41 Dated Code 42
 

I picked up this rig from the veterans family at a militaria show a couple of weeks ago. It supposedly had been in a drawer since 1945. I had to soak it in Hoppe's #9 for a few hours to get it apart and to get rid of all the varnish, so I suspect it had been sitting for a very long time. Turns out it's an all matching (including the magazine) 90% pistol with a great bore. The wear seems associated with sitting in the holster for years.The holster is a 1916 with an FXO E37 magazine and an E63 tool. Don't know if they were matched up during or after the war. The soldier was in the 397F/A as part of the 104th Division and was in combat for over 150 consecutive days. Not many of these 41 dated Code 42Lugers survived and even fewer with a matching magazine.
My pictures aren't great, but we keep working on them.
Lyn

Looks like a nice one to me :)

Lyn

I'm not that sure about the holster but the gun looks like a fine Luger with some honest wear.

Sergio

The holster is a converted artillery with what looks like someone's initials pressed into the lid.

I believe you are correct about it being a converted artillery holster. It is dated 1916 and there is the name of a German soldier written on the outside of the tool holder flap. Whoever converted the holster was quite a saddler as it was nicely done. I figure that the GI that brought the Luger home mated it up with any holster he could find at war's end and sent it home as a rig. The major find in this acquisition is the Luger itself, as 41 dated Code 42s are quite rare to find and even rarer with a matching magazine.

Nice 41/42 Luger you found Lyn. You are correct about your pistol being a rarer variety. Not often seen. Nice catch.

Jeffrey