Luger p.08 1938 s/42
 

Hi!
I have the opportunity to get a luger, it seems unusual, but original... I am confused, please help me!
Thanks a lot!
Greetings from Croatia.

What are your reservations? It does seem to have a polished look to the receiver but I can't tell if it's just the way the light in the pictures are, maybe post more closeup pictures in natural light. That might help.

If you would state what is confusing that would help in addressing. It is not an unusual Luger, it appears to be a WWII era Mauser Luger with standard Army markings.

From what I can see in your photos I do not agree it is original. I think I see bluing over light pitting and light buffing in some photos. The finish does not match the grip wear. I cannot quite make out the chamber date; that would help in assessing finish. Absent better photos I assess it as re-blued, but it is always difficult to judge from photos and I'd need more photos taken outside in indirect natural light to give a better evaluation.

It depends on price as to if it is worth acquiring or not, I'd say up to about $1,100 USD is reasonable in the USA for this pistol assuming it is refinished. I don't know what constitutes reasonable price in your country.

Are you guys not seeing that this pistol is a chrome, or nickle finish? Not original at all.

I see plum colored finish on the receiver and toggles, a very common original finish on mass produced Mauser lugers. I definitely do not see chrome!

I see no chrome/nickel finish. I do see the plum color on the receiver and toggles. We need much better photos then these for a better evaluation.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll get better photos!

Must be the way it looks, or my eyes are fooling me.

There's a "sticky" in the New Collectors' section that advises how to take the pics.

I didn't see the silver color, either--'cause it just doesn't show up in the pics. The plum color may also be an illusion at this point, although it is not uncommon on pistols Mauser made while dialing in the salt bluing process they switched to in 1937.

As an aside, ALL original rear toggle joints of Erma's KGP 69 pistols are plum.

It's possible that the color balance of your monitor is off.

Like others, I only see the plum colors indicating a weak, possibly overused hot bluing solution.

There was a period during the early mass production of Mauser Lugers that they had quite a variance in finish. I have a 1936 with very thin bluing that appears original.

The plum color may be a long term reaction to certain salt bluing chemicals used in the bluing process, and the alloy of steel (particularly the nickle content).

Here is few better photos. I think P.08 it has been restored.

More...

The S-coupling link (the s-shaped part that dangles below the toggle) is blued in the new photo set. This part should normally be 'in the white', un-blued. That it is blued is definitive proof of re-bluing.

Also there are no halos on the barrel serial; on this year there should be. All told, the evidence is definitive that this pistol has been refinished. However, it appears to have been a well done refinish and the pistol remains a handsome P 08.