Pistol Identification Please
 

I have a Luger dated 1940 with the Mauser Banner. It has an Eagle L marking on the right side of the pistol with another eagle on the right side. There is also a plain type eagle on the front of the front sight. The serial number is 4547.

Could I please get a more detailed description of this pistol and an approximate value with the pistol approximately 75 to 85 %.

Thank You

Re: Pistol Identification Please
 

James, please give us more information and pictures are the only way to give you a value.

Obviously it was made by Mauser in 1940. The eagle L is usually a police stamping, if I remeber correctly.

Does it have a sear safety on the left side?


ed

Re:
 

I am new to the world of Luger pistols, so I do not know much of the terminology. As far as the sear safety, I would have to see a picture to be able to tell. However, when the safety lever is depressed, one can see an arm about 3/8" wide move upwards to block the mechanism. I will try to upload some photos as soon as I can.

A sear safety is *only* on police lugers, and is a bar that runs on the left side, let me see if I can find a picture on the forum...

Ed

James, I suspect that your 1940 E/L luger is in the "x" suffix block (below the numeric digits on the front of frame). To correctly give the serial of a luger, you must include the suffix letter, if present. TH

You are correct, it does have the X below the serial number on the front of the frame. By the way, just what is the story with the Police model? Where these pistols used by the military during the war?

Some pictures to help assist in possible valuation.

ADMIN: Lightened it a bit, but left the other, as it is probably a truer color for the blue:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...ned_police.jpg

More pictures

another

Finally, one more

Well, it has a sear safety, so was used by the police (sears installed after 1933), and being a banner, made in the 1940's. There is wear, so it "appears" to be the original bluing, but we'd need more pictures to judge that. Banner lugers, if original go for more than many other lugers (rarer and desirable to collectors).

ed

Adding more pictures

another

another

Last one, hope they help.

thanks

Whats on the magazine? Is it marked on the side, and is it marked on the base?

Nice pictures.

Ed

The magazine in the photos is marked on the bottom. It is marked with the number 2, the serial number 4542 (5 off from the pistol sn) and an "x".

Thats right, sorry, I remember you saying it was only five off. That is odd, I have to guess the gun close to it got its mag mixed up with it, or else someone magically found one so close.

Being marked #2, that means it is a second police mag, the spare magazine to a gun. The x, I am unsure, would need to see what it looked like to hazard a guess.

Ed

Hi James,
* In answer to your question, your's is a Mauser Banner Police made in 1940. It was one of a well established group of 3300 pistols having the commercial eagle/N proof mark on the left side, sear safety, Mauser Banner Logo on the toggle link, Eagle "L" Police acceptance mark, and 1940 chamber date. Approximate S/N range of this group is 2589x - 5722x per Jan Stills, Third Reich Lugers, Pg. 146 & 159.
* The Banner toggle Mausers were produced for Contract and Commercial sales. As such, the groups sometimes overlap in their time of production. However, this police contract group, in the "x" block, is fairly contiguous in its evolution of markings leading one to infer regular sequential production. With the imminent onset of WWII in early 1940, arming of the German Police with updated firearms was likely.
* The hot salt blue is finely accomplished in keeping with a commercial level of specification. The S/N may or may not appear on the barrel. The E/N mark is found, atypically to Army production, stamped on the front of the front sight in addition to the more normal left side breech link location.
* The numeral "2" on the magazine indicates this accessory was the spare or reserve police mag for the pistol so numbered/suffix block lettered. It seems to be, as you say, a mag 5 digits off from your pistol's number.
* In my opinion, the condition of your pistol, from the pictures offered, exceeds the 75-80% expressed. I'd venture yours to command about $1200 +/- 10% wiggle room in private sales to other knowledgeable collectors interested in acquiring this example.
* Trust this helps.
Respectfully,
Bob