Hello,
I usually confine my collecting to US military firearms but confess to having wanted a German Luger since I was in elementary school. Well, while visiting my last surviving uncle over the Thanksgiving holiday he presented me with this attractive German Luger with hand made stag grips in what I now know is a P38 holster. He told me how my father (his brother-in-law) had presented it to him around 1961 (five years before I was born). I believe it has been reblued, but because of the family history I have no intentions of attempting a restoration. I would however like to learn as much as I can about it and what an approximate value might be for insurance purposes.
Hereâ??s the data:
Serial number: 2XX (number in front of trigger guard has a script â??oâ? beneath it.)
Toggle: S/42
Chamber: 1939
Toggle knob type: Squared and knurled
No grip safety
Stock lug is present
Caliber: 9mm
Grips: Hand made stag
Thumb safety marked GESICHERT
Extractor marked GELADEN
Barrel 4â?
Correct proofs of right side of frame, bottom of barrel and side of breech block. (According to WorldofLugers.com web site)
Magazine: Chrome or some type of bright plating, bright blue spring, machined follower, black plastic bottom plug. The only marking is a script P on the back near the bottom.
Grip screws, breech block, trigger, magazine release, safety lever, safety sear all appear to be chrome or nickel-plated.
Holster: P38, black leather, marked CXB 43 in very good to excellent condition, still usable with no missing brittle or fragile leather.
Overall the pistol looks nice, was not over polished and all the markings remain intact. The pistol has all matching numbered parts and because I know the history of the pistol for the last 40 years I am confident the parts are original. The bore is excellent and it is in excellent mechanical condition except for a missing side plate assembly.
Where can I get the correct side plate assembly? Gun Parts Corp lists them but I am concerned they might be reproductions.
Is there anything particularly interesting about this pistol?
The polished blued finish looks too smooth for a military firearm, but my experience is limited to US firearms which are typically parkerized. All the markings are still present but the proofs on the side of the frame near the barrel look like they may have been partially obscured by over polishing. I posted a link below to a picture of these proofs. Am I correct in saying it was refinished or could this be the original finish?
I can post more pictures if there is any question.
As I know little about the Luger market would anyone here know an approximate value for insurance purposes?
Thanks,
Darrow
Proof Marks
http://home.att.net/~p.gervais/Luger_With_Mag.JPG