Picking up my 4th Luger tomorrow

wayne8661 · 12-28-2010, 07:03 PM

I am anxiously awiting tomorrow to come. I got a call a caouple of weeks ago from a man who is married to a friend of my wifes. He said he had a couple of german pistols that his grandfather acquired in ww2 and one was a luger. I thought that it was somebody who typically called every german handgun a luger. So i get there and low and behold he has an AC42 P.38 and a nice byf 41 luger (all matching except magazine) about 80% finish and wood grips. I agreed to buy the pair if he threw in the copy of mein kampf and the German script p.08 field maual. He agreed so i am purchasing the luger and field maual tomorrow. The p.38 will come in the next 2 weeks.

The main thing that bothers me about the pistol is that is has a swastika carved on the safety side of the grip . Would you recommend me replacing this or leaving it alone?

sheepherder · 12-28-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayne8661

The main thing that bothers me about the pistol is that is has a swastika carved on the safety side of the grip . Would you recommend me replacing this or leaving it alone?

My preference would be to have that grip refinished. There are several grip artists on this forum who could accomplish this.

wayne8661 · 12-28-2010, 07:29 PM

It is a pretty deep carving i will post pics tomorrow i dont know if it would be possible to restore.

aptech77 · 12-28-2010, 08:58 PM

It's part of its history, id leave it. If your that bothered by it, replace the grips, but I wouldn't not alter these.

schoolbd · 12-29-2010, 12:43 PM

Wayne8661
I have a Mauser grip for the safety side of the frame , it has a small chip on the back corner. I will send it to you if you would like. I can't remember how I ended up with it, think it was in some junk I purchased.
schoolbd

MikeP · 12-29-2010, 07:17 PM

Yep
Don't alter it. "GI art" like it or not.
Fairly common to find initials, carvings or impedded insignia.

wayne8661 · 12-29-2010, 08:50 PM

Okay Gents here are a few pics Nice pistol all matching except magazine. These are pretty poor pics will take more soon.

wayne8661 · 12-29-2010, 08:53 PM

Here are some pics of the P.o8 Handbook anyone seen these before?

sheepherder · 12-29-2010, 09:38 PM

That swastika does look pretty deep...Still, it could be filled in and recheckered...The swastika might still show, but it wouldn't be as prominent...

And if you're going to shoot it or show it off at the range, you may as well take the copy of Mein Kampf with you...

DavidJayUden · 12-29-2010, 10:43 PM

I vote for a correct replacement left panel and put that one away.
dju

MikeP · 12-30-2010, 12:01 AM

You'd never "hide" that crooked cross in a million years.
Find a nice replacement and keep the original.
Nice pistol.

wayne8661 · 12-30-2010, 04:39 PM

I am in agreement I will look for a replacement for display....

12-28-2010, 07:03 PM	#1
wayne8661 User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kennett Square Pennsylvania Posts: 591 Thanks: 15 Thanked 334 Times in 104 Posts	Picking up my 4th Luger tomorrow I am anxiously awiting tomorrow to come. I got a call a caouple of weeks ago from a man who is married to a friend of my wifes. He said he had a couple of german pistols that his grandfather acquired in ww2 and one was a luger. I thought that it was somebody who typically called every german handgun a luger. So i get there and low and behold he has an AC42 P.38 and a nice byf 41 luger (all matching except magazine) about 80% finish and wood grips. I agreed to buy the pair if he threw in the copy of mein kampf and the German script p.08 field maual. He agreed so i am purchasing the luger and field maual tomorrow. The p.38 will come in the next 2 weeks. The main thing that bothers me about the pistol is that is has a swastika carved on the safety side of the grip . Would you recommend me replacing this or leaving it alone?

12-29-2010, 08:50 PM	#7
wayne8661 User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kennett Square Pennsylvania Posts: 591 Thanks: 15 Thanked 334 Times in 104 Posts	Okay Gents here are a few pics Nice pistol all matching except magazine. These are pretty poor pics will take more soon. Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2010, 08:53 PM	#8
wayne8661 User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kennett Square Pennsylvania Posts: 591 Thanks: 15 Thanked 334 Times in 104 Posts	Here are some pics of the P.o8 Handbook anyone seen these before? Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2010, 09:38 PM	#9
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,441 Times in 2,329 Posts	That swastika does look pretty deep...Still, it could be filled in and recheckered...The swastika might still show, but it wouldn't be as prominent... And if you're going to shoot it or show it off at the range, you may as well take the copy of Mein Kampf with you... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-28-2010, 07:29 PM	#3
wayne8661 User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kennett Square Pennsylvania Posts: 591 Thanks: 15 Thanked 334 Times in 104 Posts	It is a pretty deep carving i will post pics tomorrow i dont know if it would be possible to restore.

12-28-2010, 08:58 PM	#4
aptech77 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 85 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	It's part of its history, id leave it. If your that bothered by it, replace the grips, but I wouldn't not alter these.

12-29-2010, 12:43 PM	#5
schoolbd User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 23 Thanks: 5 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Wayne8661 I have a Mauser grip for the safety side of the frame , it has a small chip on the back corner. I will send it to you if you would like. I can't remember how I ended up with it, think it was in some junk I purchased. schoolbd

12-29-2010, 07:17 PM	#6
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	Yep Don't alter it. "GI art" like it or not. Fairly common to find initials, carvings or impedded insignia.

12-29-2010, 10:43 PM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I vote for a correct replacement left panel and put that one away. dju

12-30-2010, 12:01 AM	#11
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	You'd never "hide" that crooked cross in a million years. Find a nice replacement and keep the original. Nice pistol.

12-30-2010, 04:39 PM	#12
wayne8661 User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kennett Square Pennsylvania Posts: 591 Thanks: 15 Thanked 334 Times in 104 Posts	I am in agreement I will look for a replacement for display....