My new Treasure
 

Ok guys,
Tell me what you think of this one. I've wanted a luger for so long and finally got my first one! I'm so excited about it. I know next to nothing about these pistols so I hope to learn from you guys. Well, here's what I got.:jumper:

Hi Jeff,

The misery has only just begun. You have what looks to be a very nice high grade 1939 S/42 Mauser Luger.

It is one of the most desirable of the later dated S/42s. Approximately 38,500 were produced in serial number blocks 4000n-6000r. Yours is in the n block from early '39.

Nice score, congratulations.

Ron

Very nice choice for your first Luger.

Nice 1939 S/42s are hard to find.

Good luck with it.

Bob

Jeff,
Very nice early 1939 S/42. Most 1939 dated Lugers are 42 code.

Ron,
The suffix looks like a (p) to me. The loop isn't closed. I had trouble identifying mine when I first got it. I wasn't sure if it was an (r), (n) or (p), but after looking at the suffix tables I saw that it was a (p).

Hi
Considering you have presented your Luger information to a collectors research board, I wonder why you are afraid to present the first two digits of the serial number? Serial numbers with the letter suffix help a great deal in Luger research. It's impossible to establish serial number and letter suffix ranges if the collector will not provide the data.

XX12n or 12XXn is like E/63 ??? (SE-63 or DE-63) they mean nothing to a Luger collector. I believe that most collectors are interested in details. For example, I notice the first SE-63 acceptance on your Luger in a little larger than the second. I wonder if Ron would like to jump in here and tell you why??

Thanks and good luck

Don

Jeff
I forgot to mention, your first Luger was a good one to find. They were assembled in the n, o, p and q blocks. You can search for the rest of your life and you will not find any S/42 - 1939 Lugers in the - r - letter suffix block. Mauser made almost exactly 30,464 of these 1939-S/42 Lugers before they transitioned to the 1939-42 Luger. Good Luck my friend it was a great find.
Don

Don,
I mentioned (r) in my post because at the time I had no idea of the suffix range.

Hi Guys, I didn't mean to insult anyone. I've seen so many guys "block out" the first two numbers that I figured, "ok, I guess that's what ya do". Anyway, I'll take some "unaltered" pics after work tonight. Thanks for all the info already. It sounds like I got a nice pistol.

The old guy I bought it from (70 years old) told me to stop by this weekend and he'll dig up some card the Army filled out so his dad could bring it home with him when he came back from WWII. He told me he sold the holster it came home in about a year ago. I'm going to try contacting the guy and see if I can buy it from him.

Nice gun and absolutely the right thing to do! Don't feel too sorry regarding blocking s/n, "Rome was not built in a single day", gradually, you'll figure out what's important and what's not. You'll reveal the full s/n because you're comfortable to do so.

"Hi Guys, I didn't mean to insult anyone. I've seen so many guys "block out" the first two numbers that I figured, "ok, I guess that's what ya do". Anyway, I'll take some "unaltered" pics after work tonight. Thanks for all the info already. It sounds like I got a nice pistol."

Jeff,

It's your Luger, it's your posting, and it's your prerogative if you choose not to show the serial number. It's nobody's business but yours, what the serial number is.

Ron

"Ron,
The suffix looks like a (p) to me."

Mike,

You're correct, it is a "p" suffix.

Ron

Jeff
You certainly didn't insult anyone, this is a collectors board and many of the guys like to record the data to establish statistics. That is how I determined there were no - r - block 1939-S/42 Lugers. As others mentioned there certainly is no requirement to publish your pistols serial number if that is not your choice. It's just fun to look at nice Lugers. I hope you find a few more like that one. Good Luck

Well, I called the old guy today and asked about the holster. He sold it on Ebay. I guess that ones gone. I want to purchase an original in a while so what will I be looking for to get a correct holster for this pistol?
Thanks guys

Amended Luger Pic
 

Ok Gentlemen, This is the "unedited" pic. I hope this will help you teach me more about this pistol. I can tell this won't be the last though. Wife will not be thrilled to hear this! :)

Hey Jeff, nice Luger. Thanks for the serial number.

Sounds like you have the Lugeritis Disease!! Most of us on the Forum do!! :)

Thank you guys for all the info. Yup, the Luger bug has bitten!

Don:

I would say it is a P not an N. The suffix on my 1939 S/42 #4971 Luger appears to be the same.

Below are a few pictures of the 1939 S/42 Rig I purchased from a Vets son.

Regards,

George

George, Thanks for the pics. She's a beauty. The magazines on mine don't match but everything else does. I don't quite understand why the mags don't match.

Don:

Most of the magazines on Luger's don't match.

My guess is that during combat most were more concerned about saving their Bacon then were concerned about keeping the correct two magazines with their Luger!

My 1939 S/42 Luger was a very lucky find. Yet I do much legwork hunting them down. Now you need a nice holster, tool and two eagle 63 magazines.

Regards,

George