Confusing S/42 markings on barrell

RJS · 10-11-2012, 10:09 AM

I have a new to me Banner police. I am confused by the S/42 mark on the barrell. Any one thoughts on this?

mcg · 10-11-2012, 10:24 AM

I'm not the expert around here and I believe it is a replacement barrel. Not as bad as it sounds. The s/42 is the code for a Mauser componant and possibly a field replacement due to damage, who knows?
I think it's an interesting addition to the weapon.
Nice find.
Mark

mrerick · 10-11-2012, 10:42 AM

As Mark mentions, "S/42" is the military concealment code used for parts manufactured by Mauser.

It would seam that at some point this beautiful E/N proofed commercial police pistol found it's way to a military armorer for a barrel replacement. (See below for details from Tom and Jan... Factory original most likely...)

Unique and interesting!

Is there a mark of some type (perhaps a small "x") on the base of the frame shown below the magazine in your 5th photo?

Marc

RJS · 10-11-2012, 11:40 AM

Thanks for the quick replys. Yes there is an "x" there. See pic.

I checked another S/42 I have with the correct serial number on the barrel. It does NOT have that "x" mark. No sear safety on that one; it is a military gun.

Don't know what to make of that "x" mark.

Also attached pics of other markings on the police pistol barrel - Eagle 63 at 11:00 o'clock, Eagle over N on base of the front sight.

tharpo · 10-11-2012, 02:54 PM

The Police were not always first in line for luger parts. Looking at the data on Jan Stills Forum it appears the Police were scrounging for barrels around the time your gun, 5210x, was produced.
My 1940 Police banner, 4748x, has a Su (Simson) stamp on the barrel.
Yours received a Mauser S/42 replacement when produced.
In addition the following barrel markings have been recorded in that time range.
4122x S/42
4347x S/42
4569x Su
4995x Su
5679x S/42
5755x S/42
6128x S/42

I believe your gun is original and correct.

Tom

Jan C Still · 10-11-2012, 03:10 PM

Agree with Tom (tharpo) above.
Jan

mrerick · 10-11-2012, 04:03 PM

I, of course, defer to Tom and Jan. They have the tracking data that confirms this kind of sourcing of parts at the factory.

Marc

SteveM · 10-11-2012, 07:24 PM

Nice Banner, I have a couple that are in the same configuration. Mauser Banners are interesting pistols.

RJS · 10-12-2012, 07:21 AM

Tom :

Thanks for the detailed research. I will enter my gun's info into that data base. I think it is very interesting that even Simpson barrels were used.

Thanks also to everyone else who responded. This thread cleared up a mystery for me!

Lugerdoc · 10-21-2012, 11:05 AM

RJS, Since Mauser "inherited" left over parts from previous manufactures, it's not unusual to find these parts (and new Armour's spares) used to make their non-military lugers. You'll sometime find Imperial accepted (Erfurt) & Simson parts on these pistols. The "x" serial suffix on your mag, without WaA, is the correct matching mag for your police banner luger. TH

RJS · 10-24-2012, 08:47 PM

Luger Doc-

Thanks for the info. Even Erfurt parts were used! That is what makes collecting these types of pistols so fascinating.

I have two police Lugers now. My other is a 1920 DWM with sear safety and no police markings. Also have an Eagle C Walther PPK made in 1941.

RJS

10-11-2012, 10:09 AM	#1
RJS User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Confusing S/42 markings on barrell I have a new to me Banner police. I am confused by the S/42 mark on the barrell. Any one thoughts on this? Attached Thumbnails

10-11-2012, 10:42 AM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,907 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,108 Times in 1,509 Posts	As Mark mentions, "S/42" is the military concealment code used for parts manufactured by Mauser. It would seam that at some point this beautiful E/N proofed commercial police pistol found it's way to a military armorer for a barrel replacement. (See below for details from Tom and Jan... Factory original most likely...) Unique and interesting! Is there a mark of some type (perhaps a small "x") on the base of the frame shown below the magazine in your 5th photo? Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war. Last edited by mrerick; 10-11-2012 at 04:04 PM. Reason: Updates from Tom and Jan below.

10-11-2012, 11:40 AM	#4
RJS User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	x on frame, E/63 on barrel, E/N front sight Thanks for the quick replys. Yes there is an "x" there. See pic. I checked another S/42 I have with the correct serial number on the barrel. It does NOT have that "x" mark. No sear safety on that one; it is a military gun. Don't know what to make of that "x" mark. Also attached pics of other markings on the police pistol barrel - Eagle 63 at 11:00 o'clock, Eagle over N on base of the front sight. Attached Thumbnails

10-11-2012, 04:03 PM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,907 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,108 Times in 1,509 Posts	I, of course, defer to Tom and Jan. They have the tracking data that confirms this kind of sourcing of parts at the factory. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-21-2012, 11:05 AM	#10
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	RJS, Since Mauser "inherited" left over parts from previous manufactures, it's not unusual to find these parts (and new Armour's spares) used to make their non-military lugers. You'll sometime find Imperial accepted (Erfurt) & Simson parts on these pistols. The "x" serial suffix on your mag, without WaA, is the correct matching mag for your police banner luger. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

10-11-2012, 10:24 AM	#2
mcg Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 91 Thanks: 258 Thanked 29 Times in 21 Posts	I'm not the expert around here and I believe it is a replacement barrel. Not as bad as it sounds. The s/42 is the code for a Mauser componant and possibly a field replacement due to damage, who knows? I think it's an interesting addition to the weapon. Nice find. Mark

10-11-2012, 02:54 PM	#5
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 541 Thanks: 116 Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts	The Police were not always first in line for luger parts. Looking at the data on Jan Stills Forum it appears the Police were scrounging for barrels around the time your gun, 5210x, was produced. My 1940 Police banner, 4748x, has a Su (Simson) stamp on the barrel. Yours received a Mauser S/42 replacement when produced. In addition the following barrel markings have been recorded in that time range. 4122x S/42 4347x S/42 4569x Su 4995x Su 5679x S/42 5755x S/42 6128x S/42 I believe your gun is original and correct. Tom

10-11-2012, 03:10 PM	#6
Jan C Still User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Box 240188, Douglas, Alaska, 99824 Posts: 463 Thanks: 0 Thanked 52 Times in 32 Posts	Agree with Tom (tharpo) above. Jan

10-11-2012, 07:24 PM	#8
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Nice Banner, I have a couple that are in the same configuration. Mauser Banners are interesting pistols.

10-12-2012, 07:21 AM	#9
RJS User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Tom : Thanks for the detailed research. I will enter my gun's info into that data base. I think it is very interesting that even Simpson barrels were used. Thanks also to everyone else who responded. This thread cleared up a mystery for me!

10-24-2012, 08:47 PM	#11
RJS User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Luger Doc- Thanks for the info. Even Erfurt parts were used! That is what makes collecting these types of pistols so fascinating. I have two police Lugers now. My other is a 1920 DWM with sear safety and no police markings. Also have an Eagle C Walther PPK made in 1941. RJS