Newbie - Luger Identification and value
 

I posted this a few days ago, but now I have the pics.

I am looking to buy my first luger and wanted a little advice first.
I am trying to identify what kind of luger this is to get an approximate value. Banner police? The person is selling the gun for a friend who is in a nursing home, so no one is an expert here. I am told it was a nazi police pistol. The top is stamped "1942", and "Mauser". There is an eagle on the side, and all numbers seem to match with the last 2 digits of the serial number.
The magazine is aluminum with a round white button on the bottom. No numbers on the mag. A holster and tool are included and holster number and tool number match each other, not the gun.

Can anyone tell me what kind of luger this is and approx value?
Thanks for any help, don't want to get burned on my first buy.

I have more pics if needed.

Looks like a 1942 Mauser, one of the last made, and in excellent condition from what little is visible...

First thing I would do is see how far I could throw that magazine...and then buy a Mec-Gar for shooting and a good Luger mag from GT for display... ;)

What would you pay for this rig?
Is this a Banner Police model?

I would want to pay $1500 for the rig, I believe that it is worth $1800-$2200 and perhaps a bit more for top dollar. The larger gun dealers would have it priced more...

The leather could be made to look nicer (read about proper ways to do so, if you buy it); the metal has some slight issues here and there; but overall is in nice condition.

The holster and tool match which is cool, but do not match the gun.

Banner Police are not rare, but far from common.

There are fewer folks who collect banners, let alone banner police.

Ed

Ed is pretty much on the money here. The mag is incorrect. The bottom is a repro. Should be an aluminum bottom with an Eagle L on it.


Jerry Burney

Were these made with all matching numbers, ie the gun, magazine, holster, and tool all have the same serial number?

Thanks for the info, very helpful. Love this site.

It would be more accurate to say that the rig was put together from various sources then each component stamped to match the others.

Let me re-phrase my question.
With Lugers in general, is it possible to have a complete rig with all serial numbers matching, gun, mag, holster, and tool?
Thanks

Hi Joe, Let me rephrase Doug's (Alanint) answer. It is possible to have an all matching number rig, but the numbers were applied, post manufacture, by various police departments. Mauser did not manufacture holsters or number tools. Only guns and magazines were numbered at the factory. The military did not number holsters and tools. Regards, Norm

Joe, Your 1942 dtd Mauser Banner luger serial falls in the correct range of an E/L contact for about 6000 of these. The finish appears to be exc original, so I'd estimate the value of this item with exc bore, matching grips & correct type mag (to be obtained) in the $2000 to $2500 range. Perhaps you can trade the earlier police hoster & tool for one closer to 1942 or for a "y" suffix police mag close to your serial. TH

Thanks for all the info. I think I will buy this one and maybe do like Lugerdoc says and try to get a police mag and a 1942 holster.
Good stuff. Thanks again.

Any issue that the barrel has no serial number?

I called the person selling this Luger asking him to check the grips before I purchased it. He told me he took the grips off and there are no numbers stamped in the grips. I am assuming that this means they are repro and not original. If this is the case, how would this affect the value and collectability of the firearm?

FM,

I have a similar piece only about 2000 later, but still in the 'y' block. My grips are not numbered inside, nor is there a serial on the barrel. What you should see is the proof mark on the front sight.

FN

So grips are still original?

Hi Joe, My experience has been that Mauser grip numbering was erratic, sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. Your grips look original to me. Regards, Norm

Thanks Norm. I will check for the proof mark too.