Well I jumped in and its wonderful!

[John1125]

Bore is near mint , all matching except mag

[MFC]

Niiiice!!! Just a hint of wear.
Congratulations and welcome to the forum.

[Diver6106]

And it is a fun gun to shoot... But don't know if you will shoot this collector's item.?

[mrerick]

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

Be sure to take a look at the FAQs published here...

1937 was a particularly interesting year for Lugers at Mauser, where they shifted from Rust Blued Lugers with strawed parts to salt blued pistols. Your's looks like one made later that year.

Marc

[Lyn Islaub]

Your pistol does look like what is described as a third generation 1937 in which all parts were hot salts blued. Very nice looking and if all matching, definitely not a shooter.

[rhuff]

Welcome to the forum, and it appears that you hit a home run on your first time up to bat!! Congrats!!

[John1125]

'Thanks guys , I was blown away by the condition of the bore and overall . It is just hard to really tell from pictures as I bought this gun from a dealer online . I was able to speak to a salesman who had the gun in hand which was helpful.

I have been reading the FAQ's and other info as I get time. I was also confused a bit about some of the 37 models having straw parts and others not . I have been told and read about the change in the bluing process and just when that exactly happened .

I was told this would have been a late model 37 . I do plan on shooting this Luger some .

Kirk

[guns3545]

Kirk,

In 1937, Mauser undertook several cost reduction and work simplification projects. No functionality of the P.08 was changed and so, as far as Mauser and the Military was concerned, each model P.08 was functionally identical.

However several changes occurred in 1937. One of them has been discussed; the change from Rust Bluing to Salt Bluing. Primarily a pure cost reduction operation to eliminate labor. Like any other change it was phased in as a new bluing line had to be built and tested while the existing line produced P.08s.

Therefore early pistols were rust blued, then for a couple of months, both rust blued and salt blued pistols were produced. Finally in April/May, the vast majority of production was Salt Blued although some rust blued pistols are found later in the year.

If you tell us the suffix letter below the serial number on the front of the frame we can tell you approximately when your P.08 was made.

But there were other changes of interest to collectors as 1937 was a transition year of the Mauser Hump. That little bulge you see on the rear of the receiver.

There was also a transition in the inspector stamps from Droop Eagle which is seen on your pistol to Stick Eagle found later.

So, next step, let us have the suffix, the scriptic letter found under the serial number on the front of the frame and we can take the history of the gun a step further.

Hope this helps.

John

[Geo99]

Very nice!
I know you didn't ask, but assuming it is all original, all matching, the answer to "what's it worth?" is $2000-$2200.

- Geo

[John1125]

I will try and get some better pics of the markings on this gun .

Those were just some quick cell pics . Maybe I can get some daylight time today and maybe a range report.

I know that makes some of you cringe , but I at least want to see if the gun works and shoots a group of any size. I have some other stuff around that I shoot from time to time.

Kirk

[spartacus38]

Looks like a nice original gun.
Bob

[Edward Tinker]

Just so you are aware - it is not a model 1937

It was made in 1937 but is a model 1908

[John1125]

Sorry still learning the terminology, I did mean year of manufacture when referring to 37

[John1125]

I took the gun out and fired a few rounds of Winchester white box 115 through . It would lock open at times on the mag hold open even when there were rounds in the mag . It did this with the original mag and with a new mec gar mag.

I was always able to get it to feed a new round by pulling the toggle back a little . I inspected the hold open spring and it not broken and appears fine .


I added a pic of the front of the frame with the script letter also.


Kirk

[guns3545]

Kirk,

Well that's a y-block gun made in early autumn of 1937.

Approximately half of the 10,000 guns in the block were DE63 DE63 proofed like yours. Also seen are DE63 SE63 as well as SE63 SE63.

Virtually all of the guns had the Mauser hump like yours.

Hope this helps.

John

[Sergio Natali]

Originally Posted by John1125

I took the gun out and fired a few rounds of Winchester white box 115 through . It would lock open at times on the mag hold open even when there were rounds in the mag . It did this with the original mag and with a new mec gar mag.

I was always able to get it to feed a new round by pulling the toggle back a little . I inspected the hold open spring and it not broken and appears fine .


I added a pic of the front of the frame with the script letter also.


Kirk

Congratulatiions on your new LUGER.
In all honesty I wouldn't have shot it, as I never shoot collectibles, I take to the range only new pistols, or at the most shooter grade ones.
Still it's your gun after all.

[DonVoigt]

Take the hold open out, clean it and the slot it fits in well; lube; check for free movement.

The little spring may be bent, weak, or broken also if you do not find it "stick" in operation.

[John1125]

I got her running fine , had to tune the hold open spring a bit .



Not to bad for these old eyes and Luger sights

[rhuff]

When shooting a Luger in correct, good condition, if the shooter does his/her part, the resultant target usually is quite impressive. It is hard to argue with your results. I am going to assume that your "new Luger" has put a large smile on your face!! Enjoy

[Geo99]

How come my 9mm targets never look like that?

- Geo