1938 S/42 ID and Value Help
 

Hi Everyone,
I've had a couple Lugers for a few years now and recently picked up a third and figured it was time I got serious and got them evaluated.
I could use your help on some of the basics: condition, completeness, value and of course just your overall opinion.

I just picked this up ( couldn’t pass it up I think I have a problem :) ) It’s a 1938 S/42 with a script G S/N prefix. The mag S/N does not match but every other one that I have seen does including the firing pin and grips. I did not find an import mark on it anywhere, and the overall condition of the pistol is excellent including the barrel bore, there is some holster / handling wear and the barrel has an odd discoloration like something spilled on it and stripped off the blueing. The grips are in great shape with crisp checkering and the edges are not worn down at all.

My guess would be whoever carried this originally didn’t get a chance to use it much

Sorry I'm not the best photographer out there

The other pistol is in the Commercial section

Thanks a ton for your help!

Thoughts, Questions, Comments,

Your help is certainly appreciated

Thanks

Looks like a nice honest war gun. The chip on the grip won't hurt you, but the bluing loss may scare off those who just want to look at it, but not those who want to use it.
What info are you looking for?
dju

The bluing loss looks to me like blood stains. Blood will remove bluing pretty darn fast. I had a byf41 with the same issue across the toggle and upper receiver. The vet that sold it to me told me the deceased German soldier was bleeding pretty badly. He just holstered the weapon and the next day discovered the bluing had been damaged where the blood had been.

Nice "been there, done that" Luger...

It almost looks like blood splatter that seeped into the nose of a holster. It certainly is a nice 1938 Mauser Luger.

Numbers inside the side plate should relate (equal to or plus one) to the first two digits of the serial number.

Do you have any specific questions or issues?

Good Evening and Thank You!!

First of all sorry I should have been more specific

When I purchased it I was told that it had been refinished and that was reflected in the price ( I'm into it for 900 ) yet everything I could tell ( based on my limited knowledge ) told me that this was the original finish and that this would be a bargain and I should walk out the door with it.

And so I did and here I am

I was concerned about the finish and staining of the barrel butt it appears to be the original finish and that the original owner left there mark on the barrel finish

Everything matches ( that I can tell ) with little sign of use or wear

My question would be value I have had a hard time sorting that out since they vary from $1000 for a well worn matching shooter to $4000+ with a holster

That bluing loss makes it hard to evaluate, as one person may be scared away by it whereas another may not. Some will consider it to be a flaw, whereas others will consider it patina.
To me the gun is worth from $1300 to $1500.
It has the aura of a good original piece that you can shoot AND that it has a story to tell. A pretty good combination.
dju

I agree with David $1200-$1500 tops. Bill

Fantastic

Thank You all so very much!!!!!!!!!!

I realize that probably somebody will think that I'm "soft" but if I can express my opinion the idea that those marks on the barrel might have been caused by somebody's blood, well to me it throw some sort of a sinister light on a gun...

That's why perhaps I've always preferred the Swiss DWM.

Sorry,
but every time I hear blood caused xxx, or "blood pitting", I just think- another way to justify a
defect! JMHO.

Does it really matter what caused it?:confused:

To me whatever caused it really does not matter so long as the finish is original.

The finish does appear to be original with some very typical holster wear ( wish I had it ) whatever did cause the blemishes on the barrel to me is part of it's history if it is blood stained I'm sorry for who's it was.

I wish I knew more about the pistols history and how it got to me

It is unfortunate that there are so many out there that try to take advantage and ruin an already historic firearm to try and make it something that it is not just for the sake of profit.

Yes, whatever caused the blemish is not there now. As I recall from an old post, it could even have been cat urine... You can rest assured that this one at least has not been prettied up for higher profits! The excellent adage, "Buy the gun--not the story." comes to mind.