Simson Inheritance. To shoot or admire ?

PhantomF4E · 12-15-2009, 08:47 PM

Greetings all,
First post to this forum. I have been a life long student of WW1 and WW2. Having relatives and ancestors who have served in both those conflicts and every other American conflict since the Revolution.
I recently lost an Uncle who had served in WW2. He never really talked to me about what he did only where he was. He served in the Pacific theater and ended up in Okinawa after the war until he was discharged.
Anyway to make a long story short. He did tell a story of running off a neighborhood theif raiding his porch freezer with a luger. I mentioned after hearing the story that I loved the P08 and if he was ever to sell it I wanted to be first on the list. I'm not sure how he came into possesion of it. If it was a bring home or a purchase. Well I was told after his passing that it had been left to me.
Well expecting to find an old beat up shooter I opened the rug he stored it in and was quite surprised at the condition.
I own several firearms but I am at a loss at the complexity of the Luger family. It looks as though it is a fairly intact Simson although I cannot make a determination of it.
I'm hoping someone here might take an interest in helping me find out a little about it.
All the stampings appear to match and one of the grips bears the entire sn. It is actually the one that some break up around the saftey. The other side looks like old woodworking but the sn is not on that grip.
The magazines are not stamped, have no markings and one looks as though it may be a modern reproduction.
It came with an old box of ammunition. I'm going to research that and see how old the ammo is . The box is complete and has only 6 spent shells in the box. So as old as the box of ammo is will indicate the time span the 6 shots were taken.
I'm not certain if there was any refinishing done. My eyes cant tell. but the chamber area has very little wear even if it has been refinished.
I took some pictures and sized them in photoshop. I hope these make it and are clear enough to make something out. I have more and can post more details if necessary.
Too me valuble or not Simson is better than Simpson. I think this one is quite a lady.
Thanks in advance and enjoy the pics.

alvin · 12-15-2009, 09:13 PM

If it were a DWM, Erfurt or Mauser, I would say this gun is shootable in conventional classification.

For Simson or Krieghoff, ........., I don't know it's shootable or not in general opinion.

Edward Tinker · 12-15-2009, 10:34 PM

serial number 3917 is not in my database, so thank you and welcome to the forum.

Your acceptance and proofs on the right are in the correct range (nice to always know).

I would expect that yours was made around 1927

I am pretty sure it has been reblued, it looks that way in the pictures.

Reblued value is around $1400-$1600

non reblued around $2200-$2500

Look on the bottom of the stock lug (look up, into the area where you;d insert the magazine) and see if it is E6 E6 (eagle 6) or E33 E33

Ed

PhantomF4E · 12-15-2009, 10:54 PM

Ed,
Thanks so much for the reply. It is an Eagle 6 eagle 6. I believe the magazines are not correct . Here is a picture of both of them

Edward Tinker · 12-15-2009, 10:56 PM

yes, both are aftermarkets

lugerholsterrepair · 12-15-2009, 11:19 PM

Without doubt this pistol has been hot salt blued. It's original finish would have been a rust blue with strawed small parts.
The mags are either Danish..made in Denmark or Mexican. The original mags would have been German of course.
Still..a nice example of a Simson and not every collector has one! I don't..durn it!
Most Luger grips have the last 2 of the serial numbers on the inside. I don't know enough about Simsons to say all 4 is correct or not.
Anyway..with your Family history, it's a keeper.
Congratulations and welcome to the Forum.

Jerry Burney

Edward Tinker · 12-15-2009, 11:44 PM

Simsons always have the entire serial number (not always suffix) on the grips

ed

Brownie · 12-17-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Simsons always have the entire serial number (not always suffix) on the grips

I didn't know that. Learn something new every day.

PhantomF4E · 12-22-2009, 10:05 PM

Is there any significance in the stock lug markings being E6 E6 or E33 E33 ? The markings on this Luger is E6 E6. I imagine trying to find a sn match "proper" magazine is probably equivalent to hitting the powerball.
As far as restoration goes, is it worth the effort or is further messing with worth it ? Right now it is sitting in a presentation box. Looks pretty nice .

Edward Tinker · 12-23-2009, 12:24 AM

You can buy my book and read about the eagle 6 versus the eagle 33

okay, it is an unknown; usually eagle 6 is attributed to the Simson company (the inspector was "assigned" to the company, but not a company employee. You see eagle 6 more often than eagle 33, I believe it is just another inspector (or group of inspectors) that were assigned to okay the work.

You could have it redone, but it needs to be done by an expert, which means around $500-1000; and the value will not rise accordingly...

Ed

12-15-2009, 08:47 PM	#1
PhantomF4E New User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Simson Inheritance. To shoot or admire ? Greetings all, First post to this forum. I have been a life long student of WW1 and WW2. Having relatives and ancestors who have served in both those conflicts and every other American conflict since the Revolution. I recently lost an Uncle who had served in WW2. He never really talked to me about what he did only where he was. He served in the Pacific theater and ended up in Okinawa after the war until he was discharged. Anyway to make a long story short. He did tell a story of running off a neighborhood theif raiding his porch freezer with a luger. I mentioned after hearing the story that I loved the P08 and if he was ever to sell it I wanted to be first on the list. I'm not sure how he came into possesion of it. If it was a bring home or a purchase. Well I was told after his passing that it had been left to me. Well expecting to find an old beat up shooter I opened the rug he stored it in and was quite surprised at the condition. I own several firearms but I am at a loss at the complexity of the Luger family. It looks as though it is a fairly intact Simson although I cannot make a determination of it. I'm hoping someone here might take an interest in helping me find out a little about it. All the stampings appear to match and one of the grips bears the entire sn. It is actually the one that some break up around the saftey. The other side looks like old woodworking but the sn is not on that grip. The magazines are not stamped, have no markings and one looks as though it may be a modern reproduction. It came with an old box of ammunition. I'm going to research that and see how old the ammo is . The box is complete and has only 6 spent shells in the box. So as old as the box of ammo is will indicate the time span the 6 shots were taken. I'm not certain if there was any refinishing done. My eyes cant tell. but the chamber area has very little wear even if it has been refinished. I took some pictures and sized them in photoshop. I hope these make it and are clear enough to make something out. I have more and can post more details if necessary. Too me valuble or not Simson is better than Simpson. I think this one is quite a lady. Thanks in advance and enjoy the pics. Attached Thumbnails

12-15-2009, 10:34 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	serial number 3917 is not in my database, so thank you and welcome to the forum. Your acceptance and proofs on the right are in the correct range (nice to always know). I would expect that yours was made around 1927 I am pretty sure it has been reblued, it looks that way in the pictures. Reblued value is around $1400-$1600 non reblued around $2200-$2500 Look on the bottom of the stock lug (look up, into the area where you;d insert the magazine) and see if it is E6 E6 (eagle 6) or E33 E33 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

12-15-2009, 10:54 PM	#4
PhantomF4E New User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed, Thanks so much for the reply. It is an Eagle 6 eagle 6. I believe the magazines are not correct . Here is a picture of both of them Attached Thumbnails

12-15-2009, 11:19 PM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,766 Thanks: 4,883 Thanked 3,121 Times in 1,432 Posts	Without doubt this pistol has been hot salt blued. It's original finish would have been a rust blue with strawed small parts. The mags are either Danish..made in Denmark or Mexican. The original mags would have been German of course. Still..a nice example of a Simson and not every collector has one! I don't..durn it! Most Luger grips have the last 2 of the serial numbers on the inside. I don't know enough about Simsons to say all 4 is correct or not. Anyway..with your Family history, it's a keeper. Congratulations and welcome to the Forum. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

12-15-2009, 11:44 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Simsons always have the entire serial number (not always suffix) on the grips 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

12-15-2009, 09:13 PM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	If it were a DWM, Erfurt or Mauser, I would say this gun is shootable in conventional classification. For Simson or Krieghoff, ........., I don't know it's shootable or not in general opinion.

12-15-2009, 10:56 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	yes, both are aftermarkets

12-22-2009, 10:05 PM	#9
PhantomF4E New User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is there any significance in the stock lug markings being E6 E6 or E33 E33 ? The markings on this Luger is E6 E6. I imagine trying to find a sn match "proper" magazine is probably equivalent to hitting the powerball. As far as restoration goes, is it worth the effort or is further messing with worth it ? Right now it is sitting in a presentation box. Looks pretty nice .

12-23-2009, 12:24 AM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	You can buy my book and read about the eagle 6 versus the eagle 33 okay, it is an unknown; usually eagle 6 is attributed to the Simson company (the inspector was "assigned" to the company, but not a company employee. You see eagle 6 more often than eagle 33, I believe it is just another inspector (or group of inspectors) that were assigned to okay the work. You could have it redone, but it needs to be done by an expert, which means around $500-1000; and the value will not rise accordingly... 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