Another unusual Luger?

barr44 · 01-30-2008, 01:45 PM

This is a newly acquired Luger and as usual, I have questions about it. I'm wondering if the practice of joining assemblies from two different lugers was practiced during the later part of the war, in order to expedite repairs. I've heard this was done, but have seen no evidence of it. In any case this is an interesting piece.
This gun is a four digit date, 1940(chamber date), 42 Code(rear toggle) upper assembly married to a Mauser of about the same vintage frame and lower assembly. The upper assembly has all the same numbers and the entire lower assembly has a different number. The upper has a s.n. of 7927 and the parts all have the 27. The frame and it's parts are s.n. 505d.
The finish on the gun is worn and turning to a brown patina. There has been some minor rust, which cleaned up fairly well. Most of the rust is spotty on the right side as if the pistol lay on it's right side and was exposed to some moisture and both the upper and lower portions seem to have a similar pattern to the rust spots. The bore of the gun looks bright and shiny and has very good lands and grooves. Mechanically the gun is sound and seems to function very well. The barrel and the receiver are both eagle 655 marked. The eagle/s is marked on the left side of the front toggle. The ejector is marked 'Geladen'. The magazine is numbered 8155n with a + and a waffen of eagle 83. The grips are waffen proofed eagle/655 but not numbered. There is a WH stamped in the right grip with the W slightly superimposed on the H.
I would appreciate any and all information that any of you would care to share. I have included
photos.
Thanks, barr

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...luger_lft..jpg

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._luger_rt..jpg

barr44 · 02-01-2008, 07:36 PM

Thanks for the reply, Tac.
I have seen several mixed no. guns, and have four now. All of the others just had a couple of mismatched parts or parts with no numbers. One has has about six different numbers. Hadn't seen any matched up like this one was. Of course, I'll be the first to admit, I haven't seen everything.
The gun shoots fine, I took it to the range a week or so back, I use the Walmart Winchester, it seemed to function fine in three of the Lugers I've used it in. It seems to be accurate and functioned just like it should.
I like the feel of the Luger, it seems to fit my hand better than some of my other handguns and it seems like it is easier to get on target. They're definitely a fun gun to shoot.
Thanks, again, barr.

Edward Tinker · 02-01-2008, 08:33 PM

barr, i have owned and seen several lugers, all 3rd reich era which is interesting, but I assume due to the many available to GI's; that had matching tops and matching bottoms, two of them I know were brought back by GI's.

I assume 1 of 3 things;

1. GI's didn't really care and when cleaning and putting together, parts were parts (1911A1 receivers went right onto 1911A1 frames, no matching numbers required)

2. a top or bottom of two different guns were damaged and put together by;

a. GI's, german or US
b. by exporters or importers

3. An idiot at a gun show mixed them up

Ed

01-30-2008, 01:45 PM	#1
barr44 User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: york co., va Posts: 153 Thanks: 27 Thanked 35 Times in 21 Posts	Another unusual Luger? This is a newly acquired Luger and as usual, I have questions about it. I'm wondering if the practice of joining assemblies from two different lugers was practiced during the later part of the war, in order to expedite repairs. I've heard this was done, but have seen no evidence of it. In any case this is an interesting piece. This gun is a four digit date, 1940(chamber date), 42 Code(rear toggle) upper assembly married to a Mauser of about the same vintage frame and lower assembly. The upper assembly has all the same numbers and the entire lower assembly has a different number. The upper has a s.n. of 7927 and the parts all have the 27. The frame and it's parts are s.n. 505d. The finish on the gun is worn and turning to a brown patina. There has been some minor rust, which cleaned up fairly well. Most of the rust is spotty on the right side as if the pistol lay on it's right side and was exposed to some moisture and both the upper and lower portions seem to have a similar pattern to the rust spots. The bore of the gun looks bright and shiny and has very good lands and grooves. Mechanically the gun is sound and seems to function very well. The barrel and the receiver are both eagle 655 marked. The eagle/s is marked on the left side of the front toggle. The ejector is marked 'Geladen'. The magazine is numbered 8155n with a + and a waffen of eagle 83. The grips are waffen proofed eagle/655 but not numbered. There is a WH stamped in the right grip with the W slightly superimposed on the H. I would appreciate any and all information that any of you would care to share. I have included photos. Thanks, barr http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...luger_lft..jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._luger_rt..jpg

02-01-2008, 08:33 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	barr, i have owned and seen several lugers, all 3rd reich era which is interesting, but I assume due to the many available to GI's; that had matching tops and matching bottoms, two of them I know were brought back by GI's. I assume 1 of 3 things; 1. GI's didn't really care and when cleaning and putting together, parts were parts (1911A1 receivers went right onto 1911A1 frames, no matching numbers required) 2. a top or bottom of two different guns were damaged and put together by; a. GI's, german or US b. by exporters or importers 3. An idiot at a gun show mixed them up Ed __________________ 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

02-01-2008, 07:36 PM	#2
barr44 User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: york co., va Posts: 153 Thanks: 27 Thanked 35 Times in 21 Posts	Thanks for the reply, Tac. I have seen several mixed no. guns, and have four now. All of the others just had a couple of mismatched parts or parts with no numbers. One has has about six different numbers. Hadn't seen any matched up like this one was. Of course, I'll be the first to admit, I haven't seen everything. The gun shoots fine, I took it to the range a week or so back, I use the Walmart Winchester, it seemed to function fine in three of the Lugers I've used it in. It seems to be accurate and functioned just like it should. I like the feel of the Luger, it seems to fit my hand better than some of my other handguns and it seems like it is easier to get on target. They're definitely a fun gun to shoot. Thanks, again, barr.