1940 42 Luger Information

[centralcoast]

Hi all,

I was directed here via the CalGuns forums. I believe I originally posted in the wrong forum on here; reposting here.

This is a bring-back from someone in my family (long-deceased, and no documentation or more details are known other than that). It has been kept clean and unfired. Numbers on the pistol match, and has 2 magazines, one with matching serial to the pistol, and one non-matching. Can anyone here provide more info or a guess as to market valuation based on condition of bluing, etc? Any insight appreciated!

Thanks!

photos here:

https://imgur.com/a/HoLpL

[DavidJayUden]

...

[mrerick]

Your 1940 vintage Luger was made by Mauser in Oberndorf a Neckar, Germany.

It looks to be in original finish. If all matching and mechanically correct with an original matching magazine, I would think value to another collector is at least $1500. The second FXO magazine is worth $200 or so.

It's hard to judge finish condition or whether there is damage.

It's all matching status needs to be verified and whether the magazine is correctly matching.

You can look for retail prices of similar pistols at some of the online collector sites like Simpson's Ltd and checkpointcharlies.com. If you want to insure it, insure it for retail value. If selling direct to a collector, price will be about 35% less.

We have a good FAQ document on this site. Follow the link toward the top of the page.

Marc

[DavidJayUden]

The left side looks a bit beat on to me, but more close-ups would help.
With a matching magazine I'd suggest a higher value, something over $1500, maybe $2k in a good economy and in a purely retail setting. But that depends on the left side marks and also assuming that all internals match.
Overall it looks like a nice gun. Spend some time comparison shopping at Simpson, Ltd, too.
dju

[centralcoast]

Thanks for the information everyone, much appreciated.

I'll work on stripping down the gun to take photos of interior parts. Here's some additional photos of the matching mag base and the markings on the underside of the barrel/trigger guard:

https://imgur.com/a/XIkbt

[DonVoigt]

Please post your images on the server here.
Not everyone can or will go to a hosting service and the links often go dead.

[centralcoast]

[centralcoast]

Apologies for using Imgur, I've tried to attach photos here.

[DavidJayUden]

Can you get us some closeups of the left side plate, left numbers, and takedown lever area? Also front and rear grip strap.
Thanks!
dju

[Eugen]

Always nice to see a fairly decent Luger with a matching mag. My guess on value is in the $1500 -$2000 range. But, my experience pricing Lugers is limited.

The left side is rougher than the right side. It seems the left sides are subject to more finish wear, pitting, from my observation. As to why, I don't know. I would suspect holsters being the culprits.

Do you plan to shoot it?

[Sergio Natali]

I don't claim to be an expert, as they say the devil is in the little details, but nothing seems to jumps out as not being correct from the photos shown, in fact everything looks good on this Luger, wear patterns look even, and I believe parts are correct to the best of my knowledge.

Regards.

.

[centralcoast]

I've attached a few more closeup shots of the left (more worn side), as well as the rear, and the extra fxo mag (not the one that matches).

[centralcoast]

Originally Posted by Eugen

Always nice to see a fairly decent Luger with a matching mag. My guess on value is in the $1500 -$2000 range. But, my experience pricing Lugers is limited.

The left side is rougher than the right side. It seems the left sides are subject to more finish wear, pitting, from my observation. As to why, I don't know. I would suspect holsters being the culprits.

Do you plan to shoot it?

I don't plan on shooting it - I will actually be looking to sell it in the near term. To my knowledge no one in my family has ever shot it, either.

[DavidJayUden]

The damage isn't as bad as I first thought.
If you feel adventurous and want to further disassemble it to check the internal numbers, try YouTube, lots of good tutorials there.
And, like I just suggested to another new owner, consider listing it for sale here. Costs nothing and you'll be dealing with far fewer tire-kickers.
dju

[centralcoast]

Thanks David,

I think I will list here before Gunbroker. I'll get an ad up in the next few days.

I'm in CA, and I'm assuming an out of state buyer would require me to ship to their FFL even though this gun is a "C&R".

[DavidJayUden]

Let's hear from others with experience on the subject of selling C&R handguns both into, and out of, CA.
dju

[zinfull]

Selling C&R in Ca is not that bad as CA goes. We can ship out of state to FFL03 holders for both rifles and pistols. Shipping into CA requires pistols and long guns to go thru a FFL01. The main problem comes when the FFL01 will not accept shipments from a private party, it not against any law but just cover their ass due to the CA DOJ. The FFL01 can charge what ever he wants for doing the transaction, $50 is lowest around up to $150 and higher.

If the buyer does not have a FFL and it is face to face then all sales go thru a FFL01 cost $35 and 10 day waiting period.

I have edited my response due to the law change in 2015 requiring all firearms sale now must be registered.

[centralcoast]

Thanks! This is exactly the info I was looking for. Good to know if buyer has FFL03 I can ship directly to them with no waiting period. If it goes to their FFL I just need to call them and make sure they are ok with a direct insured overnight FedEx from me.

[wlyon]

I finally after a couple sales decided no more sales to CA. I talked to the CADOJ. and BATF in CA. Got two separate stories. If you sell with a 3 day inspection return they will not even see the gun for at least 10 days. For me it is not worth the hassle and possible mistakes. Bill

[zinfull]

Yea that's what the Ca DOJ is trying to accomplish. We have no problems with the BATF but you can ask the same question to the same DOJ person and get different answers.