My 1938 Bring Back

bandit09 · 10-14-2011, 10:50 PM

This is my 1938 S/42 that my dad brought back from WWII. My apologies for the poor pictures, I am not very good with a camera. I would like to learn anything I can about this gun including the approximate value with holster and capture papers. NO, I am not looking to sell just curious about the value. It has a great deal of sentimental value and will be passed down in the family.

DavidJayUden · 10-14-2011, 11:43 PM

I'm not seeing anything that scares me away on it, but as you admit the pictures aren't the greatest. W. A. G. would be in the $2k range with holster, spare mag, papers, etc. Holster appears a bit rough and the spare mag is from a different war.
A very nice quality Luger with the added value of family sentiment.
dju

alanint · 10-15-2011, 08:30 AM

I wonder why Capt. Claude Harper included the fact that the Luger had a "single barrel" in the capture papers?

DavidJayUden · 10-15-2011, 09:15 AM

And, like most I have seen, .38 caliber.
dju

bandit09 · 10-15-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

And, like most I have seen, .38 caliber.
dju

Per my dad, the paperwork was completed by a Naval officer prior to boarding the ship to come home. The Navy only references calibers so a 38 cal. is closest to 9MM.

Mike Z · 10-15-2011, 08:57 PM

I've noticed that on almost every capture paper .38 for a 9mm P.08.
Mike Z.

Sieger · 10-16-2011, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

And, like most I have seen, .38 caliber.
dju

Hi:

Strangely enough, either Remington or Winchester (or both) marketed 9mm Luger ammo under the name ".38 Luger" for some time in the 1920s and 1930s (check your vintage Sears and Robuck catalogue).

Perhaps this is why I have seen so many certificates with ".38" referring to a Luger.

By the way, the Luger's groove is 9.1 mm or .358!!!

Sieger

sheepherder · 10-16-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sieger

By the way, the Luger's groove is 9.1 mm or .358!!!

And '38 Special' is .357"-.358"...While 9mm is .354"-.355"...

I use '38 Special' and '9mm' bullets interchangeably in my reloading...My handguns don't know the difference...

It's also interesting that 7.65mm Parabellum is still sold here as '30 Luger'...

pitsword · 10-16-2011, 10:55 AM

When I was a wee lad my father and his best friend each had a "Belgian 38". I remember looking but being too young to handle them. About 40 years later I realized they had P 35 High Powers. They always called them Belgian 38s.

Sieger · 10-16-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postino

And '38 Special' is .357"-.358"...While 9mm is .354"-.355"...

I use '38 Special' and '9mm' bullets interchangeably in my reloading...My handguns don't know the difference...

It's also interesting that 7.65mm Parabellum is still sold here as '30 Luger'...

Hi:

Watch loading for a vintage Luger with anything larger than about .3565. The chamber has a step in it that assists in the sealing of the cartridge case to the chamber walls upon firing. I've tried both .357 and .358 in my Lugers, but neither will chamber properly (all the way in) upon normal firing.

Sieger

10-14-2011, 10:50 PM	#1
bandit09 User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My 1938 Bring Back This is my 1938 S/42 that my dad brought back from WWII. My apologies for the poor pictures, I am not very good with a camera. I would like to learn anything I can about this gun including the approximate value with holster and capture papers. NO, I am not looking to sell just curious about the value. It has a great deal of sentimental value and will be passed down in the family. Attached Thumbnails

10-14-2011, 11:43 PM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I'm not seeing anything that scares me away on it, but as you admit the pictures aren't the greatest. W. A. G. would be in the $2k range with holster, spare mag, papers, etc. Holster appears a bit rough and the spare mag is from a different war. A very nice quality Luger with the added value of family sentiment. dju

10-15-2011, 08:30 AM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	I wonder why Capt. Claude Harper included the fact that the Luger had a "single barrel" in the capture papers?

10-15-2011, 09:15 AM	#4
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	And, like most I have seen, .38 caliber. dju

10-15-2011, 08:57 PM	#6
Mike Z User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 180 Thanks: 51 Thanked 79 Times in 39 Posts	I've noticed that on almost every capture paper .38 for a 9mm P.08. Mike Z.

10-16-2011, 10:55 AM	#9
pitsword User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 455 Thanks: 3,898 Thanked 101 Times in 81 Posts	When I was a wee lad my father and his best friend each had a "Belgian 38". I remember looking but being too young to handle them. About 40 years later I realized they had P 35 High Powers. They always called them Belgian 38s.