1939 / 42 Code / SN 6005W Review

Oldreb · 10-31-2015, 08:33 PM

Went to a gun show today with the idea of picking up a respectable shooter to better help educate myself about Lugers -- operation, mechanics etc. Was hoping the knowledge I have gleaned from this Forum would help me make an educated purchase. Pictures of the gun I picked up are attached. Seems to me it is a pretty straight forward 1939 Code 42 that has wear but has not been abused or refinished. However, I did not understand the markings on the underside of the barrel (not visible unless broken down). Also of concern was the fact that the number on the inside of the guard is different than the number on the outside -- could be forced match -- but not sure. Anyway, it is what it is -- so any comments to help me completly understand just what I bought will be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Wayne Smith

Oldreb · 10-31-2015, 08:46 PM

A few additional pictures. The magazine is not matching but I think correct for the type gun -- not completly sure. The inside of the grips are numbered -- look like "0" and "5" but the numbers are not stamped together. The toggle pin's number does not correspond with the SN (05) - not sure if this incorrect and represents a replacement/mismatched etc. Again, thanks for your interest and comments.

Best Regards,
Wayne Smith

DonVoigt · 10-31-2015, 10:11 PM

Nice catch, should be a great shooter.

The "guard" is the side plate; Mauser side plates (some years) had two digits one number higher than the first two digits of the serial number on the inside of the side plate, and the last two on the outside. So your side plate is matching, not a problem.

The toggle axle and the magazine are mis-matched.

Oldreb · 10-31-2015, 10:25 PM

Don, thanks for the information on the "Side Plate " !! Seems like I knew that but I get to typing ( well not actually typing -- use the "search and peck" method ) and just put down whatever comes to mind it seems !!

DavidJayUden · 10-31-2015, 11:22 PM

Don't be too concerned with all the single letter markings under the barrel, etc. Various inspector's along the line is the common explanation.
Looks like a good, honest gun with a mismatched toggle pin. Not a huge deal IMHO.
dju

Sergio Natali · 11-01-2015, 03:37 AM

Alton

In my opnion is a good looking pistol regardless of some mixed parts.

Oldreb · 11-01-2015, 07:51 AM

David, thanks for your reply ! I was trying to think that I had seen similar barrel markings like the ones that I pictured discussed in previous posts but I drew a complete blank yesterday when I saw them at the gun show. I will spend sometime now filtering for "barrel inspector marks" and see what I can learn.

Best Regards,
Wayne

Oldreb · 11-01-2015, 08:08 AM

Sergio, thanks for your comments !! I am right proud of it !! To me it is an exciting but at the same time daunting experience in trying to decipher a Luger at a Gun Show. So many technical details to remember - crowd noise -- framing an offer to make the dealer etc etc. However, all that said I really enjoy every bit of it !!

Best Regards,
Wayne

Desperado · 11-01-2015, 08:37 AM

Like you, I'm still 'lurking and learning' on these boards, but from my limited knowledge, congratulations on finding a nice first luger. Its addictive, by-the-way. They are beautiful pieces of engineering.

If the toggle pin miss match bothers you (doesn't make any difference for a shooter as long as it functions well) be aware that one out of every hundred pistols produced had an 05 on the toggle pin. Watch EBay and advertise in the Want To Buy sections of both Luger boards for a 05 numbered toggle pin. Doing this, I found a properly marked pin for my BYF 41 at a reasonable price from a gentleman in Poland. Others on this board had bought from him and thought highly of him, so I wasn't too worried and the price was reasonable.

If you are planning to shoot the pistol, keep the 25 toggle pin until you are certain that any 05 replacement that you find works as well in the pistol as the 25.

Doug

Oldreb · 11-01-2015, 08:49 AM

Doug, thanks for your reply. An excellent piece of advice about securing an "05" vs "25" toggle pin -- I suspect it would have taken a long time for that idea to come to me on my own !! To be honest, I completly missed the toggle pin mis-number at the Gun Show -- I know I checked it but guess I saw the "5" and missed the "2" !! Was concentrating to much on the under barrel inspector numbers and the interior side plate numbering I suppose.
Best Regards,
Wayne

Oldreb · 11-01-2015, 09:28 AM

A question -- I have been reading numerous posts this morning about the 1939 Code 42 lugers and happened upon a post by Jan Still dated 5/19/10 titled "Variations of 42 Code Lugers". Under the section titled "1939 42 Code Variations" he states that the SE/63 -- SE/655 in the "W" series fell within the SN range 4540W - 6269W with an estimated production of approx 2000. Given that the SN to my Luger is 6005W am I correct in concluding that it is one of the 2,000 estimated to have been produced so marked ?? If so, does this have any bearing on value / use as a frequent shooter etc ??

Thanks,
Wayne

10-31-2015, 08:33 PM	#1
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	1939 / 42 Code / SN 6005W Review Went to a gun show today with the idea of picking up a respectable shooter to better help educate myself about Lugers -- operation, mechanics etc. Was hoping the knowledge I have gleaned from this Forum would help me make an educated purchase. Pictures of the gun I picked up are attached. Seems to me it is a pretty straight forward 1939 Code 42 that has wear but has not been abused or refinished. However, I did not understand the markings on the underside of the barrel (not visible unless broken down). Also of concern was the fact that the number on the inside of the guard is different than the number on the outside -- could be forced match -- but not sure. Anyway, it is what it is -- so any comments to help me completly understand just what I bought will be greatly appreciated. Best Regards, Wayne Smith Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

10-31-2015, 08:46 PM	#2
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	1939 / 42 Code / SN 6005W Review A few additional pictures. The magazine is not matching but I think correct for the type gun -- not completly sure. The inside of the grips are numbered -- look like "0" and "5" but the numbers are not stamped together. The toggle pin's number does not correspond with the SN (05) - not sure if this incorrect and represents a replacement/mismatched etc. Again, thanks for your interest and comments. Best Regards, Wayne Smith Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

11-01-2015, 03:37 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Alton In my opnion is a good looking pistol regardless of some mixed parts. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

11-01-2015, 09:28 AM	#11
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	1939 / 42 Code / SN 6005W Review A question -- I have been reading numerous posts this morning about the 1939 Code 42 lugers and happened upon a post by Jan Still dated 5/19/10 titled "Variations of 42 Code Lugers". Under the section titled "1939 42 Code Variations" he states that the SE/63 -- SE/655 in the "W" series fell within the SN range 4540W - 6269W with an estimated production of approx 2000. Given that the SN to my Luger is 6005W am I correct in concluding that it is one of the 2,000 estimated to have been produced so marked ?? If so, does this have any bearing on value / use as a frequent shooter etc ?? Thanks, Wayne

10-31-2015, 10:11 PM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Nice catch, should be a great shooter. The "guard" is the side plate; Mauser side plates (some years) had two digits one number higher than the first two digits of the serial number on the inside of the side plate, and the last two on the outside. So your side plate is matching, not a problem. The toggle axle and the magazine are mis-matched.

10-31-2015, 10:25 PM	#4
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	Don, thanks for the information on the "Side Plate " !! Seems like I knew that but I get to typing ( well not actually typing -- use the "search and peck" method ) and just put down whatever comes to mind it seems !!

10-31-2015, 11:22 PM	#5
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Don't be too concerned with all the single letter markings under the barrel, etc. Various inspector's along the line is the common explanation. Looks like a good, honest gun with a mismatched toggle pin. Not a huge deal IMHO. dju

11-01-2015, 07:51 AM	#7
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	David, thanks for your reply ! I was trying to think that I had seen similar barrel markings like the ones that I pictured discussed in previous posts but I drew a complete blank yesterday when I saw them at the gun show. I will spend sometime now filtering for "barrel inspector marks" and see what I can learn. Best Regards, Wayne

11-01-2015, 08:08 AM	#8
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	Sergio, thanks for your comments !! I am right proud of it !! To me it is an exciting but at the same time daunting experience in trying to decipher a Luger at a Gun Show. So many technical details to remember - crowd noise -- framing an offer to make the dealer etc etc. However, all that said I really enjoy every bit of it !! Best Regards, Wayne

11-01-2015, 08:37 AM	#9
Desperado User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Murphy, TX (near Dallas) Posts: 38 Thanks: 16 Thanked 46 Times in 16 Posts	Like you, I'm still 'lurking and learning' on these boards, but from my limited knowledge, congratulations on finding a nice first luger. Its addictive, by-the-way. They are beautiful pieces of engineering. If the toggle pin miss match bothers you (doesn't make any difference for a shooter as long as it functions well) be aware that one out of every hundred pistols produced had an 05 on the toggle pin. Watch EBay and advertise in the Want To Buy sections of both Luger boards for a 05 numbered toggle pin. Doing this, I found a properly marked pin for my BYF 41 at a reasonable price from a gentleman in Poland. Others on this board had bought from him and thought highly of him, so I wasn't too worried and the price was reasonable. If you are planning to shoot the pistol, keep the 25 toggle pin until you are certain that any 05 replacement that you find works as well in the pistol as the 25. Doug

11-01-2015, 08:49 AM	#10
Oldreb User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: South Carolina Posts: 83 Thanks: 160 Thanked 25 Times in 10 Posts	Doug, thanks for your reply. An excellent piece of advice about securing an "05" vs "25" toggle pin -- I suspect it would have taken a long time for that idea to come to me on my own !! To be honest, I completly missed the toggle pin mis-number at the Gun Show -- I know I checked it but guess I saw the "5" and missed the "2" !! Was concentrating to much on the under barrel inspector numbers and the interior side plate numbering I suppose. Best Regards, Wayne