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John Sabato · 06-01-2001, 09:19 AM

I had a vet bring back once that was an S/42 1937 model. All parts matched except the Trigger and Sideplate which were matched to each other, and the rear toggle pin, which was a separate number. It came home with a chipped wooden mag bottom, which when when dropped for the last time, disassembled itself and was discarded. I bought him a functional mexican made replacement at a gun show when I found out he didn't have one.

I knew the vet personally and still do. He captured the luger in this condition from a young German officer in Belgium, doesn't own any other guns, and has Never been to a gunshop or a gunshow. It is one of those "top shelf of the closet wrapped in a soft rag" kind of mementos.

My best guess is a field repair by a German armorer... with parts from a couple of lugers that may have been battle damaged. Does this make that pistol any less authentic? I think not, does it make it valuable to a dyed-in-the-wool collector (I really don't care) If I can ever talk him out of it, It will remain with me until my time on earth is gone. I know this pistol saw combat, and is a relic of a period in the last century that outraged the world, and for which most of the current generation has no appreciation.

A sidebar: This vet told me that he threatened the German officer when he interrogated him, that if he didn't tell him what he wanted to know, he would shoot him with his own pistol... Although I believe he was bluffing, when confronted with the muzzle of his own gun, this soldier gave more than his serial number, name, rank, and date of birth.

I can tell you that I and sure that I NEVER want to experience seeing the muzzle of a gun so close that I can count the lands and grooves unless I am checking an empty bore for fouling!

-JS

06-01-2001, 09:19 AM	#23
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,309 Times in 1,098 Posts	Non-Matchinn Vet Bring backs... I had a vet bring back once that was an S/42 1937 model. All parts matched except the Trigger and Sideplate which were matched to each other, and the rear toggle pin, which was a separate number. It came home with a chipped wooden mag bottom, which when when dropped for the last time, disassembled itself and was discarded. I bought him a functional mexican made replacement at a gun show when I found out he didn't have one. I knew the vet personally and still do. He captured the luger in this condition from a young German officer in Belgium, doesn't own any other guns, and has Never been to a gunshop or a gunshow. It is one of those "top shelf of the closet wrapped in a soft rag" kind of mementos. My best guess is a field repair by a German armorer... with parts from a couple of lugers that may have been battle damaged. Does this make that pistol any less authentic? I think not, does it make it valuable to a dyed-in-the-wool collector (I really don't care) If I can ever talk him out of it, It will remain with me until my time on earth is gone. I know this pistol saw combat, and is a relic of a period in the last century that outraged the world, and for which most of the current generation has no appreciation. A sidebar: This vet told me that he threatened the German officer when he interrogated him, that if he didn't tell him what he wanted to know, he would shoot him with his own pistol... Although I believe he was bluffing, when confronted with the muzzle of his own gun, this soldier gave more than his serial number, name, rank, and date of birth. I can tell you that I and sure that I NEVER want to experience seeing the muzzle of a gun so close that I can count the lands and grooves unless I am checking an empty bore for fouling! -JS