1940 P-08 War Relic info

Edward Tinker · 08-22-2015, 08:26 PM

welcome to the forum, there were tens of thousands of 1940 / 42 marked lugers. Also, them coming back with bring back papers is not too uncommon.

The two papers being different dates is interesting, I am guessing the original paper was given to him and then he was reassigned to another unit, not coming back to the US in 1945.

Luger is a 1940 (date) 42 (Mauser) - I am not the best at telling if the grips are original, but they look like it to me. A 'black widow' is not a real term by the government, it is a made up term in the USA by allegedly Ralph Shattuck (so he told me), and yes, a 1940 / 42 would have wood grips. But since the later (towards the end of the production 1941 and 1942 era), so there would be replacement grips if the wood ones got damaged, or the GI liked how they looked better than the wood ones.
An all matching with holster, tool and matching magazine is very nice!
Not sure which spring is the retainer spring?

Ed

08-22-2015, 08:26 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,968 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,601 Times in 2,120 Posts	welcome to the forum, there were tens of thousands of 1940 / 42 marked lugers. Also, them coming back with bring back papers is not too uncommon. The two papers being different dates is interesting, I am guessing the original paper was given to him and then he was reassigned to another unit, not coming back to the US in 1945. Luger is a 1940 (date) 42 (Mauser) - I am not the best at telling if the grips are original, but they look like it to me. A 'black widow' is not a real term by the government, it is a made up term in the USA by allegedly Ralph Shattuck (so he told me), and yes, a 1940 / 42 would have wood grips. But since the later (towards the end of the production 1941 and 1942 era), so there would be replacement grips if the wood ones got damaged, or the GI liked how they looked better than the wood ones. An all matching with holster, tool and matching magazine is very nice! Not sure which spring is the retainer spring? 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