eagle motif. The front of the frame is stamped GERMANY. The right side of the receiver is stamped GERMANY above the ejector and A.F. STOEGER INC/NEW YORK. (The receiver left side lacks the expected C/N nitro proof) The right side rail is stamped LUGER-REGISTERED U.S. PATENT OFFICE. The blue finish remains bright, showing some minor sharp edge wear and light high point holstering wear. The grips are excellent, having a few minor handling marks, the checkering remains sharp. Mechanically fine with a bright sharp bore. C&R/FFL, s/n 4xxv, Catalog Number AE-10.

Possibly, as a result of several potential customer sales inquiries regarding the configuration and originality of 405v since it was first listed on 6 July 2013, the dealer has modified/expanded the description, highlighted below in red, and based on the additions to the description, the areas of potential customer concern revolve around the overall finish and questions regarding the barrel. Curiously, where, in the original description the finish is described as “The blue finish remains bright” has been changed in the modified description to “as with many of the Stoeger Lugers the finish is somewhat crude by normal standards.”  Ergo, within one month, the finish has gone from a “bright blue” to “somewhat crude”. Also, as of 30 July 13 the price had dropped substantially, from $18,500.00 to $16,500.00 and finally to $14,000 in September 2013, being $4,500 or 25% of the original $18,500 offering, when it, at last, sold in November 2013.

9mm Luger; 98% blue, 90% straw, excellent bore, excellent grips, 6'' barrel, One of the first v suffix Mauser produced Stoeger Lugers (serial numbers started at 400v, this gun being 405v), circa early 1903s (s/b 1930s). As with many or most Stoeger long barrel guns, this gun has a Stoeger installed aftermarket barrel produced for Stoeger^[5]. And, as with many of the Stoeger Lugers the finish is somewhat crude by normal standards and is typical of Lugers which Stoeger assembled for special order. This Navy style barrel length and caliber is one of the rarest of the Stoeger variants. Original blue finish, strawed small parts and checkered walnut grips. The numbered parts are matching, sideplate, trigger, takedown lever. The barrel is stamped on the bottom near the shank only with the number 5. The toggle assembly has no numbers or proofs on any of the components which is common as these guns were assembled from parts. The characteristic flat early Mauser grips are not numbered. The magazine is proper, stamped along the tail of the wood base GERMANY. The top of the toggle is stamped with the DWM logo and the chamber is roll stamped with the American Eagle motif. The front of the frame is stamped GERMANY. The right side of the receiver is stamped GERMANY above the ejector and A.F. STOEGER INC/NEW YORK. The right side rail is stamped LUGER-REGISTERED U.S. PATENT OFFICE. Proper LOADED marked extractor and SAFE marked on the left side of the toggle housing. Condition: The blue finish remains bright, showing some minor sharp edge wear and light high point holstering wear. The grips are excellent having a few minor handling marks, the checkering remains sharp. Mechanically fine with a bright sharp bore. This pistol is totally original just as it was shipped from Stoeger.^[6] C&R/FFL, s/n 4xxv, Catalog Number AE-10