Newbie from Kansas with 42 Luger question.
 

Hi All,

I am a newbie from Kansas and am happy to be a member of this forum. I am an amateur collector of firearms and have a C&R license. What I have discovered after my start of collecting is that this is ADDICTING. I started with the USGI and have progressed into the world of Military surplus. I can't help to admire the workmanship of the German firearms and the details of the markings.
I have a 42 Luger 1939 #5088 as my first and certainly not my last Luger. I am lucky to know the WWII Veteran who brought it back.
It is in well cared for condition with all numbers matching including the magazine, but has one tiny problem---the side-plate does not have a number??? From the Veteran, who I might add, I admire greatly. (Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star with 2 Oak Leaf clusters, Bronze Star, etc..) said that the Luger is just as he captured it outside Berlin on the Elbe River....(No numbered side-plate)
I would love to have the correct numbered side-plate if anyone happens to have one---88(salt blue??)
Regardless, I love it as it is. Maybe, it was lost in wartime and replaced unnumbered???

Thanks to all who serve(d).

God Bless you all and I am Grateful to be a member.

Huckleberry

Hi Bradley, and welcome to the forum.

Congratulations on your 1939 Mauser Luger. These are some of the best made Lugers.

There is generally a suffix letter that should follow your serial number. "5088?" That letter should be visible just under the number on the front of the frame above the trigger guard.

"42" is the secret code for Mauser. It should be on the front toggle link.

Finding a "matching" side plate for a Mauser Luger is a very difficult task.

Is the number "42" stamped anywhere on the side plate? If so, it's probably an armorer's field replacement part, with the "42" also referencing Mauser.

The interior of Mauser side plates in 1939 also carried a number that reflected the first digits of the serial number. In you pistol, it would have had the number "88" on the outside of the plate, and the number "51" on the inside.

This mix of numbers could occur once in 10,000 Lugers produced. As you can see, finding one would be quite a stroke of luck...

What you have is much more valuable in my book. You know the actual history of the Luger and have it pretty much preserved as it was found.

If the veteran would discuss his story with you and document it, there are those here that collect "bring back stories" and you could include it with your collection.

Cheers!

Marc

Welcome to the forum!

Yes, like Marc said, i collect bring back stories and have 2 vol's

It is a fascinating history of the luger, passing through commercial, then WW1, Weimar / Weimar commercial, then 3rd Reich / commercial and many contract pieces!


Ed

Thanks for the Greetings Mark and Ed.

Marc, you stated that the side plate is possibly a field replacement and mentioned 42.
Well, I took the sideplate off and on the back of the plate is two numbers, a 4 and a 2, but not consecutive or close together as you would normally see a 42???

Also, I took off the grips and noticed the letter H. Does this mean something?? I need to get some reference books, because now I am coming up with some ?'s

Oh, and I do have the exploits of the WWII Veteran thru Europe to outside Berlin. I will share the story soon. He was a Light Machine Gun Operator with the 83rd Infantry, 331st Regiment, L Company, S/Sgt.

Thanks,
Huck

Normally an armorer's replacement plate would have the "42" digits together. If you can post a picture it would be helpful.

Again, a picture would help, but the "H" is probably a factory inspector's mark. There will be many of these all over the Luger in inconspicuous places.

Marc