new member with 1938 S/42

[mrerick]

Hi John,

Nice Luger.

All 1938 Lugers should have left the factory with a salt blue finish. I think you're correct about the refinish work, and it looks to be very high quality.

Is the magazine you pictured a new plastic based magazine rather than the FXO?

Even the grip screws appear to be fire blued. The person doing the refinishing did a very good job, yet it's the wrong combination for this year.

BTW, the 1938 year started in the "a" block (transitional with 1937 frames) putting your pistol toward the Spring of that year. A small number in that block have what appears to be SE/83 SE/63 TP/2 rather than SE/62 SE/63 TP/2 acceptance proofs. I can't see this detail in your photos.

So, one of the nicest dressed up shooters I've seen! Congratulations.

Marc

[swampsavage]

Thanks Marc

The magazine is a modern replacement. I will post a pic of the Type 5 later (blued with cross pinned center of rounds). The waffenamts you refer to are probably e/s 63 but the 1st one is faint. The straw parts look like original (still show tooling grooves) so whoever had them done got a good job. Ditto on the blueing as it was not done recently and shows the brownish patina in wear areas. The checkering on the grips is almost like new. Only a few chipped diamonds on right grip and points still sharp. They are original as are numbered correctly. I am going back to the dealer (friend of mine) where I purchased it and see if he knows the origin. It was on consignment and the place was full of hunters yesterday so I was not able to ask him much.