New member with 1936 S42 bringback
 

Greetings, I recently received a 1936 S42 Luger and a PPK Walther both of which were bring backs from Germany. They were my father's deceased brothers who returned with them from Germany after WW2.
I have been searching your wonderful forum for the past few days and think I know what I have. A military Luger. Under the barrel there is what I originally thought to be an "R" and now believe to be a "P" under the serial number. All of teh serial no. match with the exception of the magazine which seems to be true to most miltary issues. (?) Makes sense since most likely there were several magazines used per gun.
However this particular magazine has a wooded base and not the aluminum base. Is this from an older model?
See the photos I have attached. I am not sure how to grade this piece.
Any input is welcome.
regards, Steven

Steven,
Yes, you have a 1936 S/42 Mauser Military contract only about 90K were made. The "P"suffix was the last series in 1936 with only about 4,500 made. The correct magazine would be a type 2 blue steal with an aluminum bottom.

The magazine you have is from an earlier model mostly likely WWI or up to about 1921.

You should give it a good cleaning. From the photos there seems to be some active rust on the trigger and safety lever.

It looks to be a nice Luger that I wouldn't mind having in my safe

Jim

Thanks Jim!
The trigger is discolored but not rusty. There is some mino rust on the metal onteh front of teh grip. Again it is minor. How is any rust removed without disturbing the blueing? Is this critical? Or can a simple oiling prevent more oxidation? Is it advisable to try to shoot it?
I am facinated with this hand gun. I also have a German helmut my grandfathe returned with from Germany. The two will compliment each other.
Thanks,
Steven

Jim,
Can you describe what a type 2 magazine is. I guess that the"blue " means the metal was blued in the manufacturing. How would I find one?
Steven

From Still's Third Reich Lugers:

Rolled shaped from sheet metal and held together at the edges with a crimp. Bottom is slant cut with aluminum base secured with a pin through the rear of the base and tube. Blued mag tube, Coiled spring. Acceptance stamps: droop E/63, stick E/63, E/83, large E/63, E655. Issued 1936 past m serial block, and on into 1940.

Advertise here under Wanted to Buy classified

Mauser mag tubes were nickel plated up until mid 1937. TH

Tom,
is there a serial# / code known when they stopped producing nickel plated mags?