1938 blank toggle

Edward Tinker · 06-24-2004, 07:35 AM

I do not have pictures of this gun, as I didn't bring my digital camera with me while traveling. Met a guy today that is a WW2 vet and he brought items back with him. I have talked to him on the phone, we shared a letter each, met him via another worker.

He was a mortar man with the 29th Div., came in at 10:30 AM on D-Day, very nice gentleman. He brought home a little 25 cal with a holster, belt type. Then he had a DWM 1912 rifle, and a Carcano rifle, and then the one I was interested in. He had a 1938, nothing on the toggle luger in reasonable shape that he personally took off of a German. Interesting story, five of them were walking along a hedgerow and up pops a German and draws down on them, tells them to drop their weapons. Front guy drops his, heÃ¢??s a sergeant but the German has the drop on him. The 2nd guy drops his, the last three say ah hell and fire at him. They all turned and ran down the way theyÃ¢??d come. Later that night, he creeps back by himself and checks the dead German, there is a luger in a holster and a nice knife in his boot. The shoulder holster is professionally made, with nice stitching, but not as professional as like a US GI one. He said he wore the shoulder holster the entire rest of the war. My feeling on the holster is that it was made for the German by a friend or business for him. No markings on the rear or front. Had a thin Ã?Â¼ inch leather strap on each side, top and bottom.

The serial number is 86xx f, has two E/63 on the right side and also an eagle.

The mag is 3351f

Top of the barrel has an E/63

The catch is, nothing on the toggle and I believe the story from this Vet. He is a very nice older man, no reason to lie, his stories were very true sounding, and I simply have no reason to believe he was making anything up.

The rest of the gun was serial marked with last two. The toggle, I am pretty sure was marked with the last two, I did not get a really good look at it, as I didn't want to appear too fruity to him...

So, why the blank toggle?

Ed

Frank · 06-24-2004, 10:06 AM

Ed, the only thing that makes any sense to me is that it is an armorers replacement toggle link.

John Sabato · 06-24-2004, 11:22 AM

I agree with Frank (fancy that!) that the toggle is likely a repair part. Ed, do you remember if the finish matched the gun?

Lastly, did he sell it to you?

Edward Tinker · 06-24-2004, 05:36 PM

Entire gun looked "right", he is determined to give all of the guns to his grandson!

Which is a good thing.

I figured it was a replacement part, and was probably well used / carried, as it was with troops in France when captured.

Ed

06-24-2004, 07:35 AM	#1
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	1938 blank toggle I do not have pictures of this gun, as I didn't bring my digital camera with me while traveling. Met a guy today that is a WW2 vet and he brought items back with him. I have talked to him on the phone, we shared a letter each, met him via another worker. He was a mortar man with the 29th Div., came in at 10:30 AM on D-Day, very nice gentleman. He brought home a little 25 cal with a holster, belt type. Then he had a DWM 1912 rifle, and a Carcano rifle, and then the one I was interested in. He had a 1938, nothing on the toggle luger in reasonable shape that he personally took off of a German. Interesting story, five of them were walking along a hedgerow and up pops a German and draws down on them, tells them to drop their weapons. Front guy drops his, heÃ¢??s a sergeant but the German has the drop on him. The 2nd guy drops his, the last three say ah hell and fire at him. They all turned and ran down the way theyÃ¢??d come. Later that night, he creeps back by himself and checks the dead German, there is a luger in a holster and a nice knife in his boot. The shoulder holster is professionally made, with nice stitching, but not as professional as like a US GI one. He said he wore the shoulder holster the entire rest of the war. My feeling on the holster is that it was made for the German by a friend or business for him. No markings on the rear or front. Had a thin Ã?Â¼ inch leather strap on each side, top and bottom. The serial number is 86xx f, has two E/63 on the right side and also an eagle. The mag is 3351f Top of the barrel has an E/63 The catch is, nothing on the toggle and I believe the story from this Vet. He is a very nice older man, no reason to lie, his stories were very true sounding, and I simply have no reason to believe he was making anything up. The rest of the gun was serial marked with last two. The toggle, I am pretty sure was marked with the last two, I did not get a really good look at it, as I didn't want to appear too fruity to him... So, why the blank toggle? 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

06-24-2004, 11:22 AM	#3
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	I agree with Frank (fancy that!) that the toggle is likely a repair part. Ed, do you remember if the finish matched the gun? Lastly, did he sell it to you? __________________ 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..."*

06-24-2004, 05:36 PM	#4
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	Entire gun looked "right", he is determined to give all of the guns to his grandson! Which is a good thing. I figured it was a replacement part, and was probably well used / carried, as it was with troops in France when captured. 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

06-24-2004, 10:06 AM	#2
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	Ed, the only thing that makes any sense to me is that it is an armorers replacement toggle link.