New P08 byf Owner with ?s
 

I inherited a P08 that my great Uncle obtained in Africa shortly after WWII.

42 byf

I've done a little internet research but have a couple of questions.

I got the idea that the 42 was the year of manufacture, is that correct?

I know the byf indicates Mauser as the maker.

It has 65 stamped on all the parts, except the grips and the mag. At the location where I understand the serial number is located (on the frame in front of the trigger guard) it also says 65 with a script letter l under that. Did they not put all four digits on the serial number stamp? Is this the 65th gun in the l series?

When I disassembled it the first time, the take down lever just fell out. There appears to be a piece of spring in a groove at the bottom of the hole the take down lever fits into. Am I correct that a spring is gone? Where can I get a replacement?

The mag is marked 5471 t and has the German Army proof mark. Long odds, but someone might have that pistol and someone might have my 65l mag. Anyway to search?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Jon, welcome to the forum

here is some info, but you can do searches on the forum (see the FAQ) in the new collector area, etc

42 is the year - byf is Mauser

the serial number on the front of the frame many times has a letter (suffix) and on all small parts there is the last two of the serial number

yes- serial numbers changed every 10,000 - so 1, 2, 3, 4, then 9999 then 1a, 2b, etc pictures would be good to see what it says as a suffix

yes, your locking lever spring is broken or worn

wood grips or black plastic?

The suffix to the SN is a script l (Little L).

Checkered walnut grips.

Can I fire it with the locking lever loose?

Where can I get a replacement?

PO8 locking lever
 

If your lever is all there, but just loose, you probably just need the small L shaped spring that provides the pressure to hold your lever in place. I do have new German made ones in stock. TH

Just got back from the range. Pistole fired great.

Spring ordered from the good Doctor.

A pic.

From the one picture it looks nice, but many more would let us help you. Earlier I asked about suffixes, because many look alike.

If you show inside of the holster - I could tell you if its a french holster or one for a Japanese Nambu - pretty sure its for a Nambu...

Ed

Ed:

Thanks for the interest.

I'll post some pics of the gun soon. I'll set up a good camera and lighting to show the condition and markings.

Re: The holster. I was looking at Luger holsters on the internet and didn't see any Luger holsters that looked like this.

Here is a pic of it open. There are some very faint marks inside the cover, but they aren't legible. I can tell one is an oval and one is a circle. Both with letters inside.

The french and japanese look very much alike from the outside, the differences I use, is that the french holster had loops for extra rounds, while the japanese had a pouch for two boxes of ammo. I think yours is a french one, as a japanese would also has a firing pin holder to the right of the cartridge pouch (when looking at it). OR, it is a Japanese type 26 - a revolver holster, see this http://members.shaw.ca/tju/t26accessories.htm

Ed

Here are pics of the gun.

Hi Jon, and welcome to the forum.

You've got a very nice and collectible Mauser Luger.

The magazine is from an earlier gun, and your Luger is among the last of those made in Oberndorf before they switched over to P.38 manufacture.

65l is your serial number, and it appears all matching and correct in your photos.

As the gun is collectible and in very good condition, many of us don't shoot them because of the potential for breaking a numbered part.

Should you break a numbered part, the financial value would drop from $1600 to perhaps $1000, and the historic value of an all matching Luger would be lost.

Be particularly careful if you remove the left grip. It's easy to break them up by the safety lever.

It is dangerous to shoot one with the little takedown lever spring broken or missing.

Thanks for the reply.

Now that I satisfied myself that it will shoot, I probably won't fire it anymore.

I was careful to hold the take down lever in place when I fired it.

But what could I break if I fire it more? The firing pin? What if I procured a firing pin to shoot it with and saved the numbered part?

Search the site. You'll see many "posts of tragedy"...

Extractors and ejectors are common. Sometimes the back of the breech block.

BTW, those are particularly crisp E/135 WaAmt inspection stamps on the receiver. Very nice...



Marc

Very Nice byf 42

First of all welcome to this forum of Luger addicts.

Neddless to add that you've got quite a nice gun.
I'm a Luger collector (very small), and although I love going to the range at least once a week I never use my collectible for shooting. But it's up to you.
I agree with what Marc wrote to you.

In my "shooter grade" Luger, I have broken an extractor, and a firing pin tip. I had non matching parts in it in case they were to break....and they did. These Lugers are old, and they can just break. If you want a shooter, then find a mismatched, chromed, refinished, poor condition Luger and shoot it to your heart's content.....many of us do that very thing.