P-08, S/N 6623 - Believed Military - Need Help Identifiing

[bigshort]

I recently received a P-08 from my father. He purchased it as a war souvenir at the conclusion of WWII while still US Navy officer. He was told it was a German officerâ??s sidearm. This may or may not be true. Iâ??m confident the collective expertise of the readers of this forum can prove (or disprove this). The pistol has a bright, reflective finish (stainless/chrome/nickel?) [frame & barrel] with black bakelite grips and a high quality tan leather holster. Frame marks include, â??P.08â?�, â??6623â?�, numerous â??23â?�â?? marks visible on assorted frame parts. On the right side of the frame is a tiny Third Reich emblem (eagle over swastika) stamp. The right side frame also has several other tiny stamped glyphs that I canâ??t interpret. The barrel is marked both â??6623â?� and â??881â?� with a Third Reich emblem stamp identical to the frame. Iâ??m guessing 6623 is the mfg. S/N. Any help in identification is greatly appreciated.

[Roadkill]

Congratulations! The 6223 is the serial number, the 881 under the barrel is the bore diameter. There should be a date or number or letter (1939, S42,G,BYF ect) over the chamber. This would designate year of manufacture and maker. The 23 numbers are the last two digits if the serial number, all parts of Lugers were serial numbered. The bright finish was definitely done after the war. The grips may or may not be origonal however these could be origonal to a specific series of gun. Possibly the chamber date/maker was removed when the gun was refinished. Just a wild guess, you have a Mauser made in about 1940, Vet bring back, refinished, and will be fun to shoot. Pictures woul really help.
RK

[Edward Tinker]

Hello Richard and welcome to the forum!

Lets take your message and look at it.
[quote]He was told it was a German officerâ??s sidearm. ...The pistol has a bright, reflective finish (stainless/chrome/nickel?) [frame & barrel] with black bakelite grips and a high quality tan leather holster. Frame marks include, â??P.08â?�, â??6623â?�, numerous â??23â?�â?? marks visible on assorted frame parts. On the right side of the frame is a tiny Third Reich emblem (eagle over swastika) stamp. The right side frame also has several other tiny stamped glyphs that I canâ??t interpret. The barrel is marked both â??6623â?� and â??881â?� with a Third Reich emblem stamp identical to the frame. Iâ??m guessing 6623 is the mfg. S/N. <hr></blockquote>
The 6623 is the serial number, on the frame, in front of the grip, just under the serial number, does it have a letter, it will be sylized and maybe hard to figure out, this would be a part of the serial number. The 8.81 is the land diameter of the barrel when it was accepted.

Also, in addition to the serial #, the proof markings and acceptance markijngs are very important. At the Old Luger Forum you can find sheets that show you infromation, that can be reached by going to www.lugerforum.com and click the link that says tech information.

No Lugers (with a few, very few exceptions) were chromed, or more than likely nickled. This was very common just after the war by US GI's and is probably what happened to your Luger. Most Lugers were for officers, but many enlisted guys carried them, much as in our military, those jobs that require hands free would be issued a pistol.

I collect stories and pictures of guns like this that your Dad bought, traded, etc., and will eventually write a book, so any detailed stories and pictures you can send me would be cool.

[bigshort]

Thanks for filing in the gaps and starting me in the right direction. I plowed through the excellent site content and will shoot some digital jpegs this weekend to provide a look see. Also will speak further with my Dad and see what can be remembered about exactly how/who he acquired the Luger. He recently turned 80 and unfortunately for him and rest of family, his memory is isnâ??t what it was. However, on a good day he still has plenty of snap. Iâ??ll be back

â??A decent boldness ever meets with friendsâ?� - Homer <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

[Roadkill]

Sir, my father is 83, has outlived two wives, and is keeping two ladies (one is a sprightly 63)company. I have a Type 99 last ditch he brought home from the Pacific, he had it completely reblued/refinished in the sixties. Value of firearm = less than zero, value to him, priceless. It hangs on the wall with my other stuff, I've said it before, we don't have to tell these gentlemen everything. Let them have their memories.

RK