Student question on P.08

colcolombo · 08-17-2003, 09:12 PM

Hello all,

Pardon me if I am a little more than confused. You remember the old advertising slogan, "If it doesn't say Amana, it's not a Radarange"?

Well, my question is, if it doesn't say P.08 is it still a P.08 if it meets other criteria? I have seen numerous pics of P.08's and some have it stamped on them and some don't.

Soooooooo........would some knowledgable soul please tell me exactly what constitutes a P.08?
If they are not all stamped, what am I to look for? Who made it, what date, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Joe
--------------------------------------------------
I have more guns than I need but less than I want.

Lugerdoc · 08-18-2003, 08:20 AM

TWIMC, The only lugers that I'm aware of that are actually stamped "PO8" are most of the 1941 & 42 BYF military production. MY definition of the term PO8, is a German military accepted luger in 9mm with a 100mm (4") barrel. In other words, a luger that meets the German military design specs, as modified thru the years, for their official PO8 designation, vise being a PO4 (Navy 9x150mm with adjustable rear sight), Dutch M1911 (slight contract modification of PO8), M1908 or M1914 or M1934 (basically the same configuration as the PO8, but generally not military accepted or in a commerical or contract serial number range. TH

unspellable · 08-18-2003, 08:21 AM

DWM began making the P08 (By P08 I mean the German Army issue pistol) after the army adopted it in 1908. The Efurt arsenal also made them. Between the wars a few krieghoffs were made. Mauser took over production from DWM in the late 30's. In 1938 the army adopted the P38. After this point the Mauser P08's were marked "P08" to distinguish them from the P38.

Frank · 08-18-2003, 09:43 AM

Unspellable, the 1939 and 1940 Military Mauser Lugers were NOT marked P.08. Lugerdoc had it about right. The P.08 marking began with the 1941 production, both Code 42 and byf, and continued through the 1942 byf production.

colcolombo · 08-18-2003, 02:52 PM

Many thanks to all of you that responded. I understand more than I knew before......so this begs the question:

Is my Mauser 1938 S/42 a P.08? It has two acceptance marks on the right of the frame, that is, the straight wing eagle over 83 and another over 63. Also a proof mark to the right of the eagles and the same mark on the barrel. Serial 2883n all matching except magazine. Has the "thingy" on the rear for a stock. Estimated production 113,800.

P.08 or not?

Thanks again for all your help.

Joe

unspellable · 08-18-2003, 04:37 PM

Frank,

Just so. The P38 did not really get into general circulation until late '40 or '41. One wonders why they did not think anyone could tell the difference though...

Doubs · 08-18-2003, 11:30 PM

Joe, your 1938 S/42 is most assuredly a P-08. The term "P-08" means "Pistol, Model of 1908" as designated by the Imperial German Army when it adopted the design in 1908. The difference between a Luger produced in 1908 and your 1938 Mauser would be slight... the hold-open may or may not have been added to the 1908 production pistol (an arsenal modification) and your pistol will have the rear frame Mauser "bump". The finish will be different as the earlier pistol will have been rust blued with strawed small parts while your pistol will have been hot blued, including the small parts. Functionally they are the same and most parts should interchange although a mis-matched pistol may not work properly if major parts are swapped. Hope this helps.

Lugerdoc · 08-19-2003, 09:27 AM

Joe, I agree that your 1938 S/42 meets my definition of a P08. Unspellable, I think that you meant to say Simson made about 10K new PO8s during the Weimar period, not KH, although KH was reworking some WW1 models at this time. They didn't "inheirt" Simson's (formerly Erfurt's) machinery to make new PO8s until about 1934 or 35. TH

colcolombo · 08-19-2003, 01:56 PM

Many thanks to all who responded. I used to think a Luger was a Luger was a Luger. What a misconception! I hate to post such basic questions but what a way to learn! Not only me but all who read the posts and may be hesitant to ask. So again, I thank you all for taking the time to answer.

Best regards,

Joe

08-17-2003, 09:12 PM	#1
colcolombo User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Student question on P.08 Hello all, Pardon me if I am a little more than confused. You remember the old advertising slogan, "If it doesn't say Amana, it's not a Radarange"? Well, my question is, if it doesn't say P.08 is it still a P.08 if it meets other criteria? I have seen numerous pics of P.08's and some have it stamped on them and some don't. Soooooooo........would some knowledgable soul please tell me exactly what constitutes a P.08? If they are not all stamped, what am I to look for? Who made it, what date, etc. Thanks in advance, Joe -------------------------------------------------- I have more guns than I need but less than I want.

08-18-2003, 08:20 AM	#2
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	TWIMC, The only lugers that I'm aware of that are actually stamped "PO8" are most of the 1941 & 42 BYF military production. MY definition of the term PO8, is a German military accepted luger in 9mm with a 100mm (4") barrel. In other words, a luger that meets the German military design specs, as modified thru the years, for their official PO8 designation, vise being a PO4 (Navy 9x150mm with adjustable rear sight), Dutch M1911 (slight contract modification of PO8), M1908 or M1914 or M1934 (basically the same configuration as the PO8, but generally not military accepted or in a commerical or contract serial number range. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-19-2003, 09:27 AM	#8
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	Joe, I agree that your 1938 S/42 meets my definition of a P08. Unspellable, I think that you meant to say Simson made about 10K new PO8s during the Weimar period, not KH, although KH was reworking some WW1 models at this time. They didn't "inheirt" Simson's (formerly Erfurt's) machinery to make new PO8s until about 1934 or 35. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-18-2003, 08:21 AM	#3
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	DWM began making the P08 (By P08 I mean the German Army issue pistol) after the army adopted it in 1908. The Efurt arsenal also made them. Between the wars a few krieghoffs were made. Mauser took over production from DWM in the late 30's. In 1938 the army adopted the P38. After this point the Mauser P08's were marked "P08" to distinguish them from the P38.

08-18-2003, 09:43 AM	#4
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Unspellable, the 1939 and 1940 Military Mauser Lugers were NOT marked P.08. Lugerdoc had it about right. The P.08 marking began with the 1941 production, both Code 42 and byf, and continued through the 1942 byf production.

08-18-2003, 02:52 PM	#5
colcolombo User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Many thanks to all of you that responded. I understand more than I knew before......so this begs the question: Is my Mauser 1938 S/42 a P.08? It has two acceptance marks on the right of the frame, that is, the straight wing eagle over 83 and another over 63. Also a proof mark to the right of the eagles and the same mark on the barrel. Serial 2883n all matching except magazine. Has the "thingy" on the rear for a stock. Estimated production 113,800. P.08 or not? Thanks again for all your help. Joe

08-18-2003, 04:37 PM	#6
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	Frank, Just so. The P38 did not really get into general circulation until late '40 or '41. One wonders why they did not think anyone could tell the difference though...

08-18-2003, 11:30 PM	#7
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,695 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,677 Times in 551 Posts	Joe, your 1938 S/42 is most assuredly a P-08. The term "P-08" means "Pistol, Model of 1908" as designated by the Imperial German Army when it adopted the design in 1908. The difference between a Luger produced in 1908 and your 1938 Mauser would be slight... the hold-open may or may not have been added to the 1908 production pistol (an arsenal modification) and your pistol will have the rear frame Mauser "bump". The finish will be different as the earlier pistol will have been rust blued with strawed small parts while your pistol will have been hot blued, including the small parts. Functionally they are the same and most parts should interchange although a mis-matched pistol may not work properly if major parts are swapped. Hope this helps.

08-19-2003, 01:56 PM	#9
colcolombo User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Many thanks to all who responded. I used to think a Luger was a Luger was a Luger. What a misconception! I hate to post such basic questions but what a way to learn! Not only me but all who read the posts and may be hesitant to ask. So again, I thank you all for taking the time to answer. Best regards, Joe