New, soon to be Luger Owner!
 

Hello from N. Ga. I am new to the Luger world and I just bought a 1937 S/42 Luger! From what I gather it is a Russian capture since there is a X over the serial number and it has been reblued. It has matching numbers other than grips and mag. Looks like a decent shooter/collector. I can't wait, it should be here Saturday so now it is time to start researching!!! Oh, need a holster and tool also! Any comments and advice is greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance all

Jim

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...luger1%202.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ger/Luger3.jpg

Jim, welcome to the forum

For general information, take a look through the forums, do a search for 1937 and look at the top 'stickies'.

Ed

Jim
Welcome to the Forum and the addictive world of luger collecting. Bill

Welcome Jim,

Your gun is nice in that it doesn't seem to have been force-matched, with over-stamped numbers, and the "X" all huge and nasty; yours is discreet. I also like "collectible" shooters. This one looks like it might be one you'd shoot not that often, if it matches.

The Russian captures are becoming more desirable, particularly the ones that were not diddled with that much. Some even retain an original finish. More good pics would help in your getting the best advice!

Jim

Welcome to this LUGER Forum made by LUGER enthusiasts.
I bought my first Luger about 20 years ago and it was a rusty "Russian capture", I sold it long ago, but it managed to learn a lot through disassembling and reassembling it.
I warn you this hobby is quite addictive.

Best


Sergio

These are the last pics I have for now and thanks for the advice. Glad to hear that this is semi collectable. I paid $999 for it which I hope was a fair price for it.

Should I shoot regular target bullets like Winchester White Box or should I make some lighter loads on my press?

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ger/luger2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ger/luger7.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...uger/uger5.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Luger4%202.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...er/luger12.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...er/luger13.jpg

Winchester white box ammo is a good choice, maybe a MecGar magazine, and you are ready for the shooting range.
I'd suggest not spending a lot on a holster/tool, but instead save up for your next Luger...
Congratulations, and welcome!
dju

Yes, this is the first pic I've seen with the "X" not overstamping the serial...

The price is not outrageous, maybe a bit high, but since you didn't indicate if F2F, or FFL/S&H fees/tax, we'll assume that's the base price...Still not bad...Luger values tend to be geographical; in Western New York State, $1K is about average for a decent looking Luger, whether mismatched or RC/VoPo... :)

Hello Jim, and welcome to the forum.

Congratulations on your very nice RC Luger. This one shows none of the defects refinished guns often bear (it still has very sharp edges). I can't really tell from the photos. Are you sure it's been refinished. Later 1937 Mauser Lugers were salt blued (without strawed parts)... If it was redone, it looks like a quick dip and right out of the tank.

No need to replace the magazine. The one you have looks like a FXO or East German milled magazine Haenel Schmeisser. They are very well made.

Use standard velocity 9mm Luger ammo, and let us know how it shoots!

As I see no suffix on the front of the frame, this would have been a first run 1937.

Welcome to the forum, and Congrats on your first Luger. Before taking it to the range, I would break it down for a good cleaning and lube. Lugers like things to be lubed, especially the toggle train to receiver interface and the toggle knuckles. Let us know how things worked out for you and your "new" Luger.

Interesting. The small parts are not strawed, and the "hump" appears on the frame. One would expect an example from the 1937 first block to have strawed parts...made just before the transition to all salt blue? But now the pic showing the finish leads me to believe that it was refinished, as I notice a dullness overall.

The grips would have been removed before the bluing dip, Would the grips have been numbered?
Was the whole gun dipped or piece-meal and then reassembled?

Man this is a lot of great information, thanks so much! I should have it in my grubby little hands in the morning so I will be studying up tonight!!!
The total paid after shipping and FFL is $1037 so I am really happy with that.

Thanks again everyone!
Jim

The no-suffix block in 1937 occurred during the last couple of months of the year, long after the transition from rust blued pistols to salt blued with the humped frame. According to Hallock and Van de Kant about 100 of the older frames appeared mixed in the block. Probably November and early December. Most had Stick Eagle proofs, but about 18 percent had Droop Eagle marks.