Is It Worth the Effort?

Tim · 07-30-2002, 04:44 PM

Pictured below is a 1938 S/42.
I paid very little for this pistol. It has a very good bore and all parts match EXCEPT Grips, mag, and the ones you can see electro pencil'ed off of the top of the toggle. I can't read the numbers that were there before this treatment and these, (as well as a reasonably well done re-blue) are the only faults I can find. Is there a way to fill these nasty little marks in, or would the expense of this far outweigh the value of a rather common shooter?

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Roadkill · 07-30-2002, 06:08 PM

Enjoy it as is, any additional money spent on it would not improve value and the collector aspect has sadly been compromised. Save the $ for another gun if you are into the collector business.

RK

Tim · 07-30-2002, 07:02 PM

RK,

I bought it for just that purpose, just looks UGLY. I read in one of your posts "Texas armadillos don't like gettin shot with ugly guns". Same goes for Pennsylvania groundhogs (except in my case its usually shot at, not shot!)
I only own shooters at this point. If there's anything reading this group has taught me its that I don't know enough to go out and drop a few grand on a "collector" piece, no matter how bad the stock market is doing.

Roadkill · 07-30-2002, 07:30 PM

Tim, ugly is a matter of perspective. I've got an ugly dog and an ugly truck. And I've been told often enough by the ladies that I'm no real deal to realize there must be some truth in it. But my dog is always glad to see me, my truck runs most always, and when I go to the other side again and if they don't bring me back I'll see all those rich good looking a**holes that will be just as dead and for just as long as me. So what's the difference? I like the gun. Got character, been used, little history, not hermetically sealed and afraid of the world. Want to sell it?

RK

Tim · 07-30-2002, 07:59 PM

Paid $375 (plus $2 Pennsylvania background check and $6 instant check), This one is too good a deal to sell, just did'nt know if it was easily fixable. I would still rather have a mis-matched toggle than one buzzed over with a vibrating engraver. And I don't really understand why someone would do that.

Herb · 07-30-2002, 08:19 PM

Tim, if you feel it has little value beyond a shooter, get yourself a good whetstone set and go to it. You should be able to get most of it and still retain the S/42 as it appears to be stamped pretty deep. Be careful not to nick the axle bulges. For a finishing stone a good Hard Atkansas stone with a rounded edge would do it. An Alternative is to ask Thor if he could clean it up.

max2cam · 07-30-2002, 09:15 PM

I know how Tim feels. My 1938 S/42 has mis-matched parts. When I bought the gun I didn't think that would bother me as it is a personal shooter that I never plan to sell (I never sell ANY guns). So I went for the "excellent" bore over the matching ones and saved a few bucks.

Now the mis-matched toggle doesn't bother me because it's a "Gothic S" toggle (1934?) and that is pretty cool. BUT, the sideplate has 3 old numbers which are crudely over-punched with straight line dents --- BUTT UGLY --- and new numbers added.

I find myself staring at that mutilated sideplate and it bugs me. I have been considering borrowing some engraving tools from my cousin and attempting to engrave the over-punched marks out of existence -- maybe into a Totenkopf or something appropriate? -- but I'm also afraid of making it worse so will probably just leave it alone.

PS: Roadkill, I enjoyed your philosophy of life statement. I agree.

Herb · 07-30-2002, 10:29 PM

I have a real collector mismatch, the barrel matches the reciever, the toggles match each other but not the reciever and absolutely nothing else matches either one or each other. It is one of my favorites as I use it to test rebluing, strawing, whatever. It currently has repro grips dyed black with leather dye. I have sanded it, stoned it, blued it, strawed it and shot it alot. It's a really good shooter that I am not worried about hurting. It had about 15% blue on it when I bought it for $295 plus tax and it looks a whole lot better now, could probably get $400.

Don · 07-31-2002, 02:44 PM

Tim,
I know what you mean. I just buy shooters, and I've learned that I like them to be good looking. Each to his own, but what's the purpose of shooting a Luger unless it's cool-looking. I have other, more modern handguns that are more reliable and easier for me to use (the sights are better). At least one of my modern guns, a Sig 226S (target model) is as accurate as a Luger. My point is that, for me, the fun shooting a Luger is the glamour of a cool-looking gun. If I were you, I'd save up my pennies and get Thor to restore it for you. IMHO

07-30-2002, 04:44 PM	#1
Tim Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Great North Woods of Wisconsin Posts: 100 Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Is It Worth the Effort? Pictured below is a 1938 S/42. I paid very little for this pistol. It has a very good bore and all parts match EXCEPT Grips, mag, and the ones you can see electro pencil'ed off of the top of the toggle. I can't read the numbers that were there before this treatment and these, (as well as a reasonably well done re-blue) are the only faults I can find. Is there a way to fill these nasty little marks in, or would the expense of this far outweigh the value of a rather common shooter? <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> __________________ The intent of the second amendment was not to allow the private ownership of firearms. If it had been it would have said something like "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"...

07-30-2002, 07:02 PM	#3
Tim Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Great North Woods of Wisconsin Posts: 100 Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	RK, I bought it for just that purpose, just looks UGLY. I read in one of your posts "Texas armadillos don't like gettin shot with ugly guns". Same goes for Pennsylvania groundhogs (except in my case its usually shot at, not shot!) I only own shooters at this point. If there's anything reading this group has taught me its that I don't know enough to go out and drop a few grand on a "collector" piece, no matter how bad the stock market is doing. __________________ The intent of the second amendment was not to allow the private ownership of firearms. If it had been it would have said something like "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"...

07-30-2002, 07:59 PM	#5
Tim Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Great North Woods of Wisconsin Posts: 100 Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Paid $375 (plus $2 Pennsylvania background check and $6 instant check), This one is too good a deal to sell, just did'nt know if it was easily fixable. I would still rather have a mis-matched toggle than one buzzed over with a vibrating engraver. And I don't really understand why someone would do that. __________________ The intent of the second amendment was not to allow the private ownership of firearms. If it had been it would have said something like "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"...

07-30-2002, 08:19 PM	#6
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Tim, if you feel it has little value beyond a shooter, get yourself a good whetstone set and go to it. You should be able to get most of it and still retain the S/42 as it appears to be stamped pretty deep. Be careful not to nick the axle bulges. For a finishing stone a good Hard Atkansas stone with a rounded edge would do it. An Alternative is to ask Thor if he could clean it up. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

07-30-2002, 10:29 PM	#8
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I have a real collector mismatch, the barrel matches the reciever, the toggles match each other but not the reciever and absolutely nothing else matches either one or each other. It is one of my favorites as I use it to test rebluing, strawing, whatever. It currently has repro grips dyed black with leather dye. I have sanded it, stoned it, blued it, strawed it and shot it alot. It's a really good shooter that I am not worried about hurting. It had about 15% blue on it when I bought it for $295 plus tax and it looks a whole lot better now, could probably get $400. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

07-30-2002, 06:08 PM	#2
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Enjoy it as is, any additional money spent on it would not improve value and the collector aspect has sadly been compromised. Save the $ for another gun if you are into the collector business. RK

07-30-2002, 07:30 PM	#4
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Tim, ugly is a matter of perspective. I've got an ugly dog and an ugly truck. And I've been told often enough by the ladies that I'm no real deal to realize there must be some truth in it. But my dog is always glad to see me, my truck runs most always, and when I go to the other side again and if they don't bring me back I'll see all those rich good looking a**holes that will be just as dead and for just as long as me. So what's the difference? I like the gun. Got character, been used, little history, not hermetically sealed and afraid of the world. Want to sell it? RK

07-30-2002, 09:15 PM	#7
max2cam User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: USA Posts: 97 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know how Tim feels. My 1938 S/42 has mis-matched parts. When I bought the gun I didn't think that would bother me as it is a personal shooter that I never plan to sell (I never sell ANY guns). So I went for the "excellent" bore over the matching ones and saved a few bucks. Now the mis-matched toggle doesn't bother me because it's a "Gothic S" toggle (1934?) and that is pretty cool. BUT, the sideplate has 3 old numbers which are crudely over-punched with straight line dents --- BUTT UGLY --- and new numbers added. I find myself staring at that mutilated sideplate and it bugs me. I have been considering borrowing some engraving tools from my cousin and attempting to engrave the over-punched marks out of existence -- maybe into a Totenkopf or something appropriate? -- but I'm also afraid of making it worse so will probably just leave it alone. PS: Roadkill, I enjoyed your philosophy of life statement. I agree.

07-31-2002, 02:44 PM	#9
Don User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tim, I know what you mean. I just buy shooters, and I've learned that I like them to be good looking. Each to his own, but what's the purpose of shooting a Luger unless it's cool-looking. I have other, more modern handguns that are more reliable and easier for me to use (the sights are better). At least one of my modern guns, a Sig 226S (target model) is as accurate as a Luger. My point is that, for me, the fun shooting a Luger is the glamour of a cool-looking gun. If I were you, I'd save up my pennies and get Thor to restore it for you. IMHO