42 Police Luger Numbers Question

markthenav · 02-25-2018, 10:50 AM

Hi all,
I'm looking at acquiring a 42 Police Luger in about 95%+. Comes with two matching mags, numbered holster, numbers matching tool, etc. All small parts match the upper/barrel. The question I have is the lower frame is exactly one digit higher than all the other matching numbers on this near mint gun. Frankly, I've never seen anything like it. Could it be an assembly error leaving the factory? Appreciate any insight into this anomaly.

Thanks,
mark

LU1900 · 02-25-2018, 12:36 PM

No possible !!!

markthenav · 02-25-2018, 12:59 PM

Thanks. Gun doesn't appear to be restored or refinished. The only other thing I could think of was the lower was swapped at the unit level after issue. The numbers are sequential (i.e. 1095/1096). I can think of no other explanation...

tharpo · 02-25-2018, 02:55 PM

Can you post pictures? 1942 Police Banners would most likely have a "y" suffix. Is there a "y" on the front of the frame and the magazine bottoms?

markthenav · 02-25-2018, 02:59 PM

Yes to y on frame, not on the mags however. Pic of frame attached.

Dwight Gruber · 02-25-2018, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markthenav

Thanks. Gun doesn't appear to be restored or refinished. The only other thing I could think of was the lower was swapped at the unit level after issue. The numbers are sequential (i.e. 1095/1096). I can think of no other explanation...

The upper and lower were "assembled" together sometime in the last 76 years, almost certainly not by any official German service organization. The liklihood of any "unit" having two consecutively numbered 42 police Lugers to confuse together is vanishingly small.

No wishful explanation will ever make this anything other than a mis-matched pistol. Manage your expectations and pay accordingly.

--Dwight

markthenav · 02-25-2018, 03:48 PM

Understand. Thanks for the input Dwight.

Mark

ithacaartist · 02-26-2018, 03:15 AM

Sounds like a spiffy shooter, for sure!

What do the two matching mags match, the upper or the frame?

markthenav · 02-26-2018, 07:46 AM

Hi. The mags, holster and tool match the upper.
Best,
Mark

DonVoigt · 02-26-2018, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markthenav

Hi. The mags, holster and tool match the upper.
Best,
Mark

That would be unusual for a "42"; when you can please post pictures of the holster, its markings, and the tool.

markthenav · 02-26-2018, 10:47 AM

Here you go. Interested in your thoughts.

Best,
Mark

DavidJayUden · 02-26-2018, 10:59 AM

the lower frame is exactly one digit higher than all the other matching numbers
That's a head scratcher for sure. To me the mix up about had to happen at the factory, not after issue. Not that it matters a bit in the end because the value of the gun is only what someone is willing to pay for it.
I'm curious as to the asking price.
dju

HerrKaiser · 02-26-2018, 11:03 AM

"the lower frame is exactly one digit higher than all the other matching numbers
That's a head scratcher for sure. To me the mix up about had to happen at the factory, not after issue. Not that it matters a bit in the end because the value of the gun is only what someone is willing to pay for it.
I'm curious as to the asking price."

Either a freak factory error of some kind or the person who needed a new frame is just about the luckiest (or unluckiest?) Luger collector alive on that one.

markthenav · 02-26-2018, 11:14 AM

That was my sense of it. Would prefer that the whole gun was matching. Makes it easy. With a mis-matched from one number higher, it complicates things quite a bit, at least for me. Conditionally, makes no sense as the gun would grade 95% plus. No record of factory errors out there???

Mark

markthenav · 02-26-2018, 11:15 AM

Sorry, forgot. $3K.

Mark

John Sabato · 02-26-2018, 11:16 AM

3K is way too much!

wlyon · 02-26-2018, 11:30 AM

No matter what the stories or guesses it is still a mismatched shooter. Maybe $1500 at the most. I doubt very much that this occurred at the factory. Nor does it really matter where or when. Nice shooter way high price. Bill

DavidJayUden · 02-26-2018, 12:09 PM

I'd tend to agree with Bill. the price is way high, actually it is priced at the nosebleed level if the numbers did match. I'd want to be in at well under $2k, and even then good luck getting your money back.
Looking at the mix-up logistically, it just seems like the odds of it happening at the factory are far more likely than after it left.
But we will never know.
dju

Dwight Gruber · 02-26-2018, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markthenav

... No record of factory errors out there???

This happens seldom enough to be reported...never.

--Dwight

markthenav · 02-26-2018, 01:34 PM

Well, thanks to everyone who responded. Seems to be agreement that the gun might be a factory error, unable to prove one way or the other. But even if it was, would not change value proposition. Matching is desired for collectors (and most shooters) and that pretty much says it all. What a difference one digit can make! I suspected as much but appreciate everyone's confirmation.
Best,
Mark

02-25-2018, 10:50 AM	#1
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	42 Police Luger Numbers Question Hi all, I'm looking at acquiring a 42 Police Luger in about 95%+. Comes with two matching mags, numbered holster, numbers matching tool, etc. All small parts match the upper/barrel. The question I have is the lower frame is exactly one digit higher than all the other matching numbers on this near mint gun. Frankly, I've never seen anything like it. Could it be an assembly error leaving the factory? Appreciate any insight into this anomaly. Thanks, mark

02-25-2018, 12:36 PM	#2
LU1900 User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE Posts: 908 Thanks: 41 Thanked 469 Times in 197 Posts	No possible !!! __________________ Best regards from France...Patrice https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/03/1...nd-snail-drum/

02-25-2018, 02:59 PM	#5
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Yes to y on frame, not on the mags however. Pic of frame attached. Attached Thumbnails

02-26-2018, 03:15 AM	#8
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,339 Thanks: 7,263 Thanked 2,564 Times in 1,362 Posts	Sounds like a spiffy shooter, for sure! What do the two matching mags match, the upper or the frame? __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

02-26-2018, 10:47 AM	#11
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Here you go. Interested in your thoughts. Best, Mark Attached Thumbnails

02-25-2018, 12:59 PM	#3
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks. Gun doesn't appear to be restored or refinished. The only other thing I could think of was the lower was swapped at the unit level after issue. The numbers are sequential (i.e. 1095/1096). I can think of no other explanation...

02-25-2018, 02:55 PM	#4
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 116 Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts	Can you post pictures? 1942 Police Banners would most likely have a "y" suffix. Is there a "y" on the front of the frame and the magazine bottoms?

02-25-2018, 03:48 PM	#7
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Understand. Thanks for the input Dwight. Mark

02-26-2018, 07:46 AM	#9
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Hi. The mags, holster and tool match the upper. Best, Mark

02-26-2018, 10:59 AM	#12
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	the lower frame is exactly one digit higher than all the other matching numbers That's a head scratcher for sure. To me the mix up about had to happen at the factory, not after issue. Not that it matters a bit in the end because the value of the gun is only what someone is willing to pay for it. I'm curious as to the asking price. dju

02-26-2018, 11:03 AM	#13
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 845 Thanks: 782 Thanked 860 Times in 410 Posts	"the lower frame is exactly one digit higher than all the other matching numbers That's a head scratcher for sure. To me the mix up about had to happen at the factory, not after issue. Not that it matters a bit in the end because the value of the gun is only what someone is willing to pay for it. I'm curious as to the asking price." Either a freak factory error of some kind or the person who needed a new frame is just about the luckiest (or unluckiest?) Luger collector alive on that one.

02-26-2018, 11:14 AM	#14
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	That was my sense of it. Would prefer that the whole gun was matching. Makes it easy. With a mis-matched from one number higher, it complicates things quite a bit, at least for me. Conditionally, makes no sense as the gun would grade 95% plus. No record of factory errors out there??? Mark

02-26-2018, 11:15 AM	#15
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Sorry, forgot. $3K. Mark

02-26-2018, 11:16 AM	#16
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	3K is way too much! __________________ 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..."*

02-26-2018, 11:30 AM	#17
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,633 Thanks: 3,173 Thanked 2,555 Times in 954 Posts	No matter what the stories or guesses it is still a mismatched shooter. Maybe $1500 at the most. I doubt very much that this occurred at the factory. Nor does it really matter where or when. Nice shooter way high price. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

02-26-2018, 12:09 PM	#18
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I'd tend to agree with Bill. the price is way high, actually it is priced at the nosebleed level if the numbers did match. I'd want to be in at well under $2k, and even then good luck getting your money back. Looking at the mix-up logistically, it just seems like the odds of it happening at the factory are far more likely than after it left. But we will never know. dju

02-26-2018, 01:34 PM	#20
markthenav User Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Well, thanks to everyone who responded. Seems to be agreement that the gun might be a factory error, unable to prove one way or the other. But even if it was, would not change value proposition. Matching is desired for collectors (and most shooters) and that pretty much says it all. What a difference one digit can make! I suspected as much but appreciate everyone's confirmation. Best, Mark