Need help Identifying Luger P-08

Omegalazarus · 07-22-2009, 05:03 AM

I am sorry if this is the wrong thread but I couldn't get the option to post to the 'New Collector Area'.

I recently got a 9mm Luger from my Grandfather (not his war trophy) and I mainly collect War weapons for the history of them. It is for this reason, that I would like help IDing it. The barrel is not matching to the rest so I know it is a shooter only and that is okay. Anyone that can help with the markings, thanks. I am not worried about price and wouldn't sell it anyway.

I am gun collector with good general knowledge of firearms and other weapons. That being said, I have little experience with markings and specific gun knowledge as far as manufaturing goes. Also, I will not use terms because of my novice so anything I say will be pure description and I apologize if that happens to be a term for a certain marking.
Now, on to the show.

First the Barrel - It is serial 5289 on the L side of barrel and 6 o'clock position under barrel with marking 8.83 under the serial. There is a full eagle with legs outline at 10 o'clock and a smaller eagle over a circle(can't make out more) at 1 o'clock
R side there is the smallest eagle over circle (1cm) under that there is an eagle (head and wing feathers only) with a 6 under it To the right is another of the same with 33 under To the right another of the same with 6 under it To the right after a space a full outline eagle with legs (same as 10 o'clock barrel)
,
Now the Rest of the Pistol - It is serial 4169 (with 69 on all other parts) with a cursive w? under that marking in front of the trigger guard. It looks like a w with a tail at the beginning and a slight curve in at the end. byf is on the toggle arm. P.08 on the frame in front of the 'gesichert' engraving. Wood grips. And my favorite part - a previous owner engraved (with an unsteady hand and many scribbled out mistakes) SNEED on the front and rear grip straps. - No other parkings on weapon
,
Accessories - 1 aluminum bottom mag - 892 cursive cap L or cap C with left side tail and spread wing eagle with 63 under (one digit at each spread foot) 1 Wooden bottom mag - 425 with same cursive symbol and + under it (instead of eagle) Holster - brown leather with tool in pouch Schamback and Co Berlin 1929 L.S. 196 with 2845 under and symbol (hexagonal perimetered starburst with K at center)

Thanks for all the help. I have already tried researching this with little luck (there is so much to learn with Luger's).

Edward Tinker · 07-22-2009, 09:19 AM

Mister Jones (a first name always seems a bit more casual, doesn't it

); the P08 marking on the left shows it is a Mauser.

What year is stamped on the top receiver?

The holster is a police, would be interested in knowing if your pistol is a police?

The 8,83 is a land to land measurement, showing it was of the proper diameter. The FAQ has many of the questions you might come up with, but don't let that persuade you to quit posting

Welcome to the forum!

Pictures would help?

The scratching of the GI's name (US almost for sure) devalues the luger immensly, as a collector does not want to seee this

)

Ed

Lugerdoc · 07-22-2009, 09:51 AM

Sounds to me that the Inpector marking on the right receiver (E/6 & E/33) are Simson. What's the manufactures logo on the mid toggle link? Th

Edward Tinker · 07-22-2009, 11:12 AM

Good catch Tom, sounds like it doesn't it. I get overloaded with so much description and it glazes my eyes (no offense, it was a good description).

So, re-reading it, the top half does not match the bottom half, so top sounds like a Simson and the bottom half is non-Simson....

pictures would help

ed

Don M · 07-22-2009, 12:51 PM

As Ed says, the holster is a police holster. It was manufactured in 1929 and issued to the rural police (Landjägerei) at the time this force was rearmed with newly manufactured Lugers (1929-30). The *K indicates acceptance by the police procurement office of the Berlin Police Armory. This holster was matched to a new Luger with serial number 2845 (s, t or u suffix). Both the pistol and holster were stamped L.S.196., indicating weapon number 196 of the Landjägerei of the Schneidemühl district of Prussia. This district was on the border with Poland during the Weimar era and is part of Poland today. The holster does not match the pistol.

Omegalazarus · 07-23-2009, 12:35 AM

Wow, thanks for the quick responses. My name is Japheth, by the way.

So it sounds like the Holster is Police and the barrel is a Simson(from the eagle markings) with the rest of the weapon as a Mauser (from the P.08 on the frame and the byf on the toggle).

I will get some pics up as soon as I can get to a digital camera, though it sounds like you guys already have it figured out.

I know that unofficial engraving is defamation, but that is why I love this. I have a Russian MN44 carbine and one of my favorite things about it is the front sight. The sight post itself is bent (eventhough the shroud is intact) and the windage adjustment is moved to compensate and has a nice full chisel mark beaten into the front to keep it set in that position. No doubt it was easier for a soldier to fix it this way then to try and get in the shroud and straighten the tiny post without proper equipment. I like the personality that these things add and am not particularly worried about the value.

Also, in this case, I know the value is out the door since the parts do not all match.

Thanks again for the information on both the pistol and holster.

07-22-2009, 05:03 AM	#1
Omegalazarus New User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need help Identifying Luger P-08 I am sorry if this is the wrong thread but I couldn't get the option to post to the 'New Collector Area'. I recently got a 9mm Luger from my Grandfather (not his war trophy) and I mainly collect War weapons for the history of them. It is for this reason, that I would like help IDing it. The barrel is not matching to the rest so I know it is a shooter only and that is okay. Anyone that can help with the markings, thanks. I am not worried about price and wouldn't sell it anyway. I am gun collector with good general knowledge of firearms and other weapons. That being said, I have little experience with markings and specific gun knowledge as far as manufaturing goes. Also, I will not use terms because of my novice so anything I say will be pure description and I apologize if that happens to be a term for a certain marking. Now, on to the show. First the Barrel - It is serial 5289 on the L side of barrel and 6 o'clock position under barrel with marking 8.83 under the serial. There is a full eagle with legs outline at 10 o'clock and a smaller eagle over a circle(can't make out more) at 1 o'clock R side there is the smallest eagle over circle (1cm) under that there is an eagle (head and wing feathers only) with a 6 under it To the right is another of the same with 33 under To the right another of the same with 6 under it To the right after a space a full outline eagle with legs (same as 10 o'clock barrel) , Now the Rest of the Pistol - It is serial 4169 (with 69 on all other parts) with a cursive w? under that marking in front of the trigger guard. It looks like a w with a tail at the beginning and a slight curve in at the end. byf is on the toggle arm. P.08 on the frame in front of the 'gesichert' engraving. Wood grips. And my favorite part - a previous owner engraved (with an unsteady hand and many scribbled out mistakes) SNEED on the front and rear grip straps. - No other parkings on weapon , Accessories - 1 aluminum bottom mag - 892 cursive cap L or cap C with left side tail and spread wing eagle with 63 under (one digit at each spread foot) 1 Wooden bottom mag - 425 with same cursive symbol and + under it (instead of eagle) Holster - brown leather with tool in pouch Schamback and Co Berlin 1929 L.S. 196 with 2845 under and symbol (hexagonal perimetered starburst with K at center) Thanks for all the help. I have already tried researching this with little luck (there is so much to learn with Luger's).

07-22-2009, 09:19 AM	#2
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	Mister Jones (a first name always seems a bit more casual, doesn't it ); the P08 marking on the left shows it is a Mauser. What year is stamped on the top receiver? The holster is a police, would be interested in knowing if your pistol is a police? The 8,83 is a land to land measurement, showing it was of the proper diameter. The FAQ has many of the questions you might come up with, but don't let that persuade you to quit posting Welcome to the forum! Pictures would help? The scratching of the GI's name (US almost for sure) devalues the luger immensly, as a collector does not want to seee this ) 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

07-22-2009, 09:51 AM	#3
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	Sounds to me that the Inpector marking on the right receiver (E/6 & E/33) are Simson. What's the manufactures logo on the mid toggle link? Th __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

07-22-2009, 11:12 AM	#4
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	Good catch Tom, sounds like it doesn't it. I get overloaded with so much description and it glazes my eyes (no offense, it was a good description). So, re-reading it, the top half does not match the bottom half, so top sounds like a Simson and the bottom half is non-Simson.... pictures would help 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

07-22-2009, 12:51 PM	#5
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	As Ed says, the holster is a police holster. It was manufactured in 1929 and issued to the rural police (Landjägerei) at the time this force was rearmed with newly manufactured Lugers (1929-30). The K indicates acceptance by the police procurement office of the Berlin Police Armory. This holster was matched to a new Luger with serial number 2845 (s, t or u suffix). Both the pistol and holster were stamped L.S.196.*, indicating weapon number 196 of the Landjägerei of the Schneidemühl district of Prussia. This district was on the border with Poland during the Weimar era and is part of Poland today. The holster does not match the pistol. __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

07-23-2009, 12:35 AM	#6
Omegalazarus New User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wow, thanks for the quick responses. My name is Japheth, by the way. So it sounds like the Holster is Police and the barrel is a Simson(from the eagle markings) with the rest of the weapon as a Mauser (from the P.08 on the frame and the byf on the toggle). I will get some pics up as soon as I can get to a digital camera, though it sounds like you guys already have it figured out. I know that unofficial engraving is defamation, but that is why I love this. I have a Russian MN44 carbine and one of my favorite things about it is the front sight. The sight post itself is bent (eventhough the shroud is intact) and the windage adjustment is moved to compensate and has a nice full chisel mark beaten into the front to keep it set in that position. No doubt it was easier for a soldier to fix it this way then to try and get in the shroud and straighten the tiny post without proper equipment. I like the personality that these things add and am not particularly worried about the value. Also, in this case, I know the value is out the door since the parts do not all match. Thanks again for the information on both the pistol and holster.