Needing info on P08 luger

jignfrog · 07-08-2011, 08:50 PM

Wanting to know a little information on this gun. Not wanting to sell it. I like it way to much. I would like to know what it is worth and what kind of history it might have. In my limited searchs I haven't found one with a lower serial number ( if 733 is the serial number ) So I am real interested what you guys think. It has 1940 on it with 733 on the side and and both mags and 33 allover the gun Thanks in advance.

lugerholsterrepair · 07-08-2011, 08:58 PM

Worth say..$400-500 made in 1940. reblued and faux ivory grips installed. Now you own it. That's all the history I have!

Norme · 07-08-2011, 09:14 PM

Hi Ron, Welcome to the forum! The full serial number of your gun is 733h, which appears on the front of the frame. As Jerry has told you, it has been refinished and re-gripped and is now of no interest to collectors. However, it will make a handsome shooter and we expect you will have a lot of fun with it. Regards, Norm

jignfrog · 07-08-2011, 09:42 PM

Part of me likes that it isn't worth a lot so I can go shoot it now. But part of me wanted Adoft to have owned it.

That is ok though. But I am interested on how you knew it had been reblued since my pictures really aren't that clear. ( I do believe you though ) I can see how you knew it had non factory grips. I have the hoster as well. So it will be a great conversation piece as well as hopefully a good shooter. The books I have read says the 42 was made on or before 1940 how come it has such a low serial number? to be made in 1940? Sorry for all the questions. I really like this gun and might be very interested in getting more of them. So the more info I know the better. Thanks.

EricW · 07-08-2011, 10:18 PM

Ron,
The photos show that the edges are no longer sharp from the buffing prior to the reblue. The cursive letter below the number at the front of the frame (looks like a "b" in your last photo?) is part of the serial number. If it is a b then your gun is 733b. There were 10,000 guns/numbers produced in a letter block, then they incremented the letter for the next 10,000 guns.

JCP · 07-09-2011, 01:01 AM

Ron,
My Luger shares a similar story as yours. Mine is a 1917 Erfurt that has been buffed and reblued. Some of my proof marks have been buffed so badly that only parts of the proof remain. The unit markings on the front strap are gone. Mine came with a set of broken mother of pearl grips and some cheap magazine. I got my "ivory" grips at a gun show and ordered 2 Mec-Gar mags. With the new mags it has never malfunctioned. I use W-W 115 gr FMJ without any problems. Enjoy it as a shooter. Joe

jignfrog · 07-09-2011, 07:50 AM

Thanks for the information. I am glad there was a forum like this to get information about the luger. I will enjoy shooting it. Thanks

sheepherder · 07-09-2011, 06:51 PM

I like the looks of the smooth white/cream grips (but not the checkered)...They would look really good on a nickeled Luger...

JCP · 07-09-2011, 11:08 PM

I didn't think much of the checkered "ivory" either but they beat the broken mother of pearl that were on it. Besides they only cost $20 and they are kind of growing on me. I have a buddy making a set of walnut grips. Joe

sheepherder · 07-10-2011, 09:46 AM

What turned me off on the Ivory (or even faux Ivory) was that they yellow with age...I have had several sets of Melvin Tyler's faux Ivory grips; they look great while they stay white, but 'age' rapidly...to yellow...

alanint · 07-10-2011, 02:08 PM

Which is exactly what real ivory grips do.....Some people like this yellowing so much they try to duplicate it.
it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Edward Tinker · 07-10-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postino

What turned me off on the Ivory (or even faux Ivory) was that they yellow with age...I have had several sets of Melvin Tyler's faux Ivory grips; they look great while they stay white, but 'age' rapidly...to yellow...

That is funny, because I actually like the yellowing from age

MikeP · 07-11-2011, 01:02 PM

Used to see a lot of Stag grips on lugers.
I thought they were cool.

07-08-2011, 08:50 PM	#1
jignfrog New User Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Needing info on P08 luger Wanting to know a little information on this gun. Not wanting to sell it. I like it way to much. I would like to know what it is worth and what kind of history it might have. In my limited searchs I haven't found one with a lower serial number ( if 733 is the serial number ) So I am real interested what you guys think. It has 1940 on it with 733 on the side and and both mags and 33 allover the gun Thanks in advance. Attached Thumbnails

07-08-2011, 08:58 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,771 Thanks: 4,922 Thanked 3,123 Times in 1,434 Posts	Worth say..$400-500 made in 1940. reblued and faux ivory grips installed. Now you own it. That's all the history I have! __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-09-2011, 01:01 AM	#6
JCP User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 5 Posts	Ron, My Luger shares a similar story as yours. Mine is a 1917 Erfurt that has been buffed and reblued. Some of my proof marks have been buffed so badly that only parts of the proof remain. The unit markings on the front strap are gone. Mine came with a set of broken mother of pearl grips and some cheap magazine. I got my "ivory" grips at a gun show and ordered 2 Mec-Gar mags. With the new mags it has never malfunctioned. I use W-W 115 gr FMJ without any problems. Enjoy it as a shooter. Joe Attached Thumbnails

07-09-2011, 06:51 PM	#8
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	I like the looks of the smooth white/cream grips (but not the checkered)...They would look really good on a nickeled Luger... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

07-10-2011, 09:46 AM	#10
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	What turned me off on the Ivory (or even faux Ivory) was that they yellow with age...I have had several sets of Melvin Tyler's faux Ivory grips; they look great while they stay white, but 'age' rapidly...to yellow... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

07-08-2011, 09:14 PM	#3
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Ron, Welcome to the forum! The full serial number of your gun is 733h, which appears on the front of the frame. As Jerry has told you, it has been refinished and re-gripped and is now of no interest to collectors. However, it will make a handsome shooter and we expect you will have a lot of fun with it. Regards, Norm

07-08-2011, 09:42 PM	#4
jignfrog New User Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Part of me likes that it isn't worth a lot so I can go shoot it now. But part of me wanted Adoft to have owned it. That is ok though. But I am interested on how you knew it had been reblued since my pictures really aren't that clear. ( I do believe you though ) I can see how you knew it had non factory grips. I have the hoster as well. So it will be a great conversation piece as well as hopefully a good shooter. The books I have read says the 42 was made on or before 1940 how come it has such a low serial number? to be made in 1940? Sorry for all the questions. I really like this gun and might be very interested in getting more of them. So the more info I know the better. Thanks.

07-08-2011, 10:18 PM	#5
EricW User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: CA, USA Posts: 62 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Ron, The photos show that the edges are no longer sharp from the buffing prior to the reblue. The cursive letter below the number at the front of the frame (looks like a "b" in your last photo?) is part of the serial number. If it is a b then your gun is 733b. There were 10,000 guns/numbers produced in a letter block, then they incremented the letter for the next 10,000 guns.

07-09-2011, 07:50 AM	#7
jignfrog New User Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the information. I am glad there was a forum like this to get information about the luger. I will enjoy shooting it. Thanks

07-09-2011, 11:08 PM	#9
JCP User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 5 Posts	I didn't think much of the checkered "ivory" either but they beat the broken mother of pearl that were on it. Besides they only cost $20 and they are kind of growing on me. I have a buddy making a set of walnut grips. Joe

07-10-2011, 02:08 PM	#11
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Which is exactly what real ivory grips do.....Some people like this yellowing so much they try to duplicate it. it's all in the eye of the beholder.

07-11-2011, 01:02 PM	#13
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	Used to see a lot of Stag grips on lugers. I thought they were cool.