That'a a very good WW-II Luger!

If you can get the story about how it came to the US, it would be more interesting.
Any accessories and sometimes, the "bring back papers".
The US soldiers would register the gun to bring to back to the US.
Those forms are very collectable and make the gun more valuable.

If you choose to sell it, give the buyer 3-5 days to inspect it without firing it.
And you should be prepared to take it back if it has issues.

My concern is that it looks like it's been re-blued.
The parts which should be a straw color are not (trigger, safety, springs).
If that's true, it hurts the collector value, but it's still a very good looking Luger !

Good photos ! Thanks for sharing your find.

By 1941, Mauser was well into salt bluing all P.08s. The strawed parts and interiors in the white of hand-crafted rust bluing were history since late 1937. So, your pistol is correct in the finish department.

The operative adage is "Buy the gun, not the story." Bring-back documentation does not necessarily add anything to the value, although the papers can be a charming addition.

tharpo:
it looks like a lower case "q" with a small diagonal line on the lower left corner of the circle part of the q....mag has same or similar mark.


As for the take down....hold my beer and watch this!

Can't get the toggle to lock open with or w/o the mag....Help!

found some good marking info here.....
http://www.tague.at/pistolen/index.h...ges/en_p08.htm

It is unfortunate that the video in the link that was posted uses locking the toggle open to disassemble the gun. Locking the action open is not necessary. You can easily disassemble the gun by pressing the muzzle against a firm but padded surface so you do not mar the finish. With the upper retracted (pushed to the rear), rotate the locking lever down and remove the side plate as shown in the video.

The fact that you can't lock the toggle open on an empty magazine is probably due to the non-matching magazine not being able to sufficiently engage the hold-open mechanism. The hold-open could be defective but it is more likely the fault of the magazine.
Ron

P.S. Oh, by the way, the safety has to be off (safety lever in the upper position) or you can't retract the receiver.

Once you learn to field strip it, you can explore whether the hold-open is intact but thwarted by accumulated goo, or damaged. It needs to move freely. I would suggest trying a different mag in the meantime. An FXO mag would not normally be suspected of having a weak spring, which could be the culprit, but one never knows...

Done!
 

All righty then,
taken apart, wiped off, photos, lubed and reassembled. The toggle hold open still doesn't work with or without the mag. Nothing apparently broken or loose. ???
More pics of the innards.
I guess the "straw" color of some parts doesn't apply to this one? Should I reiterate all the info from you guys when I list it for sale, or would a serious buyer be savy enough on its info...other than the photos?
Is listing on other sites advisable (in terms of viewers)? Should I disclose the toggle issue, or is that normal for this piece?
Probably some dumb questions, but thanks for understanding!
......and..ALL your help and input is really appreciated. I'll be glad when this is over!

Put a little oil on the hold open and work it up and down- it is probably just stuck by old grease/oil/rust?

straps
 

Forgot the photos of the straps...

I did...its sitting awhile and I'll work it some more....thanks

If you put the magazine into the gun with the upper half OFF, you should see the hold-open bar raise up a bit just as the mag. locks into place on top. The button on the magazine is what pushes it up. You'll be able to see if the mag. raises the lever. If not try a different magazine as your hold-open lever appears intact.
It's a nice gun, collectible and correct, and you're doing well.
dju

Thanks David...I'll give that a shot...problem is, I have no other mags to try. I can at least tell if the hold open bar moves.

You can actually push it up and down with your finger just to see if it moves. The flat piece just behind the magazine should raise/lower just a bit to catch the toggle on its trip forward.
dju

It does.....

I'd say that's a pretty strong indication of a magazine issue, not the actual hold-open. Minutia.
What else did you need to know before moving forward?
dju

Can't think of anything specific...I'll just disclose that the toggle won't lock open, and the consenses is a mag issue. I honestly think the gun is fine.

Is there a right or wrong way to list this? I've sold firearms before, but nothing as specialized as this.

I'll check out the video and see if I can work up the balls......In all my years I have NEVER heard a real Sky Soldier say something like that.

You can always post a link to this thread in your for sale ad so the potential buyer can learn everything there is to know about the gun.
Good luck.
dju

Gun serial number 6000q, inside sideplate #60. Does not fit the "rule" but there is no reason to think that the sideplate is not original. I think Mauser did this numbering for their own purposes and not for us collectors.

Point well taken trooper....RVN..what bat/yr?

Any society that would give up a little liberty for a little security
will deserve neither and lose both. Ben Franklin. –