S/42 1937 Luger

lowcountryluger · 04-09-2013, 10:32 AM

I got this 1837 Mauser Luger and I can not find info regarding the proof marks on the magazine and on the pistol. Can anybody help me identify these markings?

Edward Tinker · 04-09-2013, 11:07 AM

Welcome to the forum - I changed the title, but see you wrote 1837 in the description also

What are you needing to know?

Does the magazine match the gun? It appears to be an eagle L (police), but I can't tell from the pictures.

The acceptance and proofs on the right 'appear' to be eagle 63's, but again, close up pictures and pictures of the rest of the gun, to include suffix on the front frame would help us, help you.

lowcountryluger · 04-09-2013, 11:11 AM

Yup. I definitely meant 1937. I'll get some pictures of the rest of the gun.

lowcountryluger · 04-09-2013, 11:36 AM

Here are some more pics. It is a 1937 Mauser (S/42). It has 87 on everything. On the front part of the trigger group (not sure what that part of the gun anatomy is called) under the barrel is a cursive "a" and 3087. 3087 is also on the bottom underside of the barrel. No strawing. I was told the magazine did not go with the gun but was of a similar era. The markings that I can not identify on the barrel have 63 under the eagles (I think that is what they are) and I am not sure about that mark to the right of the eagles and there is the same mark further right on the barrel.

The magazine clip has 6679 plus a cursive "w" under that a "+" sign and under that an eagle (I think that is what that is) and the number 63 under that.

I would appreciate any help identifying the clip and those markings on the gun.

lowcountryluger · 04-09-2013, 11:39 AM

here are the pictures

mrerick · 04-09-2013, 12:21 PM

Hi "J" and welcome to the forum.

You have a military accepted 1937 Luger manufactured by Mauser.

The SE/63 SE/63 DE (Stick Eagle over 63 Stick Eagle over 63 Droop Eagle proof mark) markings on the receiver are inspector acceptance markings and the proof marking. Same thing with the DE on the barrel.

Your Luger is s/n 3087a. The letter is a suffix and part of the serial number.

It was made late in 1937, perhaps November, and is one of 38,212 in that variation.

S/42 indicates manufacture by Mauser in Oberndorf, Germany.

This pistol is most likely all salt blued, including the small parts. It looks to me to be in the original finish.

Marc

lowcountryluger · 04-09-2013, 01:18 PM

Thanks! I appreciate the info. Since they (the pistol and the magazine) both have the stick eagle over 63 does that mean they are both from the same period or simply that they were both military inspected. Do the rest of the markings on the magazine (the "+" sign and the "cursive w" have any indications for dates)?

DavidJayUden · 04-09-2013, 02:10 PM

I'm not a mag. guy, but I'd guess that the plus indicates that it is a spare mag, not the primary issue mag for that weapon. The W is the suffix, much like under your barrel, simply part of the ID. Regarding the similarity of inspection marks, I'd guess that it indicates a roughly equal time span. Nothing mysterious about the mag. A nice gun, however, and welcome!
dju

lowcountryluger · 04-09-2013, 03:17 PM

I appreciate the info. Thanks!

tharpo · 04-09-2013, 03:51 PM

Your magazine has the larger E/63 which would indicate a 1939 production. A 1937 magazine would have a smaller verison E/63.
Also, your luger was issued two magazines, one with a "+" and one without. This gives the owner the ability to tell them apart.

Tom

04-09-2013, 10:32 AM	#1
lowcountryluger User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	S/42 1937 Luger I got this 1837 Mauser Luger and I can not find info regarding the proof marks on the magazine and on the pistol. Can anybody help me identify these markings? Attached Thumbnails

04-09-2013, 11:07 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	Welcome to the forum - I changed the title, but see you wrote 1837 in the description also What are you needing to know? Does the magazine match the gun? It appears to be an eagle L (police), but I can't tell from the pictures. The acceptance and proofs on the right 'appear' to be eagle 63's, but again, close up pictures and pictures of the rest of the gun, to include suffix on the front frame would help us, help you. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-09-2013, 11:39 AM	#5
lowcountryluger User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	here are the pictures Attached Thumbnails

04-09-2013, 12:21 PM	#6
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Hi "J" and welcome to the forum. You have a military accepted 1937 Luger manufactured by Mauser. The SE/63 SE/63 DE (Stick Eagle over 63 Stick Eagle over 63 Droop Eagle proof mark) markings on the receiver are inspector acceptance markings and the proof marking. Same thing with the DE on the barrel. Your Luger is s/n 3087a. The letter is a suffix and part of the serial number. It was made late in 1937, perhaps November, and is one of 38,212 in that variation. S/42 indicates manufacture by Mauser in Oberndorf, Germany. This pistol is most likely all salt blued, including the small parts. It looks to me to be in the original finish. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

04-09-2013, 11:11 AM	#3
lowcountryluger User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yup. I definitely meant 1937. I'll get some pictures of the rest of the gun.

04-09-2013, 11:36 AM	#4
lowcountryluger User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here are some more pics. It is a 1937 Mauser (S/42). It has 87 on everything. On the front part of the trigger group (not sure what that part of the gun anatomy is called) under the barrel is a cursive "a" and 3087. 3087 is also on the bottom underside of the barrel. No strawing. I was told the magazine did not go with the gun but was of a similar era. The markings that I can not identify on the barrel have 63 under the eagles (I think that is what they are) and I am not sure about that mark to the right of the eagles and there is the same mark further right on the barrel. The magazine clip has 6679 plus a cursive "w" under that a "+" sign and under that an eagle (I think that is what that is) and the number 63 under that. I would appreciate any help identifying the clip and those markings on the gun.

04-09-2013, 01:18 PM	#7
lowcountryluger User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks! I appreciate the info. Since they (the pistol and the magazine) both have the stick eagle over 63 does that mean they are both from the same period or simply that they were both military inspected. Do the rest of the markings on the magazine (the "+" sign and the "cursive w" have any indications for dates)?

04-09-2013, 02:10 PM	#8
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I'm not a mag. guy, but I'd guess that the plus indicates that it is a spare mag, not the primary issue mag for that weapon. The W is the suffix, much like under your barrel, simply part of the ID. Regarding the similarity of inspection marks, I'd guess that it indicates a roughly equal time span. Nothing mysterious about the mag. A nice gun, however, and welcome! dju

04-09-2013, 03:17 PM	#9
lowcountryluger User Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I appreciate the info. Thanks!

04-09-2013, 03:51 PM	#10
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 537 Thanks: 116 Thanked 376 Times in 154 Posts	Your magazine has the larger E/63 which would indicate a 1939 production. A 1937 magazine would have a smaller verison E/63. Also, your luger was issued two magazines, one with a "+" and one without. This gives the owner the ability to tell them apart. Tom