1940 Mauser "42" Luger

George Anderson · 12-13-2005, 05:14 PM

Tom, at $600 you probably got a deal. Normally the personal touch on the grips would detract from the pistol's value and probably does in this case. You may still be able to enhance the gun's value by promptly getting ahold of the son and asking for two things.

First ask him to search his Dad's papers to see if an Army permit to bring the pistol home can be found. Next ask the son to write a brief letter to you describing the circumatances his father related to him in regard to the weapon's acquisition. Also ask for a brief bio of the old man to include place of birth, date of birth and (most important) service number.

If the vet's unit did indeed disarm some SS types and the pistol can be so documented to have come from one of these guys, you may have a $1200 gun. In all future correspondence with the heirs and in the search for documents, the mention of the serial number is paramount to any hope of creating provenance.

Good luck.

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12-13-2005, 05:14 PM	#3
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Tom, at $600 you probably got a deal. Normally the personal touch on the grips would detract from the pistol's value and probably does in this case. You may still be able to enhance the gun's value by promptly getting ahold of the son and asking for two things. First ask him to search his Dad's papers to see if an Army permit to bring the pistol home can be found. Next ask the son to write a brief letter to you describing the circumatances his father related to him in regard to the weapon's acquisition. Also ask for a brief bio of the old man to include place of birth, date of birth and (most important) service number. If the vet's unit did indeed disarm some SS types and the pistol can be so documented to have come from one of these guys, you may have a $1200 gun. In all future correspondence with the heirs and in the search for documents, the mention of the serial number is paramount to any hope of creating provenance. Good luck.