S/42 From Italy: Help!
 

CIAO!
Attached are photos of top of my second P08.
As a novice to the Luger world I believe I am still entitled to ask silly and obvious questions to you Top Luger ewperts!!!.

Can anybody explain whar S/42 means . Is this an original Military Luger or can it be a commercial one?

Any further comment on this gun will be welcomed.


As to the SS (partly blotted out) insignia, these are being discussed in a aeparate Thread I started yesterday.

Thanks to yo all from a green recruit!!

Ciao!

Marco:) :)

CIAO!
Here are the other pictures!

Ciao!

Marco

S/42 From Italy: Help! + 1 more PHOTO
 

CIAO AGAIN!
It seems it's possible to send Just 1 photo at a time, so Here is 1 more photo....

Thanks!

Marco:)

Hi Marco, welcome to the Luger Forum! The S/42 is an Ordnance Code used by the Germans to indicate the manufacturer as Mauser. This code was used up to the early 1939 production, then the Mauser code was changed to just "42", then in early 1941 it was changed again to "byf".

Even later, in 1945 it was changed yet again to "svw". Since Mauser stopped Luger production in 1942, the "svw" code is found on their other firearms.

Hi Marco, it would be helpful to see the serial number information, like:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...tion_copy2.jpg
and also the inspection/proof mark information, like

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...tion_copy1.jpg

Your pictures show the pistol may have been refinished, but it's difficult to tell for sure. There is some pitting, but if you are using this pistol as a "shooter" that's okay, as a collection piece, that's a detriment.

I hope this helps a little bit!

thanks for the info!

I agree about all you said: the pitting is for sure a detriment and it is exactly like what you can see in the photos.
As to the ammo change , yes I know IT IS DEFINITELY A DETRIMENT, but here in Italy we have no choice, 9 para being forbidden.
In fact it is only allowed for Military and Law Enforcement bodies.
All 9 para originally in the country (or before import) prior to selling MUST BY LAW be either barrel sleeved to 7.65 Para or chamber deepened to accept 9x21 rounds! - No exceptions .

Next week I am probably going to sell this Luger anyway. Apparently I will be able to fetch a good price from a German WWII enthusiast ,because of the "puffed"SS insignia on the grips.
Fingers crossed, ten I hopefully will have the money to buy anuther Luger (all matching) and I will post the photos for rewiev of you experts.

Meanwhile I have had a bad experience with my other P08, on the first time iI took it to the range!! - I will describe my troubles in a next post, hoping thet some of you Forum Superexperts can come back with a diagnosis.

Thanks again!

Marco

PS: my apologies if my English is not like the Queen's English...Hopefully costant use of the forum will generate improvement!!

...Queen Elisabeth is reknown to speak English with a terrible accent :D ...

Marco, your English is better than my Italian.
..in fact, it's also better than my English ;)

Anyway.. In danger of sounding like someones grandma. Selling it without notifying about the marks not being 'genuine' for a Luger, may be noted down in Santas black book..

Personally, I like Lugers that looks like the one above. But in my eyes the grips lower the value a little instead of increasing it.
Hope your other Luger is not permanently inanimated.

What do you expect, she's only four generations removed across the Rhine.

CIAO!
Thanks for the comments on my English - As I said the Forum helps a lot!

As to the ss logo, I have not made any comment about their being original or not : I just showed the P08 to the guy, with no remarks. - do you really think i'ts kind of dodgy??
Apparently the "prospective customer" just does not know and/or does not care. He is definitely well off and just spends loads of money on any German WWII gear, particularly Panzer Troops and SS. The good thing about him is that he's got the money, and if he sees something he likes , he just buys it - no problem!
He saw this P08, was fascinated by the SS insignia, and offerd a good price .

If transaction will be OK, this hopefully will put me in a position to buy a better (all matching) P08 I had seen at a dealer sometime ago , but that I could not afford.

I am going to inspect it again next Tuesday, hopefully going there with the money, thios time!
Of course if this P08 would turn out to be inferior to the one I have I won't buy it.

If I buy it I will post photos on the forum to ger feedback from members.

Ciao!!! - keep in touch!

Marco