Question on early vs late 1937 Lugers
 

There seems to be a lot of collector interest in the 1937 Lugers (42 code) made by Mauser. Since 1937 was the year that Mauser quit rust bluing and strawing in favor of all salt bluing, how much premium is there on the earlier rust blue/strawed 1937 guns as compared with the later ones? 10%, 25%, 40%, etc?

Assume equal condition guns at, say 90% condition with all matching parts (including mag), original finish, and no import stamps. How much would these early and late 1937 guns be worth, respectively? Pick an alternate percent condition for comparison if you think 90% is too low.

I'm just curious at the moment but would like to know how to value-differentiate these two in the event I happen to sneak up on one.

-Bob

Robert,
I'm sure your asking about the "S/42" series and not the code "42" series.
Code 42 series were produced starting in 1939 to replace the S/42 code.

As to the question of value, with both guns and everything being equal, my guess in 10 to 15% more for a 1937 S/42 1st ver.

Jim

Bob, I agree with Jim. There is another variant, which is found from about the mid-S Block into the T Block. This variant has the strawed parts of the early 1937, but has the Mauser Hump from the late 1937 Lugers. This variant would add another 5 to 10 percent above the early 1937 Lugers, all else being equal.

Jim & Frank:

Thanks for the reply. I did mean S/42 instead of the later 42 code. If I read Frank's reply correctly then there are three 1937 variants instead of the two I was aware of. Those would be early w/straw & no hump, mid w/straw & hump, and late with all salt blue & hump. The most valuable is the mid-1937 model w/straw & hump. That about right?

-Bob

Bob, Yup you got it right!! :)

Good Luck!!

Bob
There is still another potential combination of the 1937 variants, and that would be a 37 all blue without the hump. Bill Munis was looking for that one and confident it was out there someplace.
John

John, I wish someone who is knowledgeable (could that be you?) would take the time to get to know the family of Bill Munis and catalog and photo essay his collection... It must be a wonder to behold... I know Ed Tinker has seen it with his own eyes... I envy him that. Bill and I communicated with each other many times over the years via email. He and his expertise are sorely missed by many...

John
Bill certainly had a marvelous collection, but even more impressive was his knowledge and understanding of Mauser lugers. He remembered all the minute details of Mauser production and could apply /extrapolate this information in a logical manner. I learned a lot from him. Very sad to lose such a admirable man.
John