New S/42 in the family tonight

mrerick · 11-21-2010, 09:09 AM

Hi Jim - Congratulations on your new Luger!

As Norm mentioned, your Luger is most likely assembled from parts of different periods.

By 1941 (actually during 1937) Mauser had added small extended "humps" to the top rear of the frame ears. Your gun doesn't appear to have these.

That means that the "41" dated receiver couldn't have left the factory with your frame.

The re-finisher took great pains to fire blue the parts that would have been that way before 1938. 1937 was a year of transition. The hump was added during that year, and the finish was shifted to complete salt bluing that year.

On military Lugers, there is generally a suffix letter below the serial number on the frame, on the front of the trigger area. You don't appear to have this suffix.

There were two periods during Mauser manufacture of Lugers when they had a block of guns without letter suffix. 1937 was one of those. My guess is that your Luger frame was from 1937.

The "S/42" on your toggle also corresponds to the typography that was used in 1937.

Your "41" dated receiver was probably the "donor" part during the rebuild. That partially accounts for removal of the firing proofs, and appearance of the serial number stamped into the left front of the receiver (which may be engraved rather than stamped).

I can't see the bottom of the barrel. Does this also have your serial number stamped in it? Does the witness mark lineup with the receiver?

Try taking your photographs without flash, in indirect even light. It will make it easier to evaluate things.

Someone went to great pains to make this appear to be a pristine all matching Luger. The presence of the toggle's axle retention pin (which appears to be still in the white) makes it possible that the train is in the original finish. It is rather well done work!

VoPo Lugers usually had obvious refinishing work. They also should have entered the USA with importer marks. If these are not present (sometimes they are under the grips - be very careful if you remove the grips; easy to break, particularly the left one at the safety lever) it's possible that they were removed when the gun was refinished to increase it's value. That, of course, would have been a federal "no-no"...

I would like to see a closeup of the serial number on the front of the frame. Is the second digit overstamped? I have a 1936 that has a serial number factory overstamped in that area. Would be interesting to see if that happened again.

Marc

rivieraranch · 11-21-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrerick

Hi Jim - Congratulations on your new Luger!

I can't see the bottom of the barrel. Does this also have your serial number stamped in it? Does the witness mark lineup with the receiver?

The barrel does not have a serial number on it. You can see where 8.81 was polished down. The bore is nice and shiny. It is probably a replacement at some point.

Someone went to great pains to make this appear to be a pristine all matching Luger. The presence of the toggle's axle retention pin (which appears to be still in the white) makes it possible that the train is in the original finish. It is rather well done work!

The restorer STRAWED the axle pin!

VoPo Lugers usually had obvious refinishing work. They also should have entered the USA with importer marks. If these are not present (sometimes they are under the grips - be very careful if you remove the grips; easy to break, particularly the left one at the safety lever) it's possible that they were removed when the gun was refinished to increase it's value. That, of course, would have been a federal "no-no"...

I would like to see a closeup of the serial number on the front of the frame. Is the second digit overstamped? I have a 1936 that has a serial number factory overstamped in that area. Would be interesting to see if that happened again.

I will try and take some snapshots outside in natural light in the next couple of days so we can get to the bottom of all this.

[/FONT][/B]
Marc

[B][FONT="Courier New"]Thanks very much for your thoughtful expertise.

rivieraranch · 11-22-2010, 09:30 PM

Your "41" dated receiver was probably the "donor" part during the rebuild. That partially accounts for removal of the firing proofs, and appearance of the serial number stamped into the left front of the receiver (which may be engraved rather than stamped).

On the underside of the receiver corresponding to the chamber area it is marked "9mm para" with an East German proof mark like the one under the takedown lever.

I can't see the bottom of the barrel. Does this also have your serial number stamped in it? Does the witness mark lineup with the receiver?

I don't know what a witness mark is. But there is a little notch on the barrel and receiver that line up.

Someone went to great pains to make this appear to be a pristine all matching Luger.

I noticed in taking it apart the the hold open is serial numbered 32, which is umatching.

I would like to see a closeup of the serial number on the front of the frame. Is the second digit overstamped? I have a 1936 that has a serial number factory overstamped in that area. Would be interesting to see if that happened again.

I will get those photos tomorrow if possible.

Marc[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the advice.

rivieraranch · 11-24-2010, 07:01 PM

Here are some snaps of the front of the frame.

11-21-2010, 09:09 AM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Hi Jim - Congratulations on your new Luger! As Norm mentioned, your Luger is most likely assembled from parts of different periods. By 1941 (actually during 1937) Mauser had added small extended "humps" to the top rear of the frame ears. Your gun doesn't appear to have these. That means that the "41" dated receiver couldn't have left the factory with your frame. The re-finisher took great pains to fire blue the parts that would have been that way before 1938. 1937 was a year of transition. The hump was added during that year, and the finish was shifted to complete salt bluing that year. On military Lugers, there is generally a suffix letter below the serial number on the frame, on the front of the trigger area. You don't appear to have this suffix. There were two periods during Mauser manufacture of Lugers when they had a block of guns without letter suffix. 1937 was one of those. My guess is that your Luger frame was from 1937. The "S/42" on your toggle also corresponds to the typography that was used in 1937. Your "41" dated receiver was probably the "donor" part during the rebuild. That partially accounts for removal of the firing proofs, and appearance of the serial number stamped into the left front of the receiver (which may be engraved rather than stamped). I can't see the bottom of the barrel. Does this also have your serial number stamped in it? Does the witness mark lineup with the receiver? Try taking your photographs without flash, in indirect even light. It will make it easier to evaluate things. Someone went to great pains to make this appear to be a pristine all matching Luger. The presence of the toggle's axle retention pin (which appears to be still in the white) makes it possible that the train is in the original finish. It is rather well done work! VoPo Lugers usually had obvious refinishing work. They also should have entered the USA with importer marks. If these are not present (sometimes they are under the grips - be very careful if you remove the grips; easy to break, particularly the left one at the safety lever) it's possible that they were removed when the gun was refinished to increase it's value. That, of course, would have been a federal "no-no"... I would like to see a closeup of the serial number on the front of the frame. Is the second digit overstamped? I have a 1936 that has a serial number factory overstamped in that area. Would be interesting to see if that happened again. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

11-22-2010, 09:30 PM	#3
rivieraranch User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 101 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Your "41" dated receiver was probably the "donor" part during the rebuild. That partially accounts for removal of the firing proofs, and appearance of the serial number stamped into the left front of the receiver (which may be engraved rather than stamped). On the underside of the receiver corresponding to the chamber area it is marked "9mm para" with an East German proof mark like the one under the takedown lever. I can't see the bottom of the barrel. Does this also have your serial number stamped in it? Does the witness mark lineup with the receiver? I don't know what a witness mark is. But there is a little notch on the barrel and receiver that line up. Someone went to great pains to make this appear to be a pristine all matching Luger. I noticed in taking it apart the the hold open is serial numbered 32, which is umatching. I would like to see a closeup of the serial number on the front of the frame. Is the second digit overstamped? I have a 1936 that has a serial number factory overstamped in that area. Would be interesting to see if that happened again. I will get those photos tomorrow if possible. Marc[/QUOTE] Thanks for the advice. Last edited by rivieraranch; 11-22-2010 at 09:31 PM. Reason: font

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