Need help identifying Luger. Please

creature7 · 10-02-2015, 03:56 AM

I'm in the process of liquidating my grandmother's estate for her. She's moved into assisted living and it is quite expensive. I was given(by him when he was alive) two of my grandfather's Lugers but she wants to sell this one. I'd buy it but I can't swing it. He fought through the Battle of the Bulge and brought back a bunch of stuff.

Anyway, I've spent some time researching and I think I've figured out all I can. I hate to pester you guys with this inquiry but I really need to get this done for her. We're trying to figure out any information regarding identification and value. I would greatly appreciate the help.

The info I have is that it's a S/42 with a serial of 6251. It has all matching serial numbers and all the strawing seems to be intact. I have a leather holster and two magazines. It has multiple Nazi markings on it. From what I could find out that means it's a 1937 Mauser made Luger.

Here are some pictures:

Again, we would greatly appreciate any information you guys could give us. Thanks

kurusu · 10-02-2015, 07:53 AM

You got it right. It's a 1937 Mauser made P08. Seems to be in original condition.
has the aluminiun bottom magazine a number matching to the gun?
The other one was most likely made in 1942.

jonnyc · 10-02-2015, 10:09 AM

Please forgive my intrusion, but I recently went through something similar with my uncle.
1. If your GF gave the pistols to you, it really doesn't matter what your GM wants to do with them. If you are paying the assisted-living bills it is then your decision.
2. The $2500(+-) that the pistol will bring isn't much along side the bills for a nursing home or assisted-living facility. The family history of the pistol might be worth more than the cash payment.
3. Not knowing your Medicare/Medicaid situation......if your goal is to divest enough for Medicaid to kick-in, the pistol is now your asset, not hers.

PS-I am not a lawyer, just had to recently deal with some similar issues.

mrerick · 10-02-2015, 11:54 AM

Hi James and welcome to the forum.

You have a 1937 Mauser made Luger. It is likely rust blued with strawed parts.

Post good evenly lit (outdoor indirect light, no flash) pictures showing closeups of the serial number with suffix letter in front of the trigger on the frame, and of the base of the aluminum bottom magazine.

The bakelite base magazine is valuable, particularly since it matches all 1941 and 1942 made Mauser lugers. Perhaps $250

Simpsons is selling a holster marked like yours made by Karl Böcker. He's asking $500 retail.

There were not many 1937 Strawed and Rust Blued Lugers made, and they are from just the first couple of months of that year - a year when they transitioned to salt blued finishes. $2000 or so with a non-matched magazine. Add another $750 with one matched properly.

That all makes this one more rare and more valuable... particularly if the aluminum base magazine is matching.

Collector to collector prices are about 30% less than retail.

If finances are an issue for your grandmother, you really need to consult someone. Start with some of the senior citizen offices at a county level and state offices for the aging for references.

creature7 · 10-02-2015, 09:59 PM

Thank you so much for the information everyone. I'll take some more pictures tomorrow in the daylight and post them up. Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

DonVoigt · 10-03-2015, 10:38 PM

I guess your forgot the pictures, not that it is on sale on the "other" forum?

MikeP · 10-03-2015, 10:56 PM

I just went thru the estate liquidation thing for my mother.
She was no longer competant and I had to make evry dedcision about everything.
Not a pleasant moment involved.
If your GF gave you the guns, they are yours-is there a dispute?

The state will require your GM to have a mere pittance of anything before they step in and help.

I hope you hve not listed the guns as part of her possessions-does she know about this?

Sorry about her health, but time goes on and the value of these guns will be gone in one month if they are not in your possession.

creature7 · 10-03-2015, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrerick

Hi James and welcome to the forum.

You have a 1937 Mauser made Luger. It is likely rust blued with strawed parts.

Post good evenly lit (outdoor indirect light, no flash) pictures showing closeups of the serial number with suffix letter in front of the trigger on the frame, and of the base of the aluminum bottom magazine.

The bakelite base magazine is valuable, particularly since it matches all 1941 and 1942 made Mauser lugers. Perhaps $250

Simpsons is selling a holster marked like yours made by Karl Böcker. He's asking $500 retail.

There were not many 1937 Strawed and Rust Blued Lugers made, and they are from just the first couple of months of that year - a year when they transitioned to salt blued finishes. $2000 or so with a non-matched magazine. Add another $750 with one matched properly.

That all makes this one more rare and more valuable... particularly if the aluminum base magazine is matching.

Collector to collector prices are about 30% less than retail.

If finances are an issue for your grandmother, you really need to consult someone. Start with some of the senior citizen offices at a county level and state offices for the aging for references.

I'm not sure if there's a letter or not but there IS a mark. It looks kind of like a bird almost. Here's a pic:

There's another number in between that mark and the serial on the bottom. It almost looks like "8,81" I can't tell if it's a comma or a partial number in between the two eights. Here's a pic:

You might have to save the pic on your PC in order to zoom in on it and see what I'm talking about.

I don't think the magazine is matching. Here is a pic of the base plate:

tharpo · 10-03-2015, 11:32 PM

The letter suffix is a "r". So the serial number of your Luger is 6251r.

Tom

creature7 · 10-03-2015, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharpo

The letter suffix is a "r". So the serial number of your Luger is 6251r.

Tom

Thank you sir

Sieger · 10-04-2015, 11:26 PM

Hi,

This is a really beautiful Pistol, so don't give it away!!!

Sieger

alanint · 10-05-2015, 09:44 AM

Your magazine is also a desirable Nazi police issue, (although it appears to have been renumbered at some point, possibly post-war).

ithacaartist · 10-05-2015, 11:07 AM

The 8,81 is the bore diameter as measured at the factory, and a comma is correct.

Sergio Natali · 10-05-2015, 03:48 PM

James

Of course if you've taken a decision there is nothing we can do to make you change idea, but I think it's quite let go such a nice gun.

Best,

Sergio

10-02-2015, 03:56 AM	#1
creature7 User Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need help identifying Luger. Please I'm in the process of liquidating my grandmother's estate for her. She's moved into assisted living and it is quite expensive. I was given(by him when he was alive) two of my grandfather's Lugers but she wants to sell this one. I'd buy it but I can't swing it. He fought through the Battle of the Bulge and brought back a bunch of stuff. Anyway, I've spent some time researching and I think I've figured out all I can. I hate to pester you guys with this inquiry but I really need to get this done for her. We're trying to figure out any information regarding identification and value. I would greatly appreciate the help. The info I have is that it's a S/42 with a serial of 6251. It has all matching serial numbers and all the strawing seems to be intact. I have a leather holster and two magazines. It has multiple Nazi markings on it. From what I could find out that means it's a 1937 Mauser made Luger. Here are some pictures: Again, we would greatly appreciate any information you guys could give us. Thanks Last edited by creature7; 10-02-2015 at 05:36 AM.

10-02-2015, 11:54 AM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Hi James and welcome to the forum. You have a 1937 Mauser made Luger. It is likely rust blued with strawed parts. Post good evenly lit (outdoor indirect light, no flash) pictures showing closeups of the serial number with suffix letter in front of the trigger on the frame, and of the base of the aluminum bottom magazine. The bakelite base magazine is valuable, particularly since it matches all 1941 and 1942 made Mauser lugers. Perhaps $250 Simpsons is selling a holster marked like yours made by Karl Böcker. He's asking $500 retail. There were not many 1937 Strawed and Rust Blued Lugers made, and they are from just the first couple of months of that year - a year when they transitioned to salt blued finishes. $2000 or so with a non-matched magazine. Add another $750 with one matched properly. That all makes this one more rare and more valuable... particularly if the aluminum base magazine is matching. Collector to collector prices are about 30% less than retail. If finances are an issue for your grandmother, you really need to consult someone. Start with some of the senior citizen offices at a county level and state offices for the aging for references. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-05-2015, 11:07 AM	#13
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,346 Thanks: 7,275 Thanked 2,578 Times in 1,365 Posts	The 8,81 is the bore diameter as measured at the factory, and a comma is correct. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

10-05-2015, 03:48 PM	#14
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	James Of course if you've taken a decision there is nothing we can do to make you change idea, but I think it's quite let go such a nice gun. Best, Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

10-02-2015, 07:53 AM	#2
kurusu User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 2,679 Thanked 930 Times in 509 Posts	You got it right. It's a 1937 Mauser made P08. Seems to be in original condition. has the aluminiun bottom magazine a number matching to the gun? The other one was most likely made in 1942.

10-02-2015, 10:09 AM	#3
jonnyc User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 425 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 34 Posts	Please forgive my intrusion, but I recently went through something similar with my uncle. 1. If your GF gave the pistols to you, it really doesn't matter what your GM wants to do with them. If you are paying the assisted-living bills it is then your decision. 2. The $2500(+-) that the pistol will bring isn't much along side the bills for a nursing home or assisted-living facility. The family history of the pistol might be worth more than the cash payment. 3. Not knowing your Medicare/Medicaid situation......if your goal is to divest enough for Medicaid to kick-in, the pistol is now your asset, not hers. PS-I am not a lawyer, just had to recently deal with some similar issues.

10-02-2015, 09:59 PM	#5
creature7 User Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you so much for the information everyone. I'll take some more pictures tomorrow in the daylight and post them up. Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

10-03-2015, 10:38 PM	#6
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	I guess your forgot the pictures, not that it is on sale on the "other" forum?

10-03-2015, 10:56 PM	#7
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	I just went thru the estate liquidation thing for my mother. She was no longer competant and I had to make evry dedcision about everything. Not a pleasant moment involved. If your GF gave you the guns, they are yours-is there a dispute? The state will require your GM to have a mere pittance of anything before they step in and help. I hope you hve not listed the guns as part of her possessions-does she know about this? Sorry about her health, but time goes on and the value of these guns will be gone in one month if they are not in your possession.

10-03-2015, 11:32 PM	#9
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 116 Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts	The letter suffix is a "r". So the serial number of your Luger is 6251r. Tom

10-04-2015, 11:26 PM	#11
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi, This is a really beautiful Pistol, so don't give it away!!! Sieger

10-05-2015, 09:44 AM	#12
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Your magazine is also a desirable Nazi police issue, (although it appears to have been renumbered at some point, possibly post-war).