Luger originality question
 

Hello, new to your site and glad to have found it.

I have just purchased my first P-08 after of about 30 years of fascination and history behind the piece.

I have a 1938 Mauser S42 w/97% bluing, excellent grips all numbers matching with the exception of the mag and the hold open lever.

Despite the fact that I was told all numbers matched except the mag.

This maybe a sensitive question given the potentially fraudulent practicing that could evolve but for my own pistol to have the hold open lever match the rest of the gun for my own reasons of originality.

Please don't tar and feather me just tell me to let well enough alone and chalk it up to experience in buying over internet.

Thanks

The practice of trying to restore a minor mismatched part is generally accepted, as long as you make this known to a prospective buyer and the part is correct for the manufacturer and year.

With a Muaser pistol, there is a good chance someone here like Tom Heller might have a properly numbered hold open. Advertise what you are looking for in the WTB section and offer your numbered hold open for trade or purchase.

Good luck

hmmmm, I would not say that it is 'generally accepted", but I think what Doug meant was this;

Strawing
Fixing grips
adding a period part by finding one or a armorers replacement part

Sure, those are generally accepted, but not to renumber a part

Thanks, no plans for resale. but the advice is good to know.

Restrawing or noticably fixed or scrubbed grips are deal breakers for me.

On numbered mall parts, it would be basically un noticable.

Others are obvious due to finish differences.

Hi Todd, and welcome to the forum.

As you can see, opinions about this issue vary with individual collectors.

The principle here is to keep documentation of what you have done to improve your Luger; keep the original parts that came with it and disclose this accurately should you ever want to sell it. The buyer will make up their own mind about the pistol's value, and offer you a price accordingly.

It's important to keep documentation in case you are not the one that ends up selling the pistol (your estate, etc...)...

Marc

Marc,

Thanks for the info. I don't believe I will do any changes to numbered components. I also a am stickler for originality.

It is such nice condition in the first place, I will leave it alone
and just enjoy it.

A good choice, in that if you decide to change something about it later, you can. Rule of thumb. it is not possible to un-do changes to the gun (except parts changes) once executed, so these are best very well-considered beforehand.

Todd-

I have a spare holdopen latch stamped #49 if that is the number you need.

Thanks for the offer, only off by 20. mine is serial ends in #96

What I could use is a reliable magazine, not original numbered but but it has all the period proofings- the eagle proofs with the 69 under it, serial # and a plus sign. It is proving to be difficult to install and remove. Seems to hang up up near the top of the mag chamber. Would like to test fire it but would prefer not to have series of jams during firing.

Any recommendations?

yes, buy a mec-gar, they almost always work well

otherwise, if originality is your driver, then find a period magazine by looking in the for sale here, ebay and gunbroker

you won't find a 69 one, not sure what that means if not the serial number - if aluminum than it would be either eagle 63 or eagle 83

Keep in mind that if you break a numbered part, it loses between 1/2 and 2/3'rds of its value

If you are looking for a magazine the following may be of assistance:

1) GT who posts on this forum can rebuild or possibly supply a correct mag.

2) Lugerdoc who posts on this forum may have a period correct mag.