Interesting find with recent purchase

jblomenberg16 · 12-17-2007, 08:21 PM

I just purchased a Luger for my dad. I had another post in this forum with some pics and info on it.

I was going through the other items that came with the gun. The holster is not original from what I can tell and from what others on this forum said. Not sure exactly what it is, but here's a picture. Any good tips to where I might be able to get an original? Might make for a good Father's Day or Christmas gift next year.

I dug further through the box, and found several miscellaneous rounds of ammunition, including some 9mm, .45ACP, .22mag, and a few others.

There was some old gun and reel cloth, as well as the zip-loc bags the cloths came in. I unzipped one that appeard to have something in it.

To my amazement, it was the U.S. Army Captured Weapons release paper!!! My heart starts pounding, since the guy I bought it off of told me it was a "bring back" from WWII; one that his father-in-law brought back.

I read on, and see it is dated October 18, 1945. It reads on about the type and s/n of the gun, which is where I became puzzled. The info doesn't match this gun!!!

The gun I have is a 42 byf. The papers are for a 1937 Luger, with an entirely different s/n. I thought that maybe if the numbers were the same, then perhaps they confused the model year (yeah, I know that "42" is right on top).

So, any thoughts as to what might be going on? I wonder if he and another G.I. got their items switched on the boat ride back to the U.S.? The correct name is on the papers, so it verifies the part about him bringing a P08 back with him.

So, I'm stumped for now.

rayman1 · 12-17-2007, 08:26 PM

I think what probably happened was GI must've brought back at least a couple (GI's are crafty - sometimes bring back a couple of the same thing in case one gets taken). Somehow the paperwork for the other one got stuck with the pistol you have. You could inquire to the previous owner about the other Luger that matches the paperwork - he might still have that one or know where it is.

Imagine how grateful the owner of the other Luger would be to get the bringback papers for it.

jblomenberg16 · 12-17-2007, 11:33 PM

Unfortunately the individual who brought it back is no longer with us. He died a few years back, and his son-in-law was who I bought the gun off of.

I'm going to check with him to see if there is any chance he had another Luger, and maybe gave / bequeathed it to another family member or friend.

Or, maybe he knows of a old War Buddy that might have the Luger that matches this paperwork.

Will add to the fun I'm going to have researching and learning more about these pistols!

Zamo · 12-17-2007, 11:38 PM

Please post the Serial number of the 1937 Luger on the form, as hopefully, somebody here (maybe me!!!) might be the current owner of that piece...Wouldn't that be an amazing "Believe it or not"!!!
If he had the form, odds are, he brought it home, so it should be "in country".
Perhaps he traded it at the time. Perhaps it was stolen, and he replaced it. Perhaps there was a paper shuffle at Battallion HQ...who can say?
It's still pretty cool.

jblomenberg16 · 12-17-2007, 11:50 PM

I think I'll talk to the guy I bought it from first, just to run that trap, but then would consider posting it. Who knows, maybe the papers for this one are out there too, and I can make the swap.

Honest question here though. I'm assuming that the collector value, and therefore dollar value of one of these goes up if the papers match, correct?

MFC · 12-18-2007, 01:27 AM

Correct!

12-17-2007, 08:21 PM	#1
jblomenberg16 User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interesting find with recent purchase I just purchased a Luger for my dad. I had another post in this forum with some pics and info on it. I was going through the other items that came with the gun. The holster is not original from what I can tell and from what others on this forum said. Not sure exactly what it is, but here's a picture. Any good tips to where I might be able to get an original? Might make for a good Father's Day or Christmas gift next year. I dug further through the box, and found several miscellaneous rounds of ammunition, including some 9mm, .45ACP, .22mag, and a few others. There was some old gun and reel cloth, as well as the zip-loc bags the cloths came in. I unzipped one that appeard to have something in it. To my amazement, it was the U.S. Army Captured Weapons release paper!!! My heart starts pounding, since the guy I bought it off of told me it was a "bring back" from WWII; one that his father-in-law brought back. I read on, and see it is dated October 18, 1945. It reads on about the type and s/n of the gun, which is where I became puzzled. The info doesn't match this gun!!! The gun I have is a 42 byf. The papers are for a 1937 Luger, with an entirely different s/n. I thought that maybe if the numbers were the same, then perhaps they confused the model year (yeah, I know that "42" is right on top). So, any thoughts as to what might be going on? I wonder if he and another G.I. got their items switched on the boat ride back to the U.S.? The correct name is on the papers, so it verifies the part about him bringing a P08 back with him. So, I'm stumped for now.

12-18-2007, 01:27 AM	#6
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Correct! __________________ Mike C.

12-17-2007, 08:26 PM	#2
rayman1 User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think what probably happened was GI must've brought back at least a couple (GI's are crafty - sometimes bring back a couple of the same thing in case one gets taken). Somehow the paperwork for the other one got stuck with the pistol you have. You could inquire to the previous owner about the other Luger that matches the paperwork - he might still have that one or know where it is. Imagine how grateful the owner of the other Luger would be to get the bringback papers for it.

12-17-2007, 11:33 PM	#3
jblomenberg16 User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unfortunately the individual who brought it back is no longer with us. He died a few years back, and his son-in-law was who I bought the gun off of. I'm going to check with him to see if there is any chance he had another Luger, and maybe gave / bequeathed it to another family member or friend. Or, maybe he knows of a old War Buddy that might have the Luger that matches this paperwork. Will add to the fun I'm going to have researching and learning more about these pistols!

12-17-2007, 11:38 PM	#4
Zamo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 142 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Please post the Serial number of the 1937 Luger on the form, as hopefully, somebody here (maybe me!!!) might be the current owner of that piece...Wouldn't that be an amazing "Believe it or not"!!! If he had the form, odds are, he brought it home, so it should be "in country". Perhaps he traded it at the time. Perhaps it was stolen, and he replaced it. Perhaps there was a paper shuffle at Battallion HQ...who can say? It's still pretty cool.

12-17-2007, 11:50 PM	#5
jblomenberg16 User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think I'll talk to the guy I bought it from first, just to run that trap, but then would consider posting it. Who knows, maybe the papers for this one are out there too, and I can make the swap. Honest question here though. I'm assuming that the collector value, and therefore dollar value of one of these goes up if the papers match, correct?