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mrerick · 11-01-2016, 04:21 PM

Hello David, and welcome to the forum.

You have a rather rare Simson & Co. manufactured Luger that was one of the last they made during 1933 at the very end of the Weimar Republic. Less than 12,000 (total) were made by this company, and all the parts in it were marked with inspection die stamps. This makes them unique as well.

The photos showing the very dark bluing with edges that appear rounded gives the impression that it was refinished. So do the pitted areas of the trigger plate that appear to be blued over. This appearance may be due to the lighting which is uneven and not flat - and that can tend to change the actual way the surfaces look.

An experienced collector can determine the originality of the finish by inspecting it in hand.

A very small number of gunsmiths have any experience working with Lugers. Use extreme care allowing an inexperienced gunsmith to disassemble your gun. Like doctors, gunsmiths will rarely tell you what they do not know.

While a refinish would affect collector valuation, these pistols are so rare (and finding one with it's original magazine, even more rare) that there is still considerable interest.

If you have a holster with it, do not store it in that holster. That can lead to the corrosion you see on the trigger plate. If it is missing the takedown lever spring, replace it prior to trying to fire it.

Most of us do not recommend firing collectable or rare Lugers because numbered and marked parts are next to impossible to replace.

The headstamp on the base of the ammo will help someone here determine when it was made, and by whom...

Congratulations. Thanks for sharing it! Marc

11-01-2016, 04:21 PM	#19
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Hello David, and welcome to the forum. You have a rather rare Simson & Co. manufactured Luger that was one of the last they made during 1933 at the very end of the Weimar Republic. Less than 12,000 (total) were made by this company, and all the parts in it were marked with inspection die stamps. This makes them unique as well. The photos showing the very dark bluing with edges that appear rounded gives the impression that it was refinished. So do the pitted areas of the trigger plate that appear to be blued over. This appearance may be due to the lighting which is uneven and not flat - and that can tend to change the actual way the surfaces look. An experienced collector can determine the originality of the finish by inspecting it in hand. A very small number of gunsmiths have any experience working with Lugers. Use extreme care allowing an inexperienced gunsmith to disassemble your gun. Like doctors, gunsmiths will rarely tell you what they do not know. While a refinish would affect collector valuation, these pistols are so rare (and finding one with it's original magazine, even more rare) that there is still considerable interest. If you have a holster with it, do not store it in that holster. That can lead to the corrosion you see on the trigger plate. If it is missing the takedown lever spring, replace it prior to trying to fire it. Most of us do not recommend firing collectable or rare Lugers because numbered and marked parts are next to impossible to replace. The headstamp on the base of the ammo will help someone here determine when it was made, and by whom... Congratulations. Thanks for sharing it! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.