Opinions on 1937 S/42

JimD · Yesterday, 01:00 PM

A friend of my son has this Luger that was bought many years ago. The original seller said his dad brought it back after the war.

The gun strikes me as refinished and the magazine base looks like it was ground and restamped to match the gun. However, the letter suffix does not match. Probably because the match-maker didn't know the letter was part of the serial number, but the font looks good.

The holster also looks boosted by the addition of stampings to the back. I told my son that the value as a shooter would be between $1000-1200. Am I pretty close?

gunnertwo · Yesterday, 08:48 PM

Better pics are needed to give good assessment. Top, sides and underside. Thanks.

G2

velodog455~ · Today, 07:24 AM

If you are certain that it is a refinish then of course all collectibility is gone and the magazine is just a magazine.

So, it is a shooter grade at that point, but for someone to buy it to actually shoot then a VG bore condition or better is high on my list of must haves. I personally won't buy a shooter grade P.08 unless the bore condition is 75% or better, no matter how good it looks.

So... if the bore is really good then yes, I think $1,000-$2,000 is in the ball park. If it has a fair to poor bore then I would rate it at more like $750.

On the other hand, bore condition aside, then there is likely $1,000 worth of parts in that P.08, but then it's really not a "shooter grade at that point; it's more of a "parts grade" item, IMHO. Just my opinion, others may differ.
-Bob

HerrKaiser · Today, 07:49 AM

I’m not sure this is a refinish instead it just being a dip-blued 1937 from later in the year. 1937 was the transition from rust blue and straw to the dip blue process.

JimD · Today, 11:20 AM

Thanks for the opinions. Unfortunately the gun is on the other side of the country so I can't examine it in person and my son is not experienced enough to form an opinion.

I'll see if he can get better photos.

What is the serial number suffix letter?

tharpo · Today, 12:17 PM

Is there breach block damage next to the extractor?

Yesterday, 01:00 PM	#1
JimD User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Opinions on 1937 S/42 A friend of my son has this Luger that was bought many years ago. The original seller said his dad brought it back after the war. The gun strikes me as refinished and the magazine base looks like it was ground and restamped to match the gun. However, the letter suffix does not match. Probably because the match-maker didn't know the letter was part of the serial number, but the font looks good. The holster also looks boosted by the addition of stampings to the back. I told my son that the value as a shooter would be between $1000-1200. Am I pretty close? Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy". Last edited by JimD; Yesterday at 04:17 PM.

Today, 07:49 AM	#4
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 839 Thanks: 779 Thanked 850 Times in 406 Posts	I’m not sure this is a refinish instead it just being a dip-blued 1937 from later in the year. 1937 was the transition from rust blue and straw to the dip blue process. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

Today, 11:20 AM	#5
JimD User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for the opinions. Unfortunately the gun is on the other side of the country so I can't examine it in person and my son is not experienced enough to form an opinion. I'll see if he can get better photos. What is the serial number suffix letter? __________________ "Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy".

Yesterday, 08:48 PM	#2
gunnertwo User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 618 Thanks: 818 Thanked 925 Times in 361 Posts	Better pics are needed to give good assessment. Top, sides and underside. Thanks. G2

Today, 07:24 AM	#3
velodog455~ User Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 73 Thanks: 18 Thanked 56 Times in 34 Posts	If you are certain that it is a refinish then of course all collectibility is gone and the magazine is just a magazine. So, it is a shooter grade at that point, but for someone to buy it to actually shoot then a VG bore condition or better is high on my list of must haves. I personally won't buy a shooter grade P.08 unless the bore condition is 75% or better, no matter how good it looks. So... if the bore is really good then yes, I think $1,000-$2,000 is in the ball park. If it has a fair to poor bore then I would rate it at more like $750. On the other hand, bore condition aside, then there is likely $1,000 worth of parts in that P.08, but then it's really not a "shooter grade at that point; it's more of a "parts grade" item, IMHO. Just my opinion, others may differ. -Bob

Today, 12:17 PM	#6
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 542 Thanks: 116 Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts	Is there breach block damage next to the extractor?