Mauser PO8 Luger serial no. question

[rustyzipper]

I just got done registering and have a question for you Luger experts. I have no pictures but will try to describe what I have.
It is a dated 1939 with only a 42 on the toggle. With 2 stick Eagles on the right side frame with 63 below them. Walnut checkered grips in good shape. Bore good and shiny. Blueing at 85% left. All the parts except the clip which is not original have the number 23 on them. I assume those are the last two numbers of the serial number but even the left side of the frame where you find the total serial number still says 23. Also under the barrel on the frame only has 23 also. It does not appear that a total serial number has been ground or scrubbed off. Could this actually be serial number 23 that I have or is there some other reason for this? I paid $1000 for it from my friend's friend who was born here but his dad was on a U boat but moved to this country in 1951 and brought this with him along with a Walther P38 with holster in great condition which I bought also for $400. I don't understand why there is no complete serial number? Thanks.

[alanint]

This could very well be the complete serial number of the first run for 1939, (if there is no letter suffix).

[rustyzipper]

Alanint, have you seen others with only 2 numbers that were of the first run? And the big question, does that make this example more rarer than a higher serial number? Also, I took the grips off and there are no serial numbers on the inside of the wood. And the clip is an ERMA.

[alanint]

Yes, I have seen other guns with only two digit serial numbers and no suffix. There were at least 99 of them produced every year of Luger production. They command no additional premiums, unless somebody really wants it for personal reasons. Collectors rather look for condition, completeness, rarity, etc. rather than low serial numbers.

[rustyzipper]

And also underneath the barrel it reads 23 and below that 8.83 which I see from the sticky is the bore gauge. Below that on front frame is also 23 with a fancy W. Sorry I sound like a novice but have never studied Lugers before.

[Edward Tinker]

So, yours is sn 23w / they made 10,000 at a time for each suffix, although I am unsure if your year started as 23 no suffix

Ed

[rustyzipper]

Ed, I see no W anywhere except on the front of the frame and there is what looks like a fancy W underneath the 23. It is not 23W or W23.

[Norme]

Hi John, The suffix appears beneath the frame serial number, and no place else, as shown in the photo. Regards, Norm

[rustyzipper]

Thanks Norm, so the example in your picture is 4770Y, is that correct? So I am assuming that mine is the 23rd Mauser in the W series. All this is very interesting. Are there three different bore sizes for my model? Mine is 8.83. Do all three shoot the same ammo? I know its a dumb question.

[alanint]

Hi John,

Your gun is, indeed number 23W. The bore size was the German's precise way of keeping quality control. All the bore sizes that start with 8.8_ are for the 9mm Luger round.

[Norme]

Hi John, As Alan has said, 8,83 is the bore diameter in mm. from land to land. I can't imagine that stamping this number served any useful purpose, it's just another example of what can happen when one toilet trains children too early. Regards, Norm

[rustyzipper]

Now with what I have described with no pictures, is my gun in the $1000-$1500 range or $1500-$2500 range. Just a rough estimate would help. Thanks.

[Edward Tinker]

no, impossible to say without pictures and your amounts seem pretty wide spread

[Lugerdoc]

1939 PO8 production began in the mid n suffix block with an S/42 marked toggle code until the mid r block, when the code became just 42. These ran thru the z block, so your w block suffix is correct for your year and toggle code. See Still's "Third Reich Lugers". TH

[rustyzipper]

Lugerdoc, just to clarify, Mine is only a 42 on toggle instead of S42.

[rustyzipper]

Sorry about that, it is my reading comprehension problems showing up.

[mrerick]

John,

If your Luger has the correct "23" on all the normally numbered parts and the grips are original and correct to your pistol, you've paid at the high end of price for a "Shooter" and the low end for a "collectible" all matching Luger.

If there are any non-matching parts (with a number other than "23") this reduces it's value.

At 85% finish coverage, you are at the very low end of what is considered "collectible", and it might only be considered a "shooter". Pictures would help us judge.

The "ERMA" magazine is post war, and less valuable than one from WW-II. Value perhaps $75 in very good condition.

The "S/42" or "42" found on the forward toggle is a German code identifying the firearm as manufactured by "Mauser".

Marc