Buying a Luger, need more info

stefanosg · 02-06-2011, 04:12 PM

I am looking to buy this Luger. My expertise is limited so I am not sure what to offer. Its a 1937 chamber date and has an S/42 toggle. All of the upper receiver parts match except the barrel. The frame upon initial inspection had no markings on it, not even a serial number. When I removed the upper receiver found a Waffenstamp inside in the area of the takedown lever. The internal s/n's of the frame parts do not match that of the upper. The grips on the one side have a Waffenstamp and I think a P and an O at opposite ends. The other grip has nothing. The barrel has no markings on it except for a "42" on the bottom near the chamber. The inside of the barrel is in nearly pristine condition. Lastly, it has one plastic bottomed FXO mag with an E37 Waffenstamp and P08. I am guessing that this has had some arsenal work done on it, but I am uncertain about that and how it affects the value.

sheepherder · 02-06-2011, 04:30 PM

The frame has the Mauser hump; my 1937 S/42 does not...I don't know if that is significant or not, just throwing it out there...

stefanosg · 02-06-2011, 04:40 PM

Any all all info welcome. Its a good looking shooter, but I don't want to pay too much.

lugerholsterrepair · 02-06-2011, 04:53 PM

mismatched, rough safety lever, replaced barrel..main thing..will it shoot a magazine or two with no malfunctions? If it won't shoot it's not much of a shooter. Cause that's all it's ever going to be.
IF it shoots..I would offer $550 you don't show any other items...

it has one plastic bottomed FXO mag with an E37 Waffenstamp and P08. I am guessing that this has had some arsenal work done on it, but I am uncertain about that and how it affects the value.

arsenal work done on it ???
Like what?
A magazine you describe in unmolested condition is worth $150+.. arsenal work done on it, maybe nothing...

stefanosg · 02-06-2011, 05:00 PM

The magazine is pristine, its the frame and barrel I suspect as arsenal reissues.

Thank You!

lugerholsterrepair · 02-06-2011, 06:51 PM

Steven, With a pristine FXO mag, they make good shooter mags, I would say $650 is a fair offer.
Again..that's ONLY if it functions in a fireing test.

Jerry Burney

Lugerdoc · 02-07-2011, 10:04 AM

Your luger sounds like one made up for the GIs from left over armour's parts. I've had a couple of these with no serials at all and most parts marked with a code 42 or S/42. These are worth more as spare parts than as a shooter. TH

nukem556 · 02-07-2011, 11:55 AM

yep, an unmarked frame might bring a premium from the wrong sort..hehehe...betcha PIA would buy it!

stefanosg · 02-13-2011, 06:38 PM

Got to shoot it today. The hold open spring needs to be replaced. The toggle would lock open randomly while shooting. I removed the hold open device and it shot flawlessly. Unfortunatley, this guy has been told that Lugers are worth alot of money and sees $650 as way too low. He's looking at over $1000 for it.

aptech77 · 02-13-2011, 08:36 PM

Next.....move on. You can find great shooters in perfect working order for $6-800.

02-06-2011, 04:12 PM	#1
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Buying a Luger, need more info I am looking to buy this Luger. My expertise is limited so I am not sure what to offer. Its a 1937 chamber date and has an S/42 toggle. All of the upper receiver parts match except the barrel. The frame upon initial inspection had no markings on it, not even a serial number. When I removed the upper receiver found a Waffenstamp inside in the area of the takedown lever. The internal s/n's of the frame parts do not match that of the upper. The grips on the one side have a Waffenstamp and I think a P and an O at opposite ends. The other grip has nothing. The barrel has no markings on it except for a "42" on the bottom near the chamber. The inside of the barrel is in nearly pristine condition. Lastly, it has one plastic bottomed FXO mag with an E37 Waffenstamp and P08. I am guessing that this has had some arsenal work done on it, but I am uncertain about that and how it affects the value. __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

02-06-2011, 04:30 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,195 Thanks: 1,413 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	The frame has the Mauser hump; my 1937 S/42 does not...I don't know if that is significant or not, just throwing it out there... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

02-06-2011, 04:40 PM	#3
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Any all all info welcome. Its a good looking shooter, but I don't want to pay too much. __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

02-06-2011, 04:53 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	mismatched, rough safety lever, replaced barrel..main thing..will it shoot a magazine or two with no malfunctions? If it won't shoot it's not much of a shooter. Cause that's all it's ever going to be. IF it shoots..I would offer $550 you don't show any other items... it has one plastic bottomed FXO mag with an E37 Waffenstamp and P08. I am guessing that this has had some arsenal work done on it, but I am uncertain about that and how it affects the value. arsenal work done on it ??? Like what? A magazine you describe in unmolested condition is worth $150+.. arsenal work done on it, maybe nothing... __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-06-2011, 05:00 PM	#5
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	The magazine is pristine, its the frame and barrel I suspect as arsenal reissues. Thank You! __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

02-06-2011, 06:51 PM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Steven, With a pristine FXO mag, they make good shooter mags, I would say $650 is a fair offer. Again..that's ONLY if it functions in a fireing test. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-07-2011, 10:04 AM	#7
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Your luger sounds like one made up for the GIs from left over armour's parts. I've had a couple of these with no serials at all and most parts marked with a code 42 or S/42. These are worth more as spare parts than as a shooter. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

02-07-2011, 11:55 AM	#8
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	yep, an unmarked frame might bring a premium from the wrong sort..hehehe...betcha PIA would buy it! Last edited by nukem556; 02-07-2011 at 03:47 PM.

02-13-2011, 06:38 PM	#9
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Got to shoot it today. The hold open spring needs to be replaced. The toggle would lock open randomly while shooting. I removed the hold open device and it shot flawlessly. Unfortunatley, this guy has been told that Lugers are worth alot of money and sees $650 as way too low. He's looking at over $1000 for it. __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

02-13-2011, 08:36 PM	#10
aptech77 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 85 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Next.....move on. You can find great shooters in perfect working order for $6-800.