Vet Bring Back Mauser Luger
 

I have a chance to purchase this Mauser Luger any thoughts on the condition and value from the more knowledgeable members here?
I know the left side is in rougher shape, supposedly that side was sitting in the mud when it was found?

I hope the pics attach!

Thanks
Paul

$7-800 tops.

Good news- it's a Banner, the rest, not so good. Pricing is the question. Looks like a good candidate for restoration but that will not be cheap. Hopefully it is all matching.

G2

There is lots of info missing...information added could affect pricing..but from what I see so far..If you are trying to make an offer..I wouldn't overpay on what I see here.

No date or serial numbers? With strawed parts, some kind of commercial or parts put together?

The serial number under the barrel is 1560. I do have a few more photos I can up load tomorrow morning.

Thanks for the info and help so far.

Paul

The finish is damaged enough to put it into "shooter" status for most collectors.

If it's a particularly rare commercial Luger, that could change valuation. Is there a date over the chamber?

It's got a 1940-1942 era magazine in it.

So, as a shooter without further information, I'd agree with Jerry's estimate.

There is no date on the top front of the receiver. I’ll post the rest of the photos I have in the morning. Our internet here is slow, real slow so it will be better to send from work.

Thanks
Paul

Crown over U is a Mauser Commercial proof so I agree with the other posters. The front shot I saw of the frame serial appears to show a letter suffix but I could not tell the letter. Any ideas or better pics of the suffix? Also is it a 9mm or 30 Luger? No "P08" on left frame flat so it is a pre 41 production frame

The CCU proofing would indicate pre-1940 production. The suffix letter of the serial would help to identify whether a police or foreign contract banner luger. TH

It is a darned shame about that left side as otherwise it is a beautiful piece.
Ron

I’ll get some more photos up in a bit. It appears to be all matching.
The person will not budge off $1000.

Here are some more photos

I agree with Ron ... the piece would be a beautiful piece but for it laying in ???? for part of its life.


I would love to restore this piece ... would be a fun project.

The back story. A US armored unit was taking a town when they encountered fierce resistance resulting in casualties on both sides. As the fighting ended and the Americans advanced their progress was halted again by a sniper. The sniper was taken out and the unit advanced. One of the armored units soldiers saw this pistol in the hand of a dead officer, the left side of the pistol laying in a muddy puddle.
Not sure a few days in a puddle of mud would do this type of damage? Maybe some blood as well?

That gun is so nice I would be tempted to contact Ted Green (Thor) to see what he could do to restore the left side.
Ron

This amount of corrosion was not caused by a few days in a muddy puddle ... IMO more like months of neglect in an improper storage situation IE: in some wet cardboard box at the back of the garage with the leaky roof ... or in a box in the corner of a damp basement prone to flooding in the spring or heavy rain showers.


Wait until you take the grips off and look at the frame and inside components, something you must insist on doing BEFORE buying this gun. Have Fun whatever you do. This gun very much reminds me of my last restoration and you won't know how much of an effort will be needed until you look inside but as far as exterior corrosion goes Ive seen worse.:cheers:

Serial number 1560v. The gun looks to be consistent with others in that serial number range in Joop's data on the other Forum. No chamber date, C/U, small Banner, and no proof marks on receiver.
Very interesting!

The old adage "buy the gun and not the story" is very much in play here IMO. I agree with Spangy that a few days in muddy water would not cause that much corrosion unless there was a chemical in that water. The first thing the troop who recovered it would have done is clean and oil it.

I'd also want a look at the bore as a few days without cleaning if corrosive cartridges had been fired through it would cause damage.

If you buy the gun, buy it for what you see and not for any story that comes with it.

I’m working on getting a better photo or a verbal confirmation on the letter below the barrel. The owner says it is a 30 Luger.
While stories are cool they will not be the reason I buy the pistol.
Seems like these have some sort of addictive trait to them!
Thanks for all the info so far.
Paul

Here are a few close ups of the only acceptance marks on the pistol and the letter suffix.

So based on what I could find this is what I came up with.
Mauser Commercial produced 1034-1939. 1-5 digit serial numbers with the commercial proof on the left side of the pistol.
Does this seem correct?

Thanks
Paul

For reasons I cannot explain, I don't believe the pistol is a 30 caliber.

You may be correct, I can’t confirm the caliber at this time. It’s half way across the country.

Somehow these stories about how the Luger came into the possession of American soldier seems to always involved the death or capture of German officer. The vast majority of American's could not interpret the ranking of German troops and many an NCO, based upon his uniform was considered to be an officer. Most officers did not carry Lugers, but smaller caliber handguns. There is an expression used relative to officers in the Germain military, "the higher the rank, the smaller the sidearm".

Also, as previous posters mentioned, this Luger's finish did not happen from sitting in the mud for a couple of days, but over a period of time connected against a damp environment. Listen to the guys with the experience, buy the item, not the story.

put the pencil down the barrel...........

So I do agree with the buy the item not the story. Stories are interesting but.....it’s the pistol I am interested in for sure. So what does the pencil down the barrel tell me, caliber?
From previous comments I gather that the caliber will help place when it was made, is that a fair statement?
Thanks to all who chimed in. I appreciate the education.

Paul

A pencil won't fit down a 30 cal barrel, but will fit in a 9mm hole.

Sounds like a BS story to help sell the gun. There are hundreds of lugers out there to choose from. They always say buy the gun and not the story.

So my BIL was able to do the pencil test on this Luger and it is a 9mm.
Not sure if this is helps shed some more light on what this may be? Does 9mm make this a more desirable Luger?

Thanks
Paul

Paul, yes...but on a marginal condition pistol..not that much. For a shooter, some yes. 9MM is cheaper than .30.

According to Costanzo in his "Proofmarks" book, this banner falls in the Swiss commerical range, but he shows them as 7.65mm with the 4&3/4" (120mm) long barrel with a grip safety. TH

There is no grip safety that I can see. I does have the stock lug. Waiting on a barrel measurement from the BIL.

If you have G&S red books, check pages 768 & 769. The first Oberndorf Swiss pistols in the 5xxv range began in 1931-1932. Then, at approximately 900v in 1933, and over the next 1,000 to approximately 1900v when the 1935 Portuguese GNR contract began, there was a mix of configurations including Swiss models, Stoeger AE Lugers and blank chamber 9mm Lugers with 100mm barrels which fits the OP's Luger. The .30 caliber Lugers within that range were made with both 98mm and 120mm barrels.

Based on what I can find and see this appears to be an early Mauser Swiss contract Luger? Made after the transition from DWM to Mauser? No number on the side plate and a proof mark on the toggle train.
Thanks to all who have responded.

Not in today's gun frenzy

Ammoseek - cheapest 9mm available 46.8c per round
30 Luger 45c per round (Prvi of Fiocchi)

The Swiss pattern Lugers had a grip safety, cross-in-shield and were made, if I'm reading G&S correctly, on a long frame. Your pistol isn't one of the Swiss contract guns. Read my post #34 above.

My mistake on the Swiss contract. Reading some Joops information he states that there was confusion at Mauser during the first 1600 V series.