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11-02-2001, 04:48 PM

Of course, there's a "Long Story", and there's a "Short Story"... ha-ha!! Sooo... here's the real Short Story:

My piece is an S/42 "1936" dated specimen with the usual military proof markings (E/63, plus the standard more-feathered Eagle). No parts seem to be "stawed". The only piece of a clearly different metal is the 'bullet-in- chamber indicator'(a dark copper-color).

What seems odd about this piece is it's superb over-all level of finish. It's exterior is of a polished "mirror like" finish... the barrel interior is rifled and also highly polished. All interior surfaces appear to be highly polished (though not quite as mirror-like as the exterior).

Though I'm a "one gun guy", I've seen & handled several hundred Lugers at shows over the years (plus I own a few books - such as Still - on the topic). I've never seen in person or in print any S/42 Luger that approaches this one in quality. I live in a very restictive NE US state... so I've never been allowed to take my piece out for show & tell.

One Luger collecting fellow (I saw his 27 Luger collection)who saw my piece (in 1985) offered me a fantastic story about this being one of a special "celebratory" production of 200 pieces that initially came off of the Masuer production lines in 1936 (only of which 3 were known to still exist in 1985). I've never seen or heard of this story any place since. I suspected the guy was full of hooey... but his cash looked real... and he offered me alot of it (I didn't take it).

The "Long Story" covers where this family heirloom came from (perhaps the all-too-familiar "Uncle-to-Grandfather-to-Me" bit), and the longer details on the hooey-sounding Mauser story of the 1985 Luger collector.

Does anybody have any insight into this ? Are such way-pretty S/42 1936's easy enough to come by... at least, easier than just 3 (ha-ha!) ?

Thanks for your time & efforts !

Billy G.

11-02-2001, 04:48 PM	#2
Billy G. Guest Posts: n/a	The Short Story Of course, there's a "Long Story", and there's a "Short Story"... ha-ha!! Sooo... here's the real Short Story: My piece is an S/42 "1936" dated specimen with the usual military proof markings (E/63, plus the standard more-feathered Eagle). No parts seem to be "stawed". The only piece of a clearly different metal is the 'bullet-in- chamber indicator'(a dark copper-color). What seems odd about this piece is it's superb over-all level of finish. It's exterior is of a polished "mirror like" finish... the barrel interior is rifled and also highly polished. All interior surfaces appear to be highly polished (though not quite as mirror-like as the exterior). Though I'm a "one gun guy", I've seen & handled several hundred Lugers at shows over the years (plus I own a few books - such as Still - on the topic). I've never seen in person or in print any S/42 Luger that approaches this one in quality. I live in a very restictive NE US state... so I've never been allowed to take my piece out for show & tell. One Luger collecting fellow (I saw his 27 Luger collection)who saw my piece (in 1985) offered me a fantastic story about this being one of a special "celebratory" production of 200 pieces that initially came off of the Masuer production lines in 1936 (only of which 3 were known to still exist in 1985). I've never seen or heard of this story any place since. I suspected the guy was full of hooey... but his cash looked real... and he offered me alot of it (I didn't take it). The "Long Story" covers where this family heirloom came from (perhaps the all-too-familiar "Uncle-to-Grandfather-to-Me" bit), and the longer details on the hooey-sounding Mauser story of the 1985 Luger collector. Does anybody have any insight into this ? Are such way-pretty S/42 1936's easy enough to come by... at least, easier than just 3 (ha-ha!) ? Thanks for your time & efforts ! Billy G.