Pain in the kiester rookie

Willy · 03-08-2006, 04:28 PM

Hello to all,
i'm a little embarrassed to tread the sacred domain of all you expert members out there, but I'm so in the dark as to the subject of Lugers that my options are temporarily limited. So I'm casting a wide net. I've acquired a Luger and literally have no idea what I've got here. It's condition appears as though it just rolled off the assembly line. It's shiny black or dark blue perhaps with no visible signs of wear or fading. It has a part on top resembling a cross in a metallic violet or plum color. It's stamped with several curious logo-like markings and the date 1938. My question is: Do any of you guys or ladies out there know of anyone in the San Diego area competent in the evaluation of these weapons? My email address is williamgarywood@aol.com. Thanks in advance for your very kind direction.
Willy

John Sabato · 03-08-2006, 04:51 PM

Willy, first of all welcome to the Lugerforum... and congrats on your new Luger.

If you visit our homepage by clicking on the "lugerforum site" link at the bottom of this page, you will find a section on the black menu on the left that is Technical information. On that page you will find Luger Identification sheets, which will guide you through the identification process. When you have all the answers to the questions on that sheet, provide the information here and we can help you determine your exact make and model.

You can also upload photos of the top, and both sides of your Luger (the upload link is at the top of the page) and we can provide a much better evaluation. Just make sure the photos are in sharp focus in good light.

From the information you have already provided, All I can tell you is that your Luger was made in 1938. The part on top that looks like a cross is the extractor. And in 1938, it is possible that due to wartime manufacturing, the bluing tank wasn't quite hot enough and it produced the plum color you see instead of blue on that part. The top of the toggle will likely be marked with either an "S/42" or just "S42" or just a "42" and this will indicate that your pistol was produced by the Mauser factory.

If the toggle is marked with a logo that includes an anchor and the letters HK, then the gun could be a Kriefhoff, and be very valuable.

With a production date of 1938, any other logo on the toggle would likely mean that the guns was made from spare parts or had been repaired with old parts.

The full serial number will be just above the trigger guard on the front of the frame. It will likely be 4 digits with a small alphabetical character under it in a script font. This letter is part of the serial number.

On the bottom of the barrel will also be a number like 8,81 through 8,84 which is the bore diameter in millimeters.

There should be two small numbers stamped into the majority of the rest of the parts, and this will be the last two digits of the serial number of the gun they were manufactured for... if they all match the last two numbers of the serial number of this Luger, then you have an all matching gun.

There is no way to determine if your gun has been refinished since it left the factory without at least seeing photos of it, or examining it in person.

One of our California members will likely volunteer and agree to meet with you to see the gun in person and give you a first hand account of what you have...

If the gun has never been refinished, and the parts are all matching it will be considered a collectors item and you would not be advised to shoot it, because any parts breakage would cut the collector value at least in half.

Your Luger could be worth anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to as many as several thousands depending on how rare it is. Try to post photos if you can...

There is much to be learned about Lugers on this site... enjoy yourself reading about them.

lugerholsterrepair · 03-08-2006, 07:23 PM

Willy, John has given you some good advice. I think Aaron is in San Diego...I will be there for the day, I believe it is the 24th of this month. I live three hours to the East in Yuma AZ. Sounds like a good one..Jerry Burney

Willy · 03-08-2006, 10:04 PM

Thanks John and Jerry for your welcome input and direction. I had no idea there was such a knowledged based community of Luger enthusiasts out there. Thank you also for your kind welcome to the group. Jerry, I'll email you my cell number. If you have a few minutes to spare when you come to San Diego, it would be my pleasure to meet with you. You mentioned Aaron from San Diego. I'll be happy to take advantage of any opportunity available. Thanks again for everyone's help.
Willy

John Sabato · 03-08-2006, 11:01 PM

Willy - you are welcome... as to the size of the community... look at your user number... then look at mine...you are one of the latest.

Aaron · 03-08-2006, 11:30 PM

I'm in Vista and travel all around San Diego County. I'll be glad to tell you exactly what you have and answer all your questions. E-mail me at neveragain@juno.com and we can arrange to get together.

Aaron

Edward Tinker · 03-29-2006, 05:33 PM

Aaron is a good guy, you can trust him

Welcome to the forum,

Ed

Aaron · 03-29-2006, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the nice comments, Ed. Actually, I did get in touch with Willy and gave him a full rundown on his Luger. I'm sure those who have been reading this thread are wondering what he had, so I'll fill you in. It turned out to be a 1938 dated S/42 in shootable condition. He told me it was in the same condition as it was when his Did brought it back. Unfortunately, his father must have neglected to mention that he had it worked on. The pistol had a very poor Bubba reblue, heavily polished and with all corners rounded. The proofs were hardly visible. The side plate was a mismatch, and the firing pin was an un-numbered replacement. The bore was dark and somewhat corroded. The grips were original and in decent condition except for the usual chip on the left one beneath the safety. The magazine was the best part of the gun, as it was an FXO with perfect black plastic bottom and the overall condition was excellent. I explained to Willy that it was a shooter and gave him a rough value of $550 to $650. He was a bit disappointed, but was happy to learn exactly what he had.

Lugerdoc · 03-30-2006, 10:07 AM

Aaron, You findings re this 1938 PO8 are about the same as my experience chasing down PO8s advertised in the news papers, so I gave up that pursuit years ago. TH

03-08-2006, 04:28 PM	#1
Willy New User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pain in the kiester rookie Hello to all, i'm a little embarrassed to tread the sacred domain of all you expert members out there, but I'm so in the dark as to the subject of Lugers that my options are temporarily limited. So I'm casting a wide net. I've acquired a Luger and literally have no idea what I've got here. It's condition appears as though it just rolled off the assembly line. It's shiny black or dark blue perhaps with no visible signs of wear or fading. It has a part on top resembling a cross in a metallic violet or plum color. It's stamped with several curious logo-like markings and the date 1938. My question is: Do any of you guys or ladies out there know of anyone in the San Diego area competent in the evaluation of these weapons? My email address is williamgarywood@aol.com. Thanks in advance for your very kind direction. Willy

03-08-2006, 04:51 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Willy, first of all welcome to the Lugerforum... and congrats on your new Luger. If you visit our homepage by clicking on the "lugerforum site" link at the bottom of this page, you will find a section on the black menu on the left that is Technical information. On that page you will find Luger Identification sheets, which will guide you through the identification process. When you have all the answers to the questions on that sheet, provide the information here and we can help you determine your exact make and model. You can also upload photos of the top, and both sides of your Luger (the upload link is at the top of the page) and we can provide a much better evaluation. Just make sure the photos are in sharp focus in good light. From the information you have already provided, All I can tell you is that your Luger was made in 1938. The part on top that looks like a cross is the extractor. And in 1938, it is possible that due to wartime manufacturing, the bluing tank wasn't quite hot enough and it produced the plum color you see instead of blue on that part. The top of the toggle will likely be marked with either an "S/42" or just "S42" or just a "42" and this will indicate that your pistol was produced by the Mauser factory. If the toggle is marked with a logo that includes an anchor and the letters HK, then the gun could be a Kriefhoff, and be very valuable. With a production date of 1938, any other logo on the toggle would likely mean that the guns was made from spare parts or had been repaired with old parts. The full serial number will be just above the trigger guard on the front of the frame. It will likely be 4 digits with a small alphabetical character under it in a script font. This letter is part of the serial number. On the bottom of the barrel will also be a number like 8,81 through 8,84 which is the bore diameter in millimeters. There should be two small numbers stamped into the majority of the rest of the parts, and this will be the last two digits of the serial number of the gun they were manufactured for... if they all match the last two numbers of the serial number of this Luger, then you have an all matching gun. There is no way to determine if your gun has been refinished since it left the factory without at least seeing photos of it, or examining it in person. One of our California members will likely volunteer and agree to meet with you to see the gun in person and give you a first hand account of what you have... If the gun has never been refinished, and the parts are all matching it will be considered a collectors item and you would not be advised to shoot it, because any parts breakage would cut the collector value at least in half. Your Luger could be worth anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to as many as several thousands depending on how rare it is. Try to post photos if you can... There is much to be learned about Lugers on this site... enjoy yourself reading about them. __________________ 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..."*

03-08-2006, 07:23 PM	#3
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	Willy, John has given you some good advice. I think Aaron is in San Diego...I will be there for the day, I believe it is the 24th of this month. I live three hours to the East in Yuma AZ. Sounds like a good one..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."

03-08-2006, 11:01 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Willy - you are welcome... as to the size of the community... look at your user number... then look at mine...you are one of the latest. __________________ 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..."*

03-29-2006, 05:33 PM	#7
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	Aaron is a good guy, you can trust him Welcome to the forum, 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

03-08-2006, 10:04 PM	#4
Willy New User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks John and Jerry for your welcome input and direction. I had no idea there was such a knowledged based community of Luger enthusiasts out there. Thank you also for your kind welcome to the group. Jerry, I'll email you my cell number. If you have a few minutes to spare when you come to San Diego, it would be my pleasure to meet with you. You mentioned Aaron from San Diego. I'll be happy to take advantage of any opportunity available. Thanks again for everyone's help. Willy

03-08-2006, 11:30 PM	#6
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	I'm in Vista and travel all around San Diego County. I'll be glad to tell you exactly what you have and answer all your questions. E-mail me at neveragain@juno.com and we can arrange to get together. Aaron

03-29-2006, 08:41 PM	#8
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Thanks for the nice comments, Ed. Actually, I did get in touch with Willy and gave him a full rundown on his Luger. I'm sure those who have been reading this thread are wondering what he had, so I'll fill you in. It turned out to be a 1938 dated S/42 in shootable condition. He told me it was in the same condition as it was when his Did brought it back. Unfortunately, his father must have neglected to mention that he had it worked on. The pistol had a very poor Bubba reblue, heavily polished and with all corners rounded. The proofs were hardly visible. The side plate was a mismatch, and the firing pin was an un-numbered replacement. The bore was dark and somewhat corroded. The grips were original and in decent condition except for the usual chip on the left one beneath the safety. The magazine was the best part of the gun, as it was an FXO with perfect black plastic bottom and the overall condition was excellent. I explained to Willy that it was a shooter and gave him a rough value of $550 to $650. He was a bit disappointed, but was happy to learn exactly what he had.

03-30-2006, 10:07 AM	#9
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	Aaron, You findings re this 1938 PO8 are about the same as my experience chasing down PO8s advertised in the news papers, so I gave up that pursuit years ago. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net