My first Luger - Interesting find?

Badb · 11-14-2003, 02:27 PM

I have been bitten by the bug, like so many! My first Luger I purchased was a 1937 S/42 at a militaria fair in Warwickshire, United Kingdom. I purchased the book by John Walter "The Luger Story" shortly afterwards and I noted in a passage in Chapter 14 "The Second World War and the demise of the Luger". In the passage John writes about an incident when a British Destroyer, HMS Janus, on patrol in the North Sea spots a German Dornier Do.18 reconnaissance flying boat that had been hit by AA fire and had ditched.

The Chief Petty Officer, Robert Gibbs, describes the incident fully when the Destroyer engages the Dornier after the Germans open fire on them and the subsequent capture of the crew. One of the crew surrenders his Luger to Gibbs and John Walters writes "The captured pistol proved to be no.4125u, an 'S/42' example made by Mauser in 1937."

The serial number on my Luger is 4125u, the question is is this the same one?! And if it is, does this provenance make it any more valuable, can anyone advise?

Thanks

Gavin

11-14-2003, 02:27 PM	#1
Badb User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first Luger - Interesting find? I have been bitten by the bug, like so many! My first Luger I purchased was a 1937 S/42 at a militaria fair in Warwickshire, United Kingdom. I purchased the book by John Walter "The Luger Story" shortly afterwards and I noted in a passage in Chapter 14 "The Second World War and the demise of the Luger". In the passage John writes about an incident when a British Destroyer, HMS Janus, on patrol in the North Sea spots a German Dornier Do.18 reconnaissance flying boat that had been hit by AA fire and had ditched. The Chief Petty Officer, Robert Gibbs, describes the incident fully when the Destroyer engages the Dornier after the Germans open fire on them and the subsequent capture of the crew. One of the crew surrenders his Luger to Gibbs and John Walters writes "The captured pistol proved to be no.4125u, an 'S/42' example made by Mauser in 1937." The serial number on my Luger is 4125u, the question is is this the same one?! And if it is, does this provenance make it any more valuable, can anyone advise? Thanks Gavin