What's it worth?

zenithman · 04-07-2006, 01:25 PM

I havent figured out how to start a new web thread so I have attached mine to this one in hopes of getting some help with a value of my fathers luger he brought back from the war. I have checked through the luger identification form and found the following information. The toggle inscription is S/42 The serial number is 214. All the parts match including the clip. They all have 14 stamped on them. The grips look like walnut Im guessing and they are checkered with no boarder. The toggle knob is round with a rough maachines endge to keep fingers from slipping. It is 9MM. the barrel length looks like 3 1/4 inches. Thumb safety is safe in rear position and says Gesichert. It has three markings on the right front side of the receiver that look lik # 46 on the sheet only this one has two birds with the number63 under them and the last figure I can't find in the sheet looks like some kind of a rectangle with a line drawn through it and a couple of lines down the sides of the rectangle. The front and rear sightsare fixed. Clip bottom looks like its made of aluminum and has the same markings as the pistol 214 G. No safety grip, no stock lug, but it does have what looks like a place to slide a sholder stock onto it. The gun retains what looks like to me about 95% of it's original bluing and has the gold colored trigger that is mint. My father brought this home from WW2 and he never fired it. I comes complete with the holster which is marked 1938 with some kind of logo next to it that says C. weiss and an eagle next to it. It has the take down tool in the case and an extra clip that does not match the guns number. I would have to say this gun is about as good as it gets. It was kept in cosmolene untill about 20 years ago. When I was a kid he had the firing pin removed from it but had replaced it when he took it out of it's protective coating. Any help would be appreciated concerning it's approxamate value. Thank you.

John Sabato · 04-07-2006, 09:19 PM

zenithman, Welcome to the Lugerforum...

You see the button at the Top and bottom right of the page labeled "New Topic" ? That is the one to use to start a new thread in the current discussion forum... Just pick the forum that you think your topic belongs in, and click on that button and there you are...ready to post your comment or question...

now back to your question:

THere should be a date stamped over the chamber. That would be the year of manufacture. From what you have described, the date should be 1937 or earlier... The gun was produced by Mauser (S/42) is the wartime manufacturing code for Mauser for that period of time...

The holster would not have left the factory with gun, they were provided at the time of issue to a soldier. The maker's name was Carl Weiss.

The complete serial number is 214g the "g" being the series of production since the serial numbers on military Lugers normally only go up to 9999 and then start over. The place to slide a shoulder stock is actually what is called the stock lug, and is present on all WW2 military lugers.

Barrel length is measure from the front of the muzzle to the face of the closed breechblock, so you should find that your barrel is 4 inches long when measured that way. under the barrel near the trigger on the front of the frame is where the complete serial number should be... on the bottom of the barrel, you will find a stamp that is likely "8,83" (actually the last two digits could be from 81 to 85). This is the bore diameter in millimeters... the stamp inidicates that it met the specifications during inspection

Is the tool marked in any way? or is it blank?

From the condition you described, and without any photos to examine, I would guess that your Luger, magazines, and holster are worth probably 1000 to 1400 dollars in today's market... But I would only use that as a guess since I haven't personally handled the gun. I would never sell a family heirloom... once it is gone, you can never get it back... it is part of your family history... treasure it, and pass it on to your heirs as part of that history...IMHO.

It would be very helpful if you could post photos. There is a photo tutorial at the top of the Site Announcements, Help and Feedback forum... that you should be able to follow. Do the best you can to take good clear focus closeups of both sides, the top, and the front of the frame, and the stamps that you are having a problem identifying...

If you identify the location where you live, one of our members may live close to you and might be able to give you a first hand account of exactly what you now own.

Congrats on joining this Luger fraternity... it is great bunch of folks that stretches world-wide. Your member number (on the left of your posts) will give you some indication of how large this membership is on this website since you are one of our latest members.

Edward Tinker · 04-07-2006, 09:22 PM

Art, welcome to the forum, I split the topic, since the other one was 2 years old

Ed

zenithman · 04-08-2006, 03:16 PM

John and Ed: Thanks so much for getting back to me. I was only able to get a few clear pics I can try again tomorrow now that my son tells me there is a close up feature availabe on my camera. Who knew? The takedown tool is blank. And alothough I have one shot of the insignias it is not clear. I will try and post them here A.S.A.P. Rest assured the gun will stay in the family. Thanks Art.

zenithman · 04-08-2006, 03:17 PM

another photo

Frank · 04-08-2006, 04:32 PM

Hi Art, WELCOME!!! From the info and photos, I believe you have an excellent early 1936 S/42, Serial Number 214g.

If all the required parts are correctly numbered the value of your Luger is over $2000. Without more pictures, it's difficult to give you a closer estimate.

The amount of original blue, particularily on the grip straps will be key.

zenithman · 04-08-2006, 08:13 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I will take some more pictues tomorrow. I did not see any date on the receiver top at all. I did however see the number under the barrel which was 8,82. There is no serial number under the barrel or on the receiver and no witness mark as I have seen on other lugers on this forum.

Frank · 04-08-2006, 09:09 PM

Art, could there be a "G" on the top of the receiver? Look at the front of the frame. You should see the nunbers 214, then under the numbers there should be a script letter. What is the letter?

Take a photo of the markings on the bottom of the magazine.

zenithman · 04-09-2006, 08:08 PM

OK, You guys were correct of course. There is a serial number under the barrel that matches the gun and the front of the receiver. The letter looks to match the G in script. Also the bluing on the hand grip looks ok to me. What do you think? Thanks Art.

zenithman · 04-09-2006, 08:09 PM

another photo

zenithman · 04-09-2006, 08:10 PM

last photo

zenithman · 04-09-2006, 08:11 PM

Barrel photo

Frank · 04-09-2006, 08:48 PM

Art, the script letter beneath the 214 on the frame front is an "E"!!! This makes me believe there is a letter on the top of the chamber of a "G". If true, the Luger was completed in 1935, not 1936.

The photos are nice, but the flash hides any decent attempt to determine the percentage of original blue remaining. It does look like both grip straps are going patina. These pistols were "rust" blue finished so it is expected.

The newly added photos don't provide much in the way of good additional information and you haven't provided a photo of the data (markings) on the bottom of the magazine!!!

I'm afraid this is the best I can do for now!!!

zenithman · 04-10-2006, 06:17 PM

Ok Guy's thanks for the info. The gun has gone to my brother and will stay in the family. The real value is in the fact that it was my Dad's and the story that went with it from WW2. He was not a smoker but still got his alotment of cigarettes every week. He got the pistol in France for 16 cartons. My earliest memories of this gun was in him taking it out occasionally to show us how beautifuly it was machined and how well balanced. Although I own an assortment of rifles shotguns black powder guns etc. none are put together like this finely tuned machine that happens to shoot bullets. I am a collector of antique radios, hence the handle zenithman but I can certainly appreciate these beautiful pieces of history. Thanks again for the info and feel free to visit me on the antique radio forum. Regards, Art.

John Sabato · 04-10-2006, 10:19 PM

Be advised that the holster in that condition is also VERY valuable... because they are not made of steel... they tend to rot...

Keep it cool, dry and away from sunlight... stuff it full of bubble wrap to keep it's shape... and DO NOT store the gun in it... it will be the death of both of them...

THanks for sharing...

Marvin · 04-11-2006, 12:08 PM

Keeping the holster in good condition is important as John stated. If you will go to the Home page and look to the left side, click on General Information, then go near the bottom of the list to Holster Care and Preservation. THere is good information to help protect your holster

A very nice looking rig too!!

04-07-2006, 09:19 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	zenithman, Welcome to the Lugerforum... You see the button at the Top and bottom right of the page labeled "New Topic" ? That is the one to use to start a new thread in the current discussion forum... Just pick the forum that you think your topic belongs in, and click on that button and there you are...ready to post your comment or question... now back to your question: THere should be a date stamped over the chamber. That would be the year of manufacture. From what you have described, the date should be 1937 or earlier... The gun was produced by Mauser (S/42) is the wartime manufacturing code for Mauser for that period of time... The holster would not have left the factory with gun, they were provided at the time of issue to a soldier. The maker's name was Carl Weiss. The complete serial number is 214g the "g" being the series of production since the serial numbers on military Lugers normally only go up to 9999 and then start over. The place to slide a shoulder stock is actually what is called the stock lug, and is present on all WW2 military lugers. Barrel length is measure from the front of the muzzle to the face of the closed breechblock, so you should find that your barrel is 4 inches long when measured that way. under the barrel near the trigger on the front of the frame is where the complete serial number should be... on the bottom of the barrel, you will find a stamp that is likely "8,83" (actually the last two digits could be from 81 to 85). This is the bore diameter in millimeters... the stamp inidicates that it met the specifications during inspection Is the tool marked in any way? or is it blank? From the condition you described, and without any photos to examine, I would guess that your Luger, magazines, and holster are worth probably 1000 to 1400 dollars in today's market... But I would only use that as a guess since I haven't personally handled the gun. I would never sell a family heirloom... once it is gone, you can never get it back... it is part of your family history... treasure it, and pass it on to your heirs as part of that history...IMHO. It would be very helpful if you could post photos. There is a photo tutorial at the top of the Site Announcements, Help and Feedback forum... that you should be able to follow. Do the best you can to take good clear focus closeups of both sides, the top, and the front of the frame, and the stamps that you are having a problem identifying... If you identify the location where you live, one of our members may live close to you and might be able to give you a first hand account of exactly what you now own. Congrats on joining this Luger fraternity... it is great bunch of folks that stretches world-wide. Your member number (on the left of your posts) will give you some indication of how large this membership is on this website since you are one of our latest members. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-07-2006, 09:22 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Art, welcome to the forum, I split the topic, since the other one was 2 years old Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-08-2006, 03:16 PM	#4
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	John and Ed: Thanks so much for getting back to me. I was only able to get a few clear pics I can try again tomorrow now that my son tells me there is a close up feature availabe on my camera. Who knew? The takedown tool is blank. And alothough I have one shot of the insignias it is not clear. I will try and post them here A.S.A.P. Rest assured the gun will stay in the family. Thanks Art. Attached Thumbnails

04-08-2006, 03:17 PM	#5
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	another photo Attached Thumbnails

04-09-2006, 08:08 PM	#9
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	OK, You guys were correct of course. There is a serial number under the barrel that matches the gun and the front of the receiver. The letter looks to match the G in script. Also the bluing on the hand grip looks ok to me. What do you think? Thanks Art. Attached Thumbnails

04-07-2006, 01:25 PM	#1
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I havent figured out how to start a new web thread so I have attached mine to this one in hopes of getting some help with a value of my fathers luger he brought back from the war. I have checked through the luger identification form and found the following information. The toggle inscription is S/42 The serial number is 214. All the parts match including the clip. They all have 14 stamped on them. The grips look like walnut Im guessing and they are checkered with no boarder. The toggle knob is round with a rough maachines endge to keep fingers from slipping. It is 9MM. the barrel length looks like 3 1/4 inches. Thumb safety is safe in rear position and says Gesichert. It has three markings on the right front side of the receiver that look lik # 46 on the sheet only this one has two birds with the number63 under them and the last figure I can't find in the sheet looks like some kind of a rectangle with a line drawn through it and a couple of lines down the sides of the rectangle. The front and rear sightsare fixed. Clip bottom looks like its made of aluminum and has the same markings as the pistol 214 G. No safety grip, no stock lug, but it does have what looks like a place to slide a sholder stock onto it. The gun retains what looks like to me about 95% of it's original bluing and has the gold colored trigger that is mint. My father brought this home from WW2 and he never fired it. I comes complete with the holster which is marked 1938 with some kind of logo next to it that says C. weiss and an eagle next to it. It has the take down tool in the case and an extra clip that does not match the guns number. I would have to say this gun is about as good as it gets. It was kept in cosmolene untill about 20 years ago. When I was a kid he had the firing pin removed from it but had replaced it when he took it out of it's protective coating. Any help would be appreciated concerning it's approxamate value. Thank you.

04-08-2006, 04:32 PM	#6
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 164 Times in 87 Posts	Hi Art, WELCOME!!! From the info and photos, I believe you have an excellent early 1936 S/42, Serial Number 214g. If all the required parts are correctly numbered the value of your Luger is over $2000. Without more pictures, it's difficult to give you a closer estimate. The amount of original blue, particularily on the grip straps will be key.

04-08-2006, 08:13 PM	#7
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the replies guys. I will take some more pictues tomorrow. I did not see any date on the receiver top at all. I did however see the number under the barrel which was 8,82. There is no serial number under the barrel or on the receiver and no witness mark as I have seen on other lugers on this forum.

04-08-2006, 09:09 PM	#8
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 164 Times in 87 Posts	Art, could there be a "G" on the top of the receiver? Look at the front of the frame. You should see the nunbers 214, then under the numbers there should be a script letter. What is the letter? Take a photo of the markings on the bottom of the magazine.

04-09-2006, 08:09 PM	#10
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	another photo Attached Thumbnails

04-09-2006, 08:10 PM	#11
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	last photo Attached Thumbnails

04-09-2006, 08:11 PM	#12
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Barrel photo Attached Thumbnails

04-09-2006, 08:48 PM	#13
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 164 Times in 87 Posts	Art, the script letter beneath the 214 on the frame front is an "E"!!! This makes me believe there is a letter on the top of the chamber of a "G". If true, the Luger was completed in 1935, not 1936. The photos are nice, but the flash hides any decent attempt to determine the percentage of original blue remaining. It does look like both grip straps are going patina. These pistols were "rust" blue finished so it is expected. The newly added photos don't provide much in the way of good additional information and you haven't provided a photo of the data (markings) on the bottom of the magazine!!! I'm afraid this is the best I can do for now!!!

04-10-2006, 06:17 PM	#14
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok Guy's thanks for the info. The gun has gone to my brother and will stay in the family. The real value is in the fact that it was my Dad's and the story that went with it from WW2. He was not a smoker but still got his alotment of cigarettes every week. He got the pistol in France for 16 cartons. My earliest memories of this gun was in him taking it out occasionally to show us how beautifuly it was machined and how well balanced. Although I own an assortment of rifles shotguns black powder guns etc. none are put together like this finely tuned machine that happens to shoot bullets. I am a collector of antique radios, hence the handle zenithman but I can certainly appreciate these beautiful pieces of history. Thanks again for the info and feel free to visit me on the antique radio forum. Regards, Art.

04-10-2006, 10:19 PM	#15
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Be advised that the holster in that condition is also VERY valuable... because they are not made of steel... they tend to rot... Keep it cool, dry and away from sunlight... stuff it full of bubble wrap to keep it's shape... and DO NOT store the gun in it... it will be the death of both of them... THanks for sharing... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-11-2006, 12:08 PM	#16
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Keeping the holster in good condition is important as John stated. If you will go to the Home page and look to the left side, click on General Information, then go near the bottom of the list to Holster Care and Preservation. THere is good information to help protect your holster A very nice looking rig too!!