I have this old gun... a Luger P08??
 

I've been visiting this forum for a few weeks now and have finally decided to make a posting. I have what I believe to be a P08 made in 1939 with all matching parts and 42 stamped on the top. My question is, is this a shooter?

I understand that I have to make at least one post in order to post photographs. So as soon as the system will let me I'll put up some pictures.

Technically, your gun is not a shooter from what you describe. Much depends on wether the finish is original. How much of the finish is left, whether absolutely all parts match, etc.

Photos would help us help you..

Some Pictures
 

I'll try to get some pictures up loaded.

Here is another set of pictures
 

Picture set 2

Here are some close ups
 

Here are some close ups... well I'm going to have to resize the close up in order to up load them.....

Collection Sheet
 

Here is a pdf of the collection sheet

Refinished, grips and mag are aftermarket. I don't know what you have in it or want to do with it, but as is it is a shooter. It may be worth having Thor restore but I'm not seeing enough detail to make that call.
Go have fun and make lots of noise.
Welcome!
dju

Close ups
 

I resized my close up....

One last Close up
 

Any ideas what the symbol is below the serial number?

It is obvious me that this is not what you really want or are looking for, Send it me, Pleeez. I'm gunna hep you out!

I think it is rather quite nice and certainly worth keeping as is.
Nice pistol.
pitsword

I'm not seeing much buffing damage, so it is a question as to how much work it would be to get the metal "un-blasted" and back to its original degree of polish prior to blue. And those numbers on the takedown lever don't look all that original to me.
I can't say what a good facelift would cost, maybe in the $500 range for labor, and then you'd need grips (mismatched) and a correct magazine (also mismatched), when you could probably buy an original in good shape for $1500. And that is probably more than your restored gun will be worth in the end.
I know I'm rambling here, but suffice it to say that this one is probably enjoyed for what it is, a shooter. And save that money for a nice original Luger.
dju

is that a powdered metal finish?? doesn't look bad as a
 

refinishing option for a shooter.............

I suspect that the metal was bead blasted prior to bluing. The 2 tone finish shows that they taped off certain parts like the right side flat.
dju

Or draw filed/sanded after blasting & before bluing. I used to blast beer bottles with names & dates to celebrate memorable occasions; electricians tape worked great for masking off areas to remain smooth. :)

Any ideas about how much it is worth as is....??

To the collectors on this forum??? Probably in the $600 range...

To a casual buyer at my local gun show, probably $800+...Lugers are scarce here, and the locals aren't all that choosy...

Blasting hides a lot of defects...Pits, scratches, dings...

To answer your original question, IMHO it is a shooter...

Maybe if you had a skull & crossbones engraved on the chamber... :rolleyes:

Also, the take down lever is not original to the Luger. So it's not a matching pistol.

Nice shooter. Is it import marked?

The symbol on the frame below the 4 serial number digits is a cursive "r", and it's part of the Luger's serial number. "9885r".

Unfortunately, the serial number digits on the frame are not the ones it left the factory with, so someone carefully did their best to make this appear to be all matching.

The digits on the frame, barrel and take down lever are made with the same font dies, and this size font is not what the factory used.

Marc

+1

The frame under the serial also appears uneven, falling off to the sides...as if it was filed... :rolleyes: