What is the German 1920 Double Date Stamp?

Published on June 3, 2017
Duration: 10:23

This video from Forgotten Weapons explains the German 1920 double date stamp found on firearms like the Luger and Karabiner 98. The '1920' stamp is not a manufacture date but a property mark indicating legal military ownership after post-WWI disarmament efforts mandated by the Treaty of Versailles. These stamps helped distinguish government-owned firearms from those illegally possessed by civilians during the turbulent Weimar period.

Quick Summary

The '1920' stamp on German firearms is a property mark, not a manufacturing date. Introduced after WWI due to the Treaty of Versailles and the German Disarmament Law of 1920, it signified legal military ownership and distinguished government-held arms from illegally possessed ones.

Chapters

  1. 00:06Introduction to 1920 Double Date Stamp
  2. 00:30Explaining the Double Date Stamp
  3. 01:04Post-WWI German Gun Control & Treaty of Versailles
  4. 02:00Allied Oversight and Disarmament Efforts
  5. 03:00German Disarmament Law of 1920
  6. 03:47Scale of Disarmament and Destruction
  7. 04:05Evasion and Stockpiling of Weapons
  8. 04:56Military Property Stamp (1920) Explained
  9. 06:10Purpose of the 1920 Stamp: Property vs. Confiscation
  10. 07:13Common Firearms with 1920 Stamp
  11. 08:00Historical Significance & Refurbishment
  12. 09:00Later Production with 1920 Stamp

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the '1920' stamp on a German firearm signify?

The '1920' stamp on German firearms, such as Lugers and Karabiner 98s, is a property mark indicating legal military ownership. It was applied after World War I to distinguish firearms retained by the German military from those confiscated or illegally possessed by civilians.

Why was the '1920' stamp introduced on German firearms?

The '1920' stamp was introduced as part of Germany's compliance with the Treaty of Versailles and its own Disarmament Law of 1920. It served as an official marker to denote that the firearm was legally held by the government, not subject to confiscation or destruction.

Which firearms commonly feature the German '1920' double date stamp?

The German '1920' double date stamp is most commonly found on Luger pistols and Karabiner 98 carbines. It can also occasionally be seen on MP18 submachine guns, C96 Mausers, and Gewehr 98 rifles, though less frequently.

What was the historical context behind the German '1920' stamp?

The stamp relates to the post-WWI disarmament mandated by the Treaty of Versailles. Germany had to reduce its military and destroy millions of weapons. The '1920' stamp identified firearms that the German government was permitted to keep legally.

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