Help with I.D.

RedLab · 03-31-2011, 02:43 PM

This is my first post on the forum. Thanks to whomever keeps it rolling. I'm sure I can get some helpful info on here. I have a Luger in very good condition all numbers match on the gun and one of the magazines. I don't have the holster. The story goes like this,my Grandfather was a paratrooper in the First Canadian Paratroop Batallion. When he was in Holland I believe. After it was liberated there where two German soldiers walking down the street. An old dutch lady pointed behind a hedge to my Grandfather. Behind the hedge were two Lugers. One he traded for a gold watch on the boat back to Canada the other I have inherited. It is wraped in a piece of my Grandfathers parachute. Any info on the Luger would be helpful. I would like to know what I have here and an estimated value. Thanks Rich.

Balder · 03-31-2011, 02:58 PM

Rich,

Welcome to this forum! You will not find a better gun forum on the net. The gurus here have a vast amount of knowledge and the attitude is very civilized.

A great looking gun with a very interesting story to it. Being no guru, I can't really say much about it from the picture. Please post more pictures, especially of all markings.

Balder

Neil Young · 03-31-2011, 03:00 PM

This is a good looking Luger and apparently a collectable piece. However, to get a good reading from those who know, you need to post photos of both sides of the gun--close up. Also show all marks, including the serial number. Welcome aboard.

Neil

Neil Young · 03-31-2011, 03:03 PM

Just for fun, I'm going to guess an S/42, pre mid-1937, due to the strawed parts.

Neil

Norme · 03-31-2011, 03:14 PM

G Date (1935). Regards, Norm

RedLab · 03-31-2011, 03:46 PM

I tried to take some better pictures.

Edward Tinker · 03-31-2011, 04:13 PM

G date police with matching magazine.

nice....

Whats the marking on the other magazine? I am guessing a totally different mag, but was curious if it was a police?

Value, i would need better pictures and need to know if all the small parts (inside too) match the last two of the serial number.

Ed

RedLab · 03-31-2011, 04:42 PM

The other mag, the black one is stamed N4762 under that number is a smaller # 528 and under that is a small marking similar to a breast cancer ribon. Thanks for the info so far. This S/42 does not have a date stamped on it. Are the police Lugers rarer than other lugers? What would this be worth if all the small parts match as I presume. I'm scared to take it apart. I don't want to damage it.

mrerick · 03-31-2011, 05:20 PM

Hi Rich,

First, welcome to the forum.

Your "G" Date Luger was made in 1935 by Mauser. It is proofed for military use. It was adapted for Police use. The sear safety is typical of what was required for the police.

"G" date Lugers with the proof markings you have on yours are rather rare. Police Lugers are also relatively rare. The combination of both is quite rare.

The small letter under the "7999" on the front of the frame is a suffix, and part of your serial number.

The other magazine could be marked for use with a Navy Luger. Pictures will help.

Your G date in that condition is a rather valuable Luger. I don't have my reference books with me, but the series of Lugers used by the police are known, and someone with the reference can give you more detail.

Take good care of this one. Consider that the original numbered parts are irreplaceable if they get broken through mishandling or a firing accident.

All matching, original finish in this state - values are probably upward of $3000. I don't have much background in valuation of Police Lugers. Others on the board can give a more accurate opinion.

Congratulations!

Marc

RedLab · 03-31-2011, 05:38 PM

Thanks Marc, this is the information I was looking for. I have an interesting document from when my grandfather registered the gun shortly after the war. I will take some pics of the other mag. Any other info on this gun is welcome. Thanks so far guys. This is kinda like antiques road show. Too bad you didn't get to see my jaw drop.

sheepherder · 03-31-2011, 07:41 PM

Rich, can you take a pic of the left side of the Luger, specifically the top of the grip and the trigger sideplate and back of trigger??? It would be interesting to see if the magazine safety is intact (if it was fitted with one)...

DavidJayUden · 03-31-2011, 08:53 PM

Norm:
Based on the one photo what made you ID it as a G date? Lack of hump?
Regardless, good spot.
dju

Norme · 03-31-2011, 09:42 PM

No big deal, David. The G date has very distinctive inspection marks on the right receiver.
By coincidence, I'll be running my first annual Luger recognition contest over on the other forum tomorrow evening. It'll be fun for the whole family. Best regards, Norm

03-31-2011, 03:00 PM	#3
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 552 Thanks: 567 Thanked 449 Times in 170 Posts	This is a good looking Luger and apparently a collectable piece. However, to get a good reading from those who know, you need to post photos of both sides of the gun--close up. Also show all marks, including the serial number. Welcome aboard. Neil __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

03-31-2011, 03:03 PM	#4
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 552 Thanks: 567 Thanked 449 Times in 170 Posts	Just for fun, I'm going to guess an S/42, pre mid-1937, due to the strawed parts. Neil __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

03-31-2011, 04:13 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,608 Times in 2,123 Posts	G date police with matching magazine. nice.... Whats the marking on the other magazine? I am guessing a totally different mag, but was curious if it was a police? Value, i would need better pictures and need to know if all the small parts (inside too) match the last two of the serial number. 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

03-31-2011, 05:20 PM	#9
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,139 Times in 1,520 Posts	Hi Rich, First, welcome to the forum. Your "G" Date Luger was made in 1935 by Mauser. It is proofed for military use. It was adapted for Police use. The sear safety is typical of what was required for the police. "G" date Lugers with the proof markings you have on yours are rather rare. Police Lugers are also relatively rare. The combination of both is quite rare. The small letter under the "7999" on the front of the frame is a suffix, and part of your serial number. The other magazine could be marked for use with a Navy Luger. Pictures will help. Your G date in that condition is a rather valuable Luger. I don't have my reference books with me, but the series of Lugers used by the police are known, and someone with the reference can give you more detail. Take good care of this one. Consider that the original numbered parts are irreplaceable if they get broken through mishandling or a firing accident. All matching, original finish in this state - values are probably upward of $3000. I don't have much background in valuation of Police Lugers. Others on the board can give a more accurate opinion. Congratulations! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-31-2011, 07:41 PM	#11
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,208 Thanks: 1,425 Thanked 4,474 Times in 2,343 Posts	Rich, can you take a pic of the left side of the Luger, specifically the top of the grip and the trigger sideplate and back of trigger??? It would be interesting to see if the magazine safety is intact (if it was fitted with one)... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

03-31-2011, 02:58 PM	#2
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	Rich, Welcome to this forum! You will not find a better gun forum on the net. The gurus here have a vast amount of knowledge and the attitude is very civilized. A great looking gun with a very interesting story to it. Being no guru, I can't really say much about it from the picture. Please post more pictures, especially of all markings. Balder

03-31-2011, 03:14 PM	#5
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	G Date (1935). Regards, Norm

03-31-2011, 04:42 PM	#8
RedLab New User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The other mag, the black one is stamed N4762 under that number is a smaller # 528 and under that is a small marking similar to a breast cancer ribon. Thanks for the info so far. This S/42 does not have a date stamped on it. Are the police Lugers rarer than other lugers? What would this be worth if all the small parts match as I presume. I'm scared to take it apart. I don't want to damage it.

03-31-2011, 05:38 PM	#10
RedLab New User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Marc, this is the information I was looking for. I have an interesting document from when my grandfather registered the gun shortly after the war. I will take some pics of the other mag. Any other info on this gun is welcome. Thanks so far guys. This is kinda like antiques road show. Too bad you didn't get to see my jaw drop.

03-31-2011, 08:53 PM	#12
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Norm: Based on the one photo what made you ID it as a G date? Lack of hump? Regardless, good spot. dju

03-31-2011, 09:42 PM	#13
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	No big deal, David. The G date has very distinctive inspection marks on the right receiver. By coincidence, I'll be running my first annual Luger recognition contest over on the other forum tomorrow evening. It'll be fun for the whole family. Best regards, Norm