Novice needs help

[bill m]

Hi Dean, Joe,

You need to include the letter suffix with the serial number of your Luger -- I take it this one is an "o", but was not sure. Usually the 1939 S/42's are found in the N, O, p, and Q letter blocks.


Since this is a Mauser made Luger -- S/42 tells you this, and a military model -- again, the S/42 and the right side acceptance marks tell's us this, it was first intended for military (army) use.


But... the police took Lugers out of the military runs and fitted them with a sear safety, usually numbered the magazine with a 1 or 2, and issued them with a police holster -- closure with a stud, not a buckle. These are usually NOT marked with a specific police proof, like an Eagle L. There are definite police contracts in the G-dates (1935), 1936 S/42's, 1939 S/42's, and the byf 41's, with a possibility of a police issued Luger in any of the other dates. The sear safety is the only indicator of a Police issue.


In your case, the 1939 S/42 police Lugers are almost always found scattered in between the 6000n and 9999n serial range. The magazines on these 1939 S/42 can be either the normal army magazine without a 1 or 2, or the normal army magazine with the 1 or 2. Normally there are no Police acceptance stamp on these on either the right or left side of the receiver, although it would be possible.


So, to answer your question, there are military Lugers that were issued to the police, but they would have to have a sear safety. Value is based on condition, all matching numbers, and correctness.