Newbie Introduction and 1937 S-42 pics

[DavidJayUden]

S:
My error. I couldn't see the #'s on the bottom of the barrel.
So to summarize, it basically is a matching gun except mag. and grips? In that case I vote that you leave it alone. Don't sweat the hold-opn issue.
dju

[Norme]

Originally Posted by Sapper

Aaron,

Thanks for the advice. I'm coming to the same conclusion on a refinish. I think I'd still like to get more correct grips and magazine. My only hang up is that it is possible that this pistol was brought back wearing the current black grips and using the magazine I have now. With no way to know for sure, replacement of the grips and magazine would actually devalue this as an heirloom (to me anyway). So I'm torn between making this weapon more historically accurate and preserving what may or may not be it's war-trophy condition. A lot of folks have said they would leave it as is. Anyone else have an opinion?

Regards,

Sapper

Hi Denny, There are two kinds of Luger collectors. There are those who want guns as close to factory original condition as possible, and others, like myself, who value Lugers that have "been there and done that" and bear the scars to prove it. This includes damage done by the well intentioned GI who brought it back, particularly if that GI happened to be an ancestor. If it were my gun, I wouldn't change a thing, just wipe it down with a silicon cloth after handling. Regards, Norm