Another new guy needs help/ 1939 42 code P08
 

Hello,
This is my first post on this forum. Thanks for allowing me to join you.
I recently acquired a 1939 P08 Code 42 with all matching numbers except the two magazines that came with it.
I will try to describe it as well as possible and I would appreciate any input, comments, advice or whatever. I can add pictures if anyone wants me to.
S/N is 8604 on the left side of the receiver. Same number on the front of the frame and below it appears to be a U.
8604 also appears on bottom of barrel plus additional number 881 under it.
On the right side are two proof marks Eagle over 63 and one Eagle over a swastika. A smaller Eagle over a swastika is on the right side of the barrel.
Top of the toggle has large 42 and smaller 04. There are 04's on the side plate, ejector, and at least three or four other locations.
Blued finish is original and close to 90%. Upper receiver has turned an almost plum brown color while the toggle is still mostly blue.
Grips are checkered wood with no markings on the inside..
Magazines are are blued steel with aluminum bases. Both stamped on the side 2/1001. The bottoms are marked as follows: (#1) 2 over 3737 and (#2) 2 over 4741. Are these magazines correct for this particular pistol?
Also I would appreciate in anyones opinon what this Luger is worth.
Thanks,

Mike Fitzpatrick

Hello Mike! Welcome to the Forum. So you have been bit by the Luger Bug. Of course, you know it is an incurable disease!!

First, the magazines are post war East German manufacture. They were made on the same machines that the Haenel Magazines were made. They are excellent, but unfortunately they are not the type shipped with your pistol. See if you can find a rolled blue tube, aluminum bottom, with an E/63 mark on the bottom, along with a serial number. It will be extremely difficult to find your exact number, but try to get as close as you can to the "U" suffix. Good Luck!!

Your pistol was completed about August 1939, give or take a month. The plum coloration is quite natural for this period Luger. It is thought to have been a problem with the blueing process.

The "04" numbers should also appear on the trigger, hold open lever, breech block and firing pin, if you ever field strip it! The grips on the 1939 Code 42 are rarely marked.

If you can show us some photos, perhaps some value numbers can be provided. I would say certainly less than $1000.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Hi Frank,
Glad to be here. I think its great that everybody is so willing to help us "newbies" with advice / information.
I had a Luger back in the mid-60's when I was in the military. Bought it from a guy in the barracks who needed money for $60.00. Then like a fool I traded it for a Colt Cobra .38 Cal. Always regretted doing that but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Always wanted a replacement and probably more then one.
I appreciate the information you posted.
Any recommendations as to who sells magazines?
I will work on getting photos up in the next hour or so.
Thanks,
Mike

Hello Mike and welcome! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

E-bay has lots of magazines for Lugers for sale, watch prices and fakes.

Several people on the forum, also sell magazines from time to time.

The gun board auctions, seem to have HIGH prices for luger magazines.

Ed

Thanks Ed.
I contacted the person I got the Luger from and asked him what the story was.
He said he got it without any magazines and picked the two I got with it at a gun show.

Mike

Pictures of 1939 Code 42 S/N 8604
I hope they are not too dark. :)

http://www.cyberonic.net/~mikef6/badges/P08L.JPG

http://www.cyberonic.net/~mikef6/badges/P08R.JPG

http://www.cyberonic.net/~mikef6/badges/P083.JPG

Mike, Your 2 DDR Schmeisser mag should serve you well for shooting your luger. I'd be worried if these had come with the PO8 originally, that it might be an importer marked recent import. But since that is not the case, the closest correct blued folded tube mags with E/63 numbered aluminum bottoms the I have in stock are #8482U exc @$95 and #9701U vg @$75. Tom

Hi Tom,
After getting "stung" on a P-38 that I bought which had import marks (shame on me for not asking the seller).
I did check the Luger very carefully with a magnifying glass and a jewelers loupe and found nothing that might be considered an import mark.
Would you know where the import marks on Lugers are usually placed.
In the case of the P-38 they were on the upper part of the backstrap. Very tiny lettering NHM CO SACCA 9mm GERMAN.
I'll contact you regarding one of your magazines via private email.
Thanks,
Mike

Finally got up the nerve to field strip my Luger. Wow! Worked on it for over 2 hours :( Definitely not a 1911A1.
Anyhow here are the results:
Back of side plate stamped 87. The 7 is not as deeply stamped as the 8 but it is there.
Trigger assembly 04
Breech block 04
Firing Pin 04
Hold open lever 04
Toggle Pin 04
Also noticed on closer examination a small Eagle over 63 on top of barrel. Smaller then the E/63 Waffenamts on the right side of the receiver.
Same size as the Eagle over swastika on barrel.
I also found a very small N stamped into the frame under the left grip right below the main spring. Any idea what this means?
Some minor rust and light pitting in this area also.
Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike, your Luger seems to be as right as rain, all legit!! Congratulations! One of Tom Heller's magazines would be a nice addition and is a "proper" magazine. While not a matching magazine, it's about the next best thing.

I would venture your pistol is worth in the vacinity of $1000, give or take a bit, with the addition of the new magazine.

I have seen import marks, on the bottom of the barrel (Yuk), in the right side of the receiver (Yuk) and under the left grip (OK). Ted Green (Thor) has seen many more that I have, so maybe he will comment!!

Hi Frank,
Thanks for your input.
I already contacted Tom and made arrangements.
Here is a jpg of the area of the grip frame with the "N" stamped in.
It does not appear to be freshly done so it makes me wonder.
Sorry for the quality of the jpg but I am using a flatbed scanner.
Mike

http://www.cyberonic.net/~mikef6/badges/P084.JPG

Mike, The "N" stamped on frame is just an original inspector's mark. As I recall the NHM Co marking on your P38 is that of New Helvicia Marketing Co. (Old Sacramento Armory on J St.) in Sacramento, Ca. TH

Thanks Tom.
The NHM CO markings on the P-38 were done with an electronic engraver.
Mike

I haven't noticed that the condition of the bore is described. A poor bore could lower the value around $300.

Hello Mike,

Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on your infection with the luger-bug... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

You will need to get that field-strip time down from 2.0 hours to 2-3 minutes... :D

Regards,

Pete.. <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

I have a silly question. I understand the early Lugers were rust blued ( = outside only ).

What with the late 30�´s and 40�´s salt blued ones? I suppose they are blued inside, too?

Thanks, Hermann

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Aaron:
<strong>I haven't noticed that the condition of the bore is described. A poor bore could lower the value around $300.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Hi Aaron,
Bore appears clean with no pitting. Riffling appears to be in good shape.
Mike

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Pete Ebbink:
<strong>Hello Mike,

Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on your infection with the luger-bug... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

You will need to get that field-strip time down from 2.0 hours to 2-3 minutes... :D

Regards,

Pete.. <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">

Hi Pete,
Glad to be aboard. :D
2-3 minutes!!!! <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />
Like I said, "it's definitely not a 1911A1".
It took me 1/2 an hour to get the firing pin back in <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" />
I'll work on it though!

Mike <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />