my first luger

[nickg]

well I always wanted one and i found a nice luger at a gun store a few miles from my house.
It is a 1940/42 model number 4986
it matches with the exception of the side plate. This is a GI take home and has all the waffen proofs and Nazi proofs. I got it for 1200. The magazines do not match, 1 is an original, but it is a very tight fit and the other is a old nickel plated one that fits much better(looser)
my question is aboput what new magazines to buy? i intend to shoot it and i suspect that i need new ones. what brands work best?

[JRS]

Mec-Gar

Mec-Gar works for me. Made in Italy; marketed in U.S by Midway USA. Midway has nickle plated P-08 magazines for $33.00. Don't go to Mec-Gar website; they're $40.00 there.

[mrerick]

HI Nick,

Welcome to the forum!

It looks to me like you got a very nice Luger, two original period magazines and an original period holster for your $1200.

The holster is probably worth $250 or more depending on its markings.

If the extruded blued steel magazine is marked with "fxo" it's probably worth $150.

The other aluminum bottom rolled nickle plated steel magazine is probably worth $100 to $150.

A great deal depends on markings. There are post-war DDR extruded magazines that are similar.

It would be great to see photographs of all the markings on the holster, magazines and gun. We can give you a better idea of values there.

If a magazine is fitting tightly it's been deformed in some way, or something is going on inside the magazine area of your Luger. It's hard to deform the extruded magazines. There are experts on this board that actually can repair and rebuild magazines.

I can't tell from the photographs (and would need to see the back of the grips) but these may be original bakelite grips, which are also rather valuable. If you remove them, be very careful. It's easy to chip them, especially near the safety lever.

You should check to see if all the numbered parts of your Luger are matching. If there is a script letter under the serial number on the front of the frame (above the trigger guard) that letter is a suffix, and part of the serial number.

The four numeric digits of the serial number should be on the bottom of the barrel, and on the left side of the receiver.

The last two digits of the serial number should be on all the other numbered parts.

Inside the trigger plate (on the left side of the receiver) you should find the first two digits of the serial number +1.

If all these things are right, you likely have an all matching Luger. That increases it's value.

The finish looks like it could be original. We'd need closer pictures to be more confident of that. If that is the case, and all numbers match. You have a collectible Luger.

If that is the case, you got quite a bargain!

- - -

If you want new magazines, consider the MecGar magazines. They have a good reputation.

Your old magazines should function fine. If they were bent out of shape, or assembled incorrectly, consider having them repaired.

- - -

If you have a collectible Luger, consider that if you break one of the numbered parts, the value will drop at least 40%. For that reason, a lower cost refinished or non-matching Luger would be a better choice for use at the range.

Marc

[alanint]

That mismatched sideplate is a collector killer, though. Very difficult to replace correctly considering the added inner number.

[nickg]

the silver one is stamped 3/42 and has a small waffenkamp eagle with an 83 or something under it
it fits perfectly and when i depress the release, can fall out of the gun
the other one is numbered 2441 with a cursive "n" stamped in it

the grips are bakelight or plastic , they have threaded bungs on the inside of them
all the numbers all match on the gun save the side plate
where can i send this magazine to be fixed?

[mrerick]

I didn't look closely enough to see the side plate mismatch. That brings the value to a "Shooter" - still a good price considering the accessories...

Is the extruded magazine difficult to push in and pull out? It might be normal operation, as I often don't get magazines that just drop out of my Luger.

G.T. on this forum should be able to help you with magazines.

You probably have original "black widow" bakelite grips. Congratulations!


Marc

[nickg]

the one magazine is stiff at the very top of inserting it...about when it gets to the catch. it isn't overly stiff, but it doesn't go in as easily as the other

[mrerick]

Sounds reasonable and normal to me...

Check and see how it operates with ammo...

Marc

[tomaustin]

all members should be so nice to the new-bees.....tom

[nickg]

the holster is dated 1936 says auwaerter-buseck in VERY faint letters
has a waffenproof as well so it isn't police

I am happy with the price i paid, more because I understand the actual history that I am holding in my hand...it has value that is so much more than a new gun to me.

[mrerick]

Tom,

Thanks for your feedback. I'm relatively new here, but have learned a great deal through the kindness and interest of other forum members. My goal is to try and give back where I'm able to. I'm still learning about Lugers...

Nick,

One warning! These fine pistols are addictive. You have done really well on your first purchase. Enjoy it.

Ask the gun shop if they can contact the family or GI that brought in the Luger and try to learn any of the history and the bring back story associated with it. These are of interest to members here, and there may be an official paper that the army issued to the GI when he was authorized to bring the Luger home. These add provenance and interest to a Luger.

Marc

[nickg]

just an update, it shoots well, i got some new magazines and they stink, but the originals work ok. only jams i had were when i filled the mags to capacity or used flat nosed 147gr ammo. it liked the round nose stuff.
I would love to get a shooter. Everyone at the ranges was VERY interested in the gun.

[alterfritz]

You should contact GT here in the forum about mags, he helped me and now I have 7 mags that all work well in my Luger . Magazines are very tricky, that's what I have learned