Inherited family treasure
 

My dad has had this since he was 11. That was as a boy in Holland in 1945. It was that one thing I looked at as a family treasure. Lots of mixed info that I have found and trying to figure out a manufactured time would be nice. My 1st WWII firearm but I hunt deer with an Eddystone Model 1917. I love and respect these old weapons. But firing it isn't necessary either. Was considering having it inspected by my gunsmith and taking it to the range if possible. I've included a picture of the spare magazine and what I believe to be the cartridges that were in the magazine when he got it. This was April 1945. He used to keep it wrapped up in a cloth but at some time in the last 25 years he got a P38 holster I didn't realize he had been storing it in.

Wow, at first I did not like the shiny of the bluing (thinking reblued), but that is what is tricky about internet pictures.

Really nice. 1685a would be the 11,685th Simson luger made by them. The highest serial number I have is 1888a - and Simson ended production sometime in 1934 - so a wild guess would say that yours was made around 1933?

Really nice having the matching magazine. NOTE that yours although an S toggle, does NOT have a sear safety, many do. A sear safety equals police usage.

I would be curious to know the area your dad found this? For several reasons, one reason is that I lived in the Netherlands for seven years (1993-2000).

Ed

Dinxperlo in the Gelderland.

I don't know that town, will look it up, although I know where Gelderland is.

Fascinating, have been close, but not there that I remember. The town I lived in was the same, literally had a street shared by the Netherlands and Germany (like his town)...

We had CEC sites (combat equipment sites) 'up north' by Coevorden, and several along the border in Germany, so I traveled all over.

Ed

Overloon is where the bloodiest tank battle ever on Holland soil took place. Month after Market Garden. So about 45 minutes from Arnhem We won that one but the 7th Armor got pretty beat up.

So the high polish blue on this gun is original and correct for Simson's?

I still think this luger has been reblued. Bill

I agree with Bill. It is a wonderful family heirloom, and as Ed has identified, one of the Simson's manufacture--- but it has been reblued. Much polishing has taken place and pits have been blued over.

You have a wonderful family heirloom with exciting personal history (that you shared in another thread). Enjoy it.

Every luger has a story! Unfortunatly most have been forgotten~

If it was reblued it was done prior to 1945. Certainly can not deny something that could have been done prior to his possession of it.

Agreed on the reblue. It is also missing the takedown lever spring.

If it was reblued it was done prior to 1945. Not necessarily. People do things we don't know about all the time even though we may live in the same house.

Such as... He used to keep it wrapped up in a cloth but at some time in the last 25 years he got a P38 holster I didn't realize he had been storing it in.

Your Father likely had it spruced up and never said anything to you about it.

Thanks for all the comments. I have an appointment with my gunsmith on Saturday and we're going to disassemble, clean and inspect. I'll report back with what he discovers. I'm okay with the truth and I'll leave that up to the professionals

Just don't count on many gunsmiths knowing anything about lugers. Bill

Agreed Bill but this is one I trust.

I trust my local gunsmith too. But when he gets a Luger in, he calls me. ;)

(Because he knows I read the threads here!) :thumbup:

If you need a second opinion let me know. I am not too far away from you.

Hello David, and welcome to the forum.

You have a rather rare Simson & Co. manufactured Luger that was one of the last they made during 1933 at the very end of the Weimar Republic. Less than 12,000 (total) were made by this company, and all the parts in it were marked with inspection die stamps. This makes them unique as well.

The photos showing the very dark bluing with edges that appear rounded gives the impression that it was refinished. So do the pitted areas of the trigger plate that appear to be blued over. This appearance may be due to the lighting which is uneven and not flat - and that can tend to change the actual way the surfaces look.

An experienced collector can determine the originality of the finish by inspecting it in hand.

A very small number of gunsmiths have any experience working with Lugers. Use extreme care allowing an inexperienced gunsmith to disassemble your gun. Like doctors, gunsmiths will rarely tell you what they do not know.

While a refinish would affect collector valuation, these pistols are so rare (and finding one with it's original magazine, even more rare) that there is still considerable interest.

If you have a holster with it, do not store it in that holster. That can lead to the corrosion you see on the trigger plate. If it is missing the takedown lever spring, replace it prior to trying to fire it.

Most of us do not recommend firing collectable or rare Lugers because numbered and marked parts are next to impossible to replace.

The headstamp on the base of the ammo will help someone here determine when it was made, and by whom...

Congratulations. Thanks for sharing it! Marc

mrerick, as a hospital CEO, I can vouch for that advice about doctors. :thumbsup:

Your post in general provided some excellent advice and comments.