Got Luger!

XxWINxX94 · 04-08-2010, 11:13 PM

Hey all, I'm new to the forum and new to Lugers, but I know a little bit. Here are some pictures of my new Luger. I paid roughly $1700 for it (I traded a rifle), its a 1940 S/42, all matching including mag.

I'm just looking for some general information, and I hear this forum are where the experts are!

Any good or bad info would be great, just want some knowledge on my piece of history!

Ron Wood · 04-08-2010, 11:21 PM

I guess I will step in and let you hate me. The gun is refinished and the grips are reproduction. I do not believe it is worth what you paid for it. I have made the same mistake and so have many others...you are not alone. I hope you can get your money back or at least $900-$1000 of it.

DavidJayUden · 04-08-2010, 11:27 PM

Better you than me, Ron...
Like Ron said, the finish is way off, should be all salt blued with no strawed parts. The grips usually have only the last 2 numbers, usually very faint, not all so clearly stamped.
Anyway, welcome aboard and ask away if you have other questions or want more opinions.
dju

XxWINxX94 · 04-08-2010, 11:31 PM

Yeah, I kinda figured it was refinished, but I really didn't want that rifle, haha.

How can you tell the grips are repro?
They are #ed to the gun (sorry for the sloppy picture)

Ron Wood · 04-09-2010, 01:16 AM

The fact that they are numbered to the gun is a real alarm ringer because they are not original grips. The screw hole on the back of the grip is a means of holding the grip to a fixture during final shaping and checkering. This is not a feature found on original grips. Someone has made a deliberate forgery by numbering these fake grips to the gun.

Jason L · 04-09-2010, 06:34 AM

Win 94,
I will go out of my way to make a joke........there is definitely a "crook" in your county. That one is not even close to being right. Sorry
Jason

John Sabato · 04-09-2010, 08:35 AM

Welcome to the Lugerforum. Sorry we have nothing but bad news for you. The good news is that the mausers are some of the best Lugers for shooters since the metalurgy improved over the years that Lugers were made. So if you keep it, shoot away and enjoy it.

Because it has been refinished, and the fact that reproduction grips have been numbered to match the gun, that makes the rest of the numbering suspect as well... the Mauser "bump" on the frame ears is also conspicuously absent, leading me to believe that the gun has been assembled from parts from different manufacturers

Best of luck with it and I hope it shoots well, and that any future time you spend here will be at least slightly more pleasant.

XxWINxX94 · 04-10-2010, 01:02 AM

Well thanks for the info everyone.
I'm a little bummed out, but this piece will become my shooter, I should not have to worry about the condition too much, as the 'new' finish should hold up longer and I won't have to worry about damaging the original finish. I hope to be looking into another Luger sometime soon, not sure what kind, but I really like the Artillery Lugers. As long as something is original on my gun, thats really what I want to matter. I've got the proofs & the year, & the history, which is most important to me.

MFC · 04-10-2010, 02:54 AM

The toggle train, or at least the forward toggle is a replacement. A 1940 date should have a 42 code toggle. The S/42 code ended early 1939. That shouldn't affect the function though. Enjoy it. Lugers are very accurate and fun to shoot.

LUIS22 · 04-10-2010, 08:28 AM

Like Ron said we all have paid too much at a certain point ... is the price you pay when you are learning and addicted to militaria in general!!!

alvin · 04-10-2010, 08:30 AM

Trade-in is hard to return. Otherwise, there are nicer Lugers on the market. But the seller only wants cash:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=163816078

04-08-2010, 11:13 PM	#1
XxWINxX94 New User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Crook County, Illinois Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Got Luger! Hey all, I'm new to the forum and new to Lugers, but I know a little bit. Here are some pictures of my new Luger. I paid roughly $1700 for it (I traded a rifle), its a 1940 S/42, all matching including mag. I'm just looking for some general information, and I hear this forum are where the experts are! Any good or bad info would be great, just want some knowledge on my piece of history!

04-08-2010, 11:21 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	I guess I will step in and let you hate me. The gun is refinished and the grips are reproduction. I do not believe it is worth what you paid for it. I have made the same mistake and so have many others...you are not alone. I hope you can get your money back or at least $900-$1000 of it. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

04-09-2010, 01:16 AM	#5
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	The fact that they are numbered to the gun is a real alarm ringer because they are not original grips. The screw hole on the back of the grip is a means of holding the grip to a fixture during final shaping and checkering. This is not a feature found on original grips. Someone has made a deliberate forgery by numbering these fake grips to the gun. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

04-09-2010, 08:35 AM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Welcome to the Lugerforum. Sorry we have nothing but bad news for you. The good news is that the mausers are some of the best Lugers for shooters since the metalurgy improved over the years that Lugers were made. So if you keep it, shoot away and enjoy it. Because it has been refinished, and the fact that reproduction grips have been numbered to match the gun, that makes the rest of the numbering suspect as well... the Mauser "bump" on the frame ears is also conspicuously absent, leading me to believe that the gun has been assembled from parts from different manufacturers Best of luck with it and I hope it shoots well, and that any future time you spend here will be at least slightly more pleasant. __________________ 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..."*

04-10-2010, 02:54 AM	#9
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	The toggle train, or at least the forward toggle is a replacement. A 1940 date should have a 42 code toggle. The S/42 code ended early 1939. That shouldn't affect the function though. Enjoy it. Lugers are very accurate and fun to shoot. __________________ Mike C.

04-08-2010, 11:27 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Better you than me, Ron... Like Ron said, the finish is way off, should be all salt blued with no strawed parts. The grips usually have only the last 2 numbers, usually very faint, not all so clearly stamped. Anyway, welcome aboard and ask away if you have other questions or want more opinions. dju

04-08-2010, 11:31 PM	#4
XxWINxX94 New User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Crook County, Illinois Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yeah, I kinda figured it was refinished, but I really didn't want that rifle, haha. How can you tell the grips are repro? They are #ed to the gun (sorry for the sloppy picture)

04-09-2010, 06:34 AM	#6
Jason L User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CT. USA Posts: 66 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Win 94, I will go out of my way to make a joke........there is definitely a "crook" in your county. That one is not even close to being right. Sorry Jason

04-10-2010, 01:02 AM	#8
XxWINxX94 New User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Crook County, Illinois Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well thanks for the info everyone. I'm a little bummed out, but this piece will become my shooter, I should not have to worry about the condition too much, as the 'new' finish should hold up longer and I won't have to worry about damaging the original finish. I hope to be looking into another Luger sometime soon, not sure what kind, but I really like the Artillery Lugers. As long as something is original on my gun, thats really what I want to matter. I've got the proofs & the year, & the history, which is most important to me.

04-10-2010, 08:28 AM	#10
LUIS22 User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 42 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Like Ron said we all have paid too much at a certain point ... is the price you pay when you are learning and addicted to militaria in general!!!

04-10-2010, 08:30 AM	#11
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Trade-in is hard to return. Otherwise, there are nicer Lugers on the market. But the seller only wants cash: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=163816078