1938 S/42 ID and Value Help

Good-Day · 11-12-2015, 07:51 PM

Hi Everyone,
I've had a couple Lugers for a few years now and recently picked up a third and figured it was time I got serious and got them evaluated.
I could use your help on some of the basics: condition, completeness, value and of course just your overall opinion.

I just picked this up ( couldn’t pass it up I think I have a problem

) It’s a 1938 S/42 with a script G S/N prefix. The mag S/N does not match but every other one that I have seen does including the firing pin and grips. I did not find an import mark on it anywhere, and the overall condition of the pistol is excellent including the barrel bore, there is some holster / handling wear and the barrel has an odd discoloration like something spilled on it and stripped off the blueing. The grips are in great shape with crisp checkering and the edges are not worn down at all.

My guess would be whoever carried this originally didn’t get a chance to use it much

Sorry I'm not the best photographer out there

The other pistol is in the Commercial section

Thanks a ton for your help!

Good-Day · 11-19-2015, 09:09 PM

Thoughts, Questions, Comments,

Your help is certainly appreciated

Thanks

DavidJayUden · 11-19-2015, 09:24 PM

Looks like a nice honest war gun. The chip on the grip won't hurt you, but the bluing loss may scare off those who just want to look at it, but not those who want to use it.
What info are you looking for?
dju

John Sabato · 11-20-2015, 09:46 AM

The bluing loss looks to me like blood stains. Blood will remove bluing pretty darn fast. I had a byf41 with the same issue across the toggle and upper receiver. The vet that sold it to me told me the deceased German soldier was bleeding pretty badly. He just holstered the weapon and the next day discovered the bluing had been damaged where the blood had been.

mrerick · 11-20-2015, 03:32 PM

Nice "been there, done that" Luger...

It almost looks like blood splatter that seeped into the nose of a holster. It certainly is a nice 1938 Mauser Luger.

Numbers inside the side plate should relate (equal to or plus one) to the first two digits of the serial number.

Do you have any specific questions or issues?

Good-Day · 11-20-2015, 08:05 PM

Good Evening and Thank You!!

First of all sorry I should have been more specific

When I purchased it I was told that it had been refinished and that was reflected in the price ( I'm into it for 900 ) yet everything I could tell ( based on my limited knowledge ) told me that this was the original finish and that this would be a bargain and I should walk out the door with it.

And so I did and here I am

I was concerned about the finish and staining of the barrel butt it appears to be the original finish and that the original owner left there mark on the barrel finish

Everything matches ( that I can tell ) with little sign of use or wear

My question would be value I have had a hard time sorting that out since they vary from $1000 for a well worn matching shooter to $4000+ with a holster

DavidJayUden · 11-20-2015, 08:21 PM

That bluing loss makes it hard to evaluate, as one person may be scared away by it whereas another may not. Some will consider it to be a flaw, whereas others will consider it patina.
To me the gun is worth from $1300 to $1500.
It has the aura of a good original piece that you can shoot AND that it has a story to tell. A pretty good combination.
dju

wlyon · 11-21-2015, 12:14 AM

I agree with David $1200-$1500 tops. Bill

Good-Day · 11-21-2015, 09:39 AM

Fantastic

Thank You all so very much!!!!!!!!!!

Sergio Natali · 11-21-2015, 03:07 PM

I realize that probably somebody will think that I'm "soft" but if I can express my opinion the idea that those marks on the barrel might have been caused by somebody's blood, well to me it throw some sort of a sinister light on a gun...

That's why perhaps I've always preferred the Swiss DWM.

DonVoigt · 11-21-2015, 05:50 PM

Sorry,
but every time I hear blood caused xxx, or "blood pitting", I just think- another way to justify a
defect! JMHO.

Does it really matter what caused it?

Good-Day · 11-21-2015, 07:00 PM

To me whatever caused it really does not matter so long as the finish is original.

The finish does appear to be original with some very typical holster wear ( wish I had it ) whatever did cause the blemishes on the barrel to me is part of it's history if it is blood stained I'm sorry for who's it was.

I wish I knew more about the pistols history and how it got to me

It is unfortunate that there are so many out there that try to take advantage and ruin an already historic firearm to try and make it something that it is not just for the sake of profit.

ithacaartist · 11-22-2015, 01:01 AM

Yes, whatever caused the blemish is not there now. As I recall from an old post, it could even have been cat urine... You can rest assured that this one at least has not been prettied up for higher profits! The excellent adage, "Buy the gun--not the story." comes to mind.

11-12-2015, 07:51 PM	#1
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 96 Thanks: 81 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	1938 S/42 ID and Value Help Hi Everyone, I've had a couple Lugers for a few years now and recently picked up a third and figured it was time I got serious and got them evaluated. I could use your help on some of the basics: condition, completeness, value and of course just your overall opinion. I just picked this up ( couldn’t pass it up I think I have a problem ) It’s a 1938 S/42 with a script G S/N prefix. The mag S/N does not match but every other one that I have seen does including the firing pin and grips. I did not find an import mark on it anywhere, and the overall condition of the pistol is excellent including the barrel bore, there is some holster / handling wear and the barrel has an odd discoloration like something spilled on it and stripped off the blueing. The grips are in great shape with crisp checkering and the edges are not worn down at all. My guess would be whoever carried this originally didn’t get a chance to use it much Sorry I'm not the best photographer out there The other pistol is in the Commercial section Thanks a ton for your help! Attached Thumbnails

11-20-2015, 09:46 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	The bluing loss looks to me like blood stains. Blood will remove bluing pretty darn fast. I had a byf41 with the same issue across the toggle and upper receiver. The vet that sold it to me told me the deceased German soldier was bleeding pretty badly. He just holstered the weapon and the next day discovered the bluing had been damaged where the blood had been. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

11-20-2015, 03:32 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Nice "been there, done that" Luger... It almost looks like blood splatter that seeped into the nose of a holster. It certainly is a nice 1938 Mauser Luger. Numbers inside the side plate should relate (equal to or plus one) to the first two digits of the serial number. Do you have any specific questions or issues? __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

11-21-2015, 12:14 AM	#8
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 3,144 Thanked 2,530 Times in 943 Posts	I agree with David $1200-$1500 tops. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

11-21-2015, 03:07 PM	#10
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	I realize that probably somebody will think that I'm "soft" but if I can express my opinion the idea that those marks on the barrel might have been caused by somebody's blood, well to me it throw some sort of a sinister light on a gun... That's why perhaps I've always preferred the Swiss DWM. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

11-19-2015, 09:09 PM	#2
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 96 Thanks: 81 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Thoughts, Questions, Comments, Your help is certainly appreciated Thanks

11-19-2015, 09:24 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Looks like a nice honest war gun. The chip on the grip won't hurt you, but the bluing loss may scare off those who just want to look at it, but not those who want to use it. What info are you looking for? dju

11-20-2015, 08:05 PM	#6
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 96 Thanks: 81 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Good Evening and Thank You!! First of all sorry I should have been more specific When I purchased it I was told that it had been refinished and that was reflected in the price ( I'm into it for 900 ) yet everything I could tell ( based on my limited knowledge ) told me that this was the original finish and that this would be a bargain and I should walk out the door with it. And so I did and here I am I was concerned about the finish and staining of the barrel butt it appears to be the original finish and that the original owner left there mark on the barrel finish Everything matches ( that I can tell ) with little sign of use or wear My question would be value I have had a hard time sorting that out since they vary from $1000 for a well worn matching shooter to $4000+ with a holster

11-20-2015, 08:21 PM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	That bluing loss makes it hard to evaluate, as one person may be scared away by it whereas another may not. Some will consider it to be a flaw, whereas others will consider it patina. To me the gun is worth from $1300 to $1500. It has the aura of a good original piece that you can shoot AND that it has a story to tell. A pretty good combination. dju

11-21-2015, 09:39 AM	#9
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 96 Thanks: 81 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Fantastic Thank You all so very much!!!!!!!!!!

11-21-2015, 05:50 PM	#11
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,440 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	Sorry, but every time I hear blood caused xxx, or "blood pitting", I just think- another way to justify a defect! JMHO. Does it really matter what caused it?

11-21-2015, 07:00 PM	#12
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 96 Thanks: 81 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	To me whatever caused it really does not matter so long as the finish is original. The finish does appear to be original with some very typical holster wear ( wish I had it ) whatever did cause the blemishes on the barrel to me is part of it's history if it is blood stained I'm sorry for who's it was. I wish I knew more about the pistols history and how it got to me It is unfortunate that there are so many out there that try to take advantage and ruin an already historic firearm to try and make it something that it is not just for the sake of profit.

11-22-2015, 01:01 AM	#13
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,288 Thanks: 7,035 Thanked 2,482 Times in 1,323 Posts	Yes, whatever caused the blemish is not there now. As I recall from an old post, it could even have been cat urine... You can rest assured that this one at least has not been prettied up for higher profits! The excellent adage, "Buy the gun--not the story." comes to mind. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894