1940 Police Eagle L
 

I picked up this Luger the other day (1996) at the Great Western Gun Show in Pamona, Commiefornia. I paid $1,650.00 It is a Mauser Banner Police Eagle L with number 1 matching magazine. All original, original finish and all matching including magazine. Typical holster wear in excellent condition. According to Legacy Collectibles, there were only about 12,000 of these Eagle L's produced. So I finally took a few more pics of it and decided to share this nice example with you all. Enjoy, Mark

Pretty gun. And quite a bargain. I'd buy them all day long at that price. In 1996 though, that was the going rate.

and now for the rest of the story......
 

So this Luger has no serial number stamped on its barrel!?

The barrel witness mark and fit all look original and correct for this being the original barrel. The barrel has the measurement stamp 8,82 and an Eagle N stamp on the front sight base of the barrel. Barrel is 9mm, with some frost in the grooves and finish and finish wear consistent with the rest of the Luger. This is an original finish Luger in excellent condition, so not a likely candidate for period barrel replacement, unless of course it got a bulged barrel. There are no 42 stamps either. So it looks like it left the factory with no serial number applied to the barrel?

Am I correct in believing a 1940 police eagle L Mauser Banner should have a serial number stamped on the barrel? Or has this been an occasional variant? My other non police 1940 Mauser Banners have serialized barrels. Again this Luger looks perfectly correct to me and seems to have it's original barrel to me. Thoughts? Comments? Thanks, Mark

more pics

Eagle N

This one, serial 2293x, has a serial numbered barrel.

https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1706937843

From left to right, they are 1938 through 1942 Police Banners. Only the 1938 and 1940 have serial numbered barrels. It would appear that the numbered barrels would be a random variation.

https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1706937843

https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1706938386

Thanks Gunbugs. Mystery solved. I feel better now, seeing that it is hit or miss with Mauser Banner Police barrel serialization.

That is a very nice set of Police Banners, thanks for sharing. Curious what Eagle Letter each one is, ie Eagle L, Eagle C etc.

Thanks furshlugginer, that pretty much confirms it.

Thanks again, Mark

The '38 is Eagle K. The others are Eagle L.

And, according to Still, about 3300 1940 eagle L Banner police pistols were procured. The scarce one is the 1938 Eagle K, with only about 275 guns procured.

Good to know! Thanks Gunbugs

Can confirm 1939 Banner "Eagle L" police are not marked with serial on barrel. Its part of the "W" block guns

Mauser Banner 1941 small date.
 

My Mauser Banner 1941 small date, Eagle L, s/n 9449x with 1 matching mag has no serial number on barrel.

I would post a pic but this site only lets me post URL to a thread

Tried the procedures outlined in the FAQ or New Members' section?

https://forum.lugerforum.com/showthr...sting+pictures