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On that theory I wonder why commercial Luger pistols display the "B U G" proofs pre-1912 and the "Crown over N" proof after? The same logic should apply. I ask this out of pure curiosity and not in an effort to discredit your statement.

Curl

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According to the 1891 German proof law, which came into full force April 1, 1893, these few proofhouses were established at first: Amberg in Bavaria; Frankfurt on Oder river, after a few years moved to Spandau; Oberndorf a.N.; Mehlis and Suhl. Though Mehlis (Zella-Mehlis after 1920) and Suhl are only about 5 miles apart, they were rivalling gunmaking centers in different German states. Though all these proofhouses used essentially the same marks, they often applied them differently. For instance, it is most often quite easy to distinguish Suhl and Mehlis proofs. Pre-1918 commercial Lugers were all made by DWM in Berlin, so they were proofed by the Spandau proofhouse. Commercial Mausers were of course proofed in Oberndorf. According to JON SPEED: Mauser - Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles the consecutively numbered M98 sporters up to about 1924 and serial #87000 have only the BU marks. From then to about 1932 and #111000 they show BUG, then to 1940 BUGN. 1940 to 45 they got the new eagle/N proofs.

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