VOPO P.08 S/38 from 1938

Andyd · 09-06-2012, 12:01 AM

I have bought a Vopo Mauser last week end that looked a little different than the lot of Vopos that I have come across.
I has the differently shaped take-down lever and the Vopo star underneath, still the original barrel but the lower was almost bare of any bluing.

I am used to see Vopo P.08 that were dip blued and from the info that I got from a German collector, those pistols were re-dipped periodically. This one does not have the X that is commonly seen on the Russian captured guns.

It had the upper refinished to a polished blue and I matched the lower somewhat with a rust blue. This one will serve as a shooter and the condition of the barrel makes this one a good candidate for the range.

I have come across little info on Vopo Lugers and wonder if anybody here has a link to further info.

Dan44 · 09-06-2012, 02:42 AM

The takedown lever could be a post war E German replacement. In the referb they sometimes put new parts on.

Andyd · 09-06-2012, 08:43 AM

Dan,

I know that this is a typical Vopo replacement part. It has shallow checkering and an even more shallow number stamping.

Lugerdoc · 09-06-2012, 10:19 AM

Andy, A lot of missing blue under the barrel, might be caused by the removal of importer markings. TH

Andyd · 09-07-2012, 12:33 AM

Lugerdoc,

the whole upper is polished blue. What might look like missing blue is only a reflection. It has German Frankonia marks, and West German proof marks of which some are well hidden. No American import marks.

The Vopo star is underneath the takedown lever and is mostly covered by it. The overall condition is still pretty good, it has been refinished but not ground down too much and even a new Glock would cost me the same, without night sights

.

I will take this gun to the range this week end and try it out. I have several different reduced loads with different 124gr bullets.

Andyd · 09-08-2012, 11:36 AM

I just got back from trying the Parabellum out. As expected, it does not do well with lead bullets and I think the shallow rifling of the P.08 is not making the gun a perfect candidate for lead bullets. I have also noticed radically changed POI in between different bullets.

The 124 gr Sako FMJ bullets that do well in my 1942 byf are also grouping well in this old lady.

I shot two ISSF targets at 25m with ten rounds each and after a hard week of work had both targets with 86%.

That is good enough for me.

09-06-2012, 12:01 AM	#1
Andyd User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Kaufman County, Texas Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	VOPO P.08 S/38 from 1938 I have bought a Vopo Mauser last week end that looked a little different than the lot of Vopos that I have come across. I has the differently shaped take-down lever and the Vopo star underneath, still the original barrel but the lower was almost bare of any bluing. I am used to see Vopo P.08 that were dip blued and from the info that I got from a German collector, those pistols were re-dipped periodically. This one does not have the X that is commonly seen on the Russian captured guns. It had the upper refinished to a polished blue and I matched the lower somewhat with a rust blue. This one will serve as a shooter and the condition of the barrel makes this one a good candidate for the range. I have come across little info on Vopo Lugers and wonder if anybody here has a link to further info.

09-06-2012, 10:19 AM	#4
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Andy, A lot of missing blue under the barrel, might be caused by the removal of importer markings. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-07-2012, 12:33 AM	#5
Andyd User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Kaufman County, Texas Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lugerdoc, the whole upper is polished blue. What might look like missing blue is only a reflection. It has German Frankonia marks, and West German proof marks of which some are well hidden. No American import marks. The Vopo star is underneath the takedown lever and is mostly covered by it. The overall condition is still pretty good, it has been refinished but not ground down too much and even a new Glock would cost me the same, without night sights. I will take this gun to the range this week end and try it out. I have several different reduced loads with different 124gr bullets.

09-06-2012, 02:42 AM	#2
Dan44 User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	The takedown lever could be a post war E German replacement. In the referb they sometimes put new parts on.

09-06-2012, 08:43 AM	#3
Andyd User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Kaufman County, Texas Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dan, I know that this is a typical Vopo replacement part. It has shallow checkering and an even more shallow number stamping.

09-08-2012, 11:36 AM	#6
Andyd User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Kaufman County, Texas Posts: 48 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I just got back from trying the Parabellum out. As expected, it does not do well with lead bullets and I think the shallow rifling of the P.08 is not making the gun a perfect candidate for lead bullets. I have also noticed radically changed POI in between different bullets. The 124 gr Sako FMJ bullets that do well in my 1942 byf are also grouping well in this old lady. I shot two ISSF targets at 25m with ten rounds each and after a hard week of work had both targets with 86%. That is good enough for me.