1939 '42' code Luger
 

I have a Luger I picked up in a trade, all numbers match except the magazine, which is an aluminum bottomed replacement mag with no markings. I'd give the overall condition at 90%, but the safety looks like it was polished (probably to clean off surface rust?). It has DWM proof marks,some honest holster wear and the right grip is dimpled in the center (I'd guess from the stud holding a holster closed)and the grips have shrunk a little. I had the idea this pistol was worth around $500.

A buddy of mine over at THR said... no way with all matching numbers, that's a collectors item worth over a grand.

I've been shooting it occasionally... should I? And what do you think it's worth?

http://img11.exs.cx/img11/2181/mauserleft.jpg

http://img11.exs.cx/img11/9635/mauserright.jpg

http://img11.exs.cx/img11/9691/mauserdate.jpg

If all matching and blued, then yes, a 1939 is worth a lot more than $500. $500 is about what a "shooter" gun is worth.

Welcome to the forum, and I'm afraid I have no idea what the hell THR stands for :D

It is usually better to post the pictures on this forum, in that way, as long as the post is here, the pictures are too, but they are good photos!

I must be close to you, I live down south of Denver....

Ed

I'm a moderator at TheHighRoad.Org, and used to moderate at the TheFiringLine.com.

I did a good deal of research on Lugers before I did my trade... so I know mine is a Mauser.

To me, pre-WW2 guns are some of the best made out there (I shoot my 1917 Colt a lot), is there any reason not to shoot it?

Only that if a matched part gets broken, then many times its value is cut in half!

To tell you the truth, I believe that you got yourself a good trade!

And your choice of guns pre-WW2 is right in line with my thinking, a Glock might be a sweet piece, but it doesn't have the mystique, pizazz, etc., that an old guns has, let alone the history involved!

Ed

Dr.Rob, I too would like to welcome you to the Luger Forum. I believe that there is a miscommunication. You said:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">It has DWM proof marks,some honest holster . . . </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">There should NOT be DWM proof marks on a Mauser Luger!!!! I think your friend is closer to the right price than your guess. :)

Maybe I mis-spoke aren't the little waffen eagles DWM proofs?

Dr Rob:
Can't tell from your photos but I'll bet your receiver is marked with E/63 or E/655 acceptance codes. These would be Mauser, and right for your Luger. DWM was out of business way before 1939.

Regards Ken D

OK I filled out the collector's sheet with all the markings I can find on it. There are some light marks on the right ride of the receiver but I can't really make them out---it looks like a dot over the number 53 or 63 stamped twice, followed by what looks like another eagle proof over a star. They are stamped very lightly compared to all the other marks on the pistol.

Hi again Dr. Rob,

The most rear marking on the right side is probably an eagle-over-63, then another eagle-over-63, then an eagle-over-swastika. The first two are inspection or Waffenamt Marks, the last one is a firing proof mark.

These are all marks associated with Mauser.

Sorry I was confusing DWM with Wermacht ie: German Army Acceptance marks.

So back to the original question: shoot it or don't and what's it worth?

I found a similar pistol for sale for $1300... can it really be worth that much withou a matching magazine? (not that I plan on selling, just want to know for insurance.)

Dr.Rob, First, I must ask if the pistol has been refinished. The photos show a polished finish, typical of a reblue. If it hasn't been refinished, and the numbers match, then shooting it may cause one or more of the numbered parts to break. If that happens, you have changed the status of the pistol from a collectable to a "shooter"

The grips also look very new.

If it hasn't been reblued and the grips are original, then I have already mentioned that your friend is close to the value of the Luger. Without seeing better photos than those that you've posted, that's the best guess I can make.

Those marks on the right are so shallow they could have been polished off and re-blued, though the rest of the pistol appears to have the kind of wear you'd see on a gun that old. Maybe touched up, but not a complete re-do.

Inside the left grip panel near the top is a letter Q, midway down is the number 41 with what looks like crossed swords stamped over the 4.

Dr.Rob, The "Q" and the "X" inside your grip panel are inspector's marks. The #41 is the last two digit of the orig PO8 that it came from. Generally, both grip panels should be marked the same and matching numbers to the metal parts of the pistol. TH

Dr. Rob,

You have a very nice Luger, but without examining it in person (Ed Tinker and Wes Terrell live close enough to you that you ought to get together for a hands-on inspection), the finish appearance in your photos lead me to believe that the gun has been refinished during it's lifetime. Probably long ago, but the hi polish smoothness seen in some areas in your photos is not typical of guns made by Mauser in 1939. This would reduce the collector value somewhat, but this is still a great looking Luger. If it has been refinished, I would place the current market value around $750-850... if it has not been refinished, then the earlier estimates of $1000 or more are more in line with the true value.

Just my http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/twocents.jpg

Dr.Rob, Most of the 1939 Code 42 Lugers had grips that were not marked on the inside. If your grips marked "41" and do not match the last two digits of the pistol, then they have been substituted.

The more I see and the more information you provide, sways my judgement that the pistol should be classified as a shooter, and as such the value is probably less than $800.

Thanks for all the info guys!

I thought I knew a little bit, and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

I'll keep stopping by.

Rob