1940 AND 41 DATED 42 CODE VARIATIONS
The 42 manufacturing code continued to be used by Mauser on Army contract Lugers until early 1941. All have SE/655 SE/655 acceptance stamps and the late Test Proof (LTP) on their right receiver.
Those manufactured in 1940 bear the full date 1940 and have a serial range of 5932z – 82xxn. Approximately 138,000 were manufactured.
Those manufactured in early1941 have a two digit date 41 and a P.08 stamped with a round dot on the left frame panel. Their serial range is 2176n-4490o with a few scattered in the “p”, “q” and “r’ suffix serial range. Serial range overlap with 1940 42 and byf 41. Approximately 11,500 were manufactured.
There is considerable overlap in serial range between 1940 42 Code, 41 42 Code and 41byf Code.
Both blued crimped and blued extruded center pinned magazines reported. The 41 dated variation is mostly found with blued extruded center pinned magazines.
Bakelite grips and wood grips
Almost all 1940 42 Code and 41 42 Code Lugers have wood grips. A very few have black bakelite grips. While most likely the black grips were added at manufacture, some collectors contend that these were replacement grips.
Acceptance Stamps
The right receiver acceptance stamps for 1940 42 Code and 41 42 Code Lugers are
SE655 SE655 LTP
Figure 1. Left side view of 1940 and 41 dated 42 Code Lugers. Top to bottom:
1940 42 Code, serial number 3369h with left barrel acceptance of
SE655
41 42 Code, serial number 2977o with P.08 with round period on left frame. It has left barrel acceptance of
SE655
Figure 2. Tops of 1940 and 41 dated 42 Code Lugers. Top to bottom: serial number 3369h and
serial number 2977o..
Figure 3. Barrel and front frame serial numbers of 1940 and 41 dated 42 Code Lugers. Left to right serial number 3369h and serial number 2977o. There is no letter suffix on the barrel. All have a barrel gauge: 8,81 and 8,82.
Figure 4a. Matching magazine bottoms 1940 42 Code, 3369 / h; and 41 42 Code 2977 / o
*
Figure 4b. Left side of matching extruded blued center pinned magazines. They are stamped with
E/37 122 E/37 acceptance stamps.
Figure 5. Right slant view 1940 42 code, sn 3369h. .
Figure 6. Right slant view 41 42 Code, sn 2977o.
Figure 7. 1940 42 Code, sn 3369h, details of
SE/655 SE/655 right receiver acceptance stamps. In most cases the receiver was polished/blued after application of the acceptance stamps and proofs. These are often more washed out in comparison to the barrel acceptance stamps and proofs.
Figure 8. 41 42 Code, sn 2977o, details of
SE/655 SE/655 right receiver acceptance stamps.
Figure 9. Inside surface of Grips.
1940 42 Code, sn 3369h SE/655 SE/655 wood grips with no markings.
41 42 Code, sn 2977o, SE/655 SE/655, wood grips with O and W worker stamps
42 code Luger serial number data in links below:
1939 S/42 and 1939 42 DATA REQUEST (Multi-page thread 1 2)Jan C Still
http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=11442
1940/1941 DATES MILITARY CODES 42 and byf DATA
http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=3695
Note: comments, corrections, criticism, additions or updates greatly appreciated.
Jan