S/42 1938 Purchase Decision
 

Hello all,

Looking to buy this Luger for $2500. It is all matching and has one matching mag (one mismatch included as well). What do you all think?

I, for one, think that some much better photos are in order to determine if it is reblued.
Have you checked all the internals for matching numbers including the toggle pin and the inside numbers on the side plate?
$2500 is a last-man-out price and it had all better be right.
dju

First let me welcome you to the forum it's good to have you as a member.
I agree with David completely, more photos at all angles are a must. Is the condition of the grips and bore commensurate with the condition of the outside of this pistol? It appears to be in almost mint condition therefor the bore and grips should also be nearly mint, assuming the grips are original. That price is at the very top of the scale so it would be a shame to find out after the fact that it has been re-blued or otherwise refurbished.

Lon

Thanks David and Ron! I've asked the seller for additional pictures on the outside but he says the bore has some light pitting and frosting. Grips are also matching.

It's very, very difficult to find a P.08 in those almost "mint conditions". Check it well; I agree with Arizona Slim, price seems to be at the very top of the scale so it would be a shame to find out that somehow it got refurbished somewhere.

the most suspicious area visible is in picture 2 - the right side upper rear frame area which is bordered by the recoil rail that begins near the toggle and has sort of a cursive "n" shape.
it is right side similiar area that on the other side left side has the the safety lever and gesichert text

the right side picture shows it with an irregular reddish tint - which salt reblued lugers sometimes have due to temperature variations versus the steel hardness - I dont recall any discussion cases of this redness thing on original mausers

right receiver near the barrel mount - the small fillet area that blends the receiver ring profile with the side flat looks soft like some reblued cases and receiver looks like sanded not machined surface

at this price level bore must be like new shiny etc

patience and better pictures and good luck in the quest !!!
Bill

Additional pictures:

Flats look flat and sharp edges look sharp...If refinished, they did it right.

Price seems high...But only to me...

lfid wrote: "the right side picture shows it with an irregular reddish tint - which salt re-blued Lugers sometimes have due to temperature variations versus the steel hardness - I dont recall any discussion cases of this redness thing on original mausers "

The year 1938 seems to be a year when there was a lapse of quality control in the bluing process. We frequently see a "plummish color" especially on the receiver in both Mauser and Krieghoff P.08s produced in that year. Additionally, one can find the occasional Krieghoff commercial or side frame inscription, produced on 1939 from excess or rejected parts that exhibit this plum color.

Now having said that, the plum color can also be seen on poorly re-blued guns of all dates. So, as always be careful and look for multiple pieces of evidence to support any conclusion you may wish to draw.

It has been surmised on both forums and in some published literature, that either the control of temperature (too low) or an over dilution/over use of salts was the cause of the plum hue.

Hope this helps.

John

The gun itself is probably OK. But the magazine bottom is too shiny on the picture. One common play on this -- people re-number the magazine to make it match, buyer cannot be more careful on this practice. Especially when the magazine is counted in value big time.

I believe that the steel alloy content can also influence the plum color bluing.

Is the number inside the trigger plate a "86" or "87"?

Marc

I think it's "38"--which is the last two serial # digits. But wait! Is this the particular kind of Mauser that's supposed to be one digit off the last two, stamped inside the side plate?

According to the seller the number is "86"

86? Red flag...
dju

86 on one side and 38 and on the other (8638 Serial)

that is correct if I remember one of the experts right. they did that so as not to mix up parts with same last digits?

That is the correct numbering format. By 1938, there was either the first two digits, or the first two digits plus one on the inside. 86 or 87. Either is correct.

John

So what do we all think? It's $2500 and a bit high but the condition is pretty impressive and every website (dealer or classified ad sites like gunbroker and Guns America) has these going for $2500 and up.

Hi Ray, This gun looks very nice indeed, I doubt that you can find a better one. The price of $2,500.00 is not unfair in my opinion.
Regards, Norm

Thanks everyone! Your input has been EXTREMELY helpful! Definitely a great group of members here