Enherited Luger, what do I have?
 

I am new to this forum and was referred here by a user from Calguns forum on Tapatalk. They said this is the top site/forum for the info I am interested in finding. So here goes,
my Mother was just handed down a pistol through unfortunate circumstances. Now that the dust has settled, she and I are interested in finding out about it. What do the markings mean, what would it have been used for? The pistol is numbers matching from what I can see without dissassembly, but magazine is not. I am very unfamiliar with antique firearms. My mom is not anti gun whatsoever, but she does not want the responsibility of having a gun in her house and will likely give it to me. Any info would be great! Thanks everyone.

Mike,
We would love to provide what information we can, but unfortunately your photos aren't visible. Did you use the "Go Advanced" link to post your photos? Just pasting them into the text doesn't work, you have to use the "Manage Attachments" function in the Advanced posting.
Ron

There we go, got it fixed. Does this forum exist on Tapatalk? I looked, but was unable to find it.

Welcome to the Forum Mike.

Well, you have a Model P.08 Luger manufactured by Mauser in Oberndorf in 1940. 42 was the code for Mauser.

The marks on the right side are proof and acceptance/inspection marks.

There were about 137,000 or so P.08s made in 1940 and yours was built in October or so. Sadly we do not detailed records to call it any closer.

Absent other information we have to assume the pistol was issued to the Army as they received the bulk of production in 1940.

hope this helps.

john

That helps a lot! Thank you! I'm not familiar with what this pistol looked like new, so I can't tell if it appears to be well taken care of or if it has been refinished. In the other forum they mentioned something about the grip not being chipped in a common area as well. I will try to post more pictures.

Looks like a very nice 1940 Luger. The full serial number is 9373 with a "L" suffix.
Enjoy your historical gun!

Tom

Tapatalk is an 'add-on' to a forum - not on their site and no, we don't use it

Welcome to the forum - take a look at the 'new collectors' area and see How to ID a Luger - it will give you ideas about if all matching etc.

Ed

Our FAQs will also be helpful to you in understanding what you have. Click the FAQ link and follow the links to the PDF document you can download.

On first glance, from the photos, it appears that you probably have a collectible Luger in original finish and with matching parts. It will have to be disassembled to check some of the internal parts and the grips to be sure. Use great care when removing the grips, particularly the left one.

These Mauser made Lugers were well made and used advanced metallurgy which became available in the period.

Condition looks reasonable, but it's hard to judge finish from the photos. Perhaps 90%. It looks un-messed with, and you should keep it that way. If it's all matching, resist the temptation to load and fire it. Parts do break on these, and if they are matching they will considerably reduce the pistol's value.

The number "94" should be stamped inside the trigger side plate. Does the magazine have a matching number? You didn't photograph it so I can't tell you if it's original and period correct.

What I can see, if all matching and original finish, would be worth $1500 with a correct magazine. Perhaps more.

Marc

Mike

First off welcome to our Luger forum.

For what I can see I think you've got a very nice example of WWII Luger made by Mauser, and all its original marks seem to be crisp and untouched.
Nice acquisition I would say.

Wow, thank you for all the great information! It's really interesting to find out or imagine what all this pistol did. Is their any identifying markings that would tell me which rank carried it? And no the magazine is not numbers matching unfortunately.

Mike,

P.08s, issued by the military did not carry any marks that identified the person to whom it was assigned.

Normally, P.08s were carried by Non-commissioned officers, i.e. Corporals, Sergeants, etc. and by company grade officers, i.e. Lieutenants and Captains. Also, personnel of certain crew served weapons also carried P.08s.

Most higher ranked officers carried smaller pistols, like the Walther PP, the Mauser Model 1934, Sauer 38H, and several others, mainly in 7.65 mm caliber.

Thus stories you may hear that a P.08 was taken from some General are probably exaggerated.

Best,

John

IIRC, there was a book maintained for soldiers that listed the equipment that was issued to them. I think it was kept at a Regimental level. The chance of encountering such a book associating the soldier with your Luger is very small.

Marc

I'm being asked if it is marked a vet bring back or import collector. How can I tell?

The question doesn't make any sense. The only way to tell for sure if it is a vet bring back is if there is a known history of who brought it back or if there is an associated so-called "capture paper" document authorizing a soldier to possess the gun...there would not be any markings applied to the gun itself. I am not sure what is meant by the term "import collector"?

Do you mean import marked? Some guns will have an U.S. importers mark stamped on them. Vet bring backs will not.

Nismomike, welcome to the forum. You have what appears to be a very nice Luger. I hope you keep it and enjoy it. Do read the FAQS as there is a wealth of information that will increase you knowledge. Please take close up photos of the mag or mags, particularly the marings on the bottom.

Nice heirlom, take care of it.
Was there anything else with the pistol ? (holster, tools, or paperwork)

to add to this :bigbye: - guns brought into the USA before 1968 may also be non-import marked, as it was not required before then. So, guns imported in the 1950's and 1960's or earlier would not be marked.

Just as an FYI

Golly, I didn't know that. Ed, thanks, that is useful information.