Wartime Serializing of Weapons

Each separate wartime manufacturer of Luger pistols used its own system of serializing the weapons, thus generating duplication of numbers. Therefore, the make, serial number, type of caliber do not sufficiently describe a Luger for entry in NCIC. Accordingly, it is essential to include:

1.  any letter prefix or suffix which appears with the serial number (without the letter, if present, the serial number is incomplete),

2.  the year of manufacture engraved over the chamber, and

3.  identifying trademark of the manufacturer. With reference to the trademark, you should place in the MIS Field the manufacturer’s initials or name found on the center toggle link on top of the gun. For example, BYF appears on Lugers manufactured by Mauser. The following is a chart of script letters that may appear prefixed or suffixed to Luger serial numbers.

In the event more than one number appears on the firearm, the frame or receiver number should be entered in the SER Field and the other number(s) should be entered in the MIS Field of the record.

The true (manufacturer’s) serial number of the gun, not a national match number, model number, or stock control number, must be entered. If the number applied by the manufacturer of a gun is determined not to be a unique serial number--but rather a model or stock number, etc.--the gun should not be entered. If already in file, the record should be cancelled.