Inherited luger

Bobbysac · 01-14-2018, 06:56 PM

Hey guys, my father passed away and left me some guns. One of the guns is a luger, I browsed some on the inter web and got some knowledge, can you guys chime in and let me know for sure what I have. Maybe how much it’s worth?

plunkster · 01-14-2018, 07:06 PM

I'm far from being an expert (VERY far), but I suspect the real experts are going to want pics of the top of the toggle and of any proof marks in closeups. Pretty low serial number and the SNs that are visible seem to match, but that's only the superficial SNs. You'd need to disassemble it, at least partially, to check for matching numbers throughout. The magazine, especially if it's serial number is 627, and holster may add to the value substantially, btw...

Bobbysac · 01-14-2018, 07:27 PM

Thank you, I’ll have to do some research how to disassemble it.
Here is more pics

guns3545 · 01-14-2018, 07:42 PM

Bobby,

Welcome to the Forum.

You are fortunate to have inherited this gun from your father. Did he serve in WWII?? Was it a bring back?

The gun itself appears to be a 1939 Mauser built Model P.08, the standard military sidearm of the day.

There were a lot of 1939s made so it is not a scarce variation and it has suffered from bad use or storage.. The three digit serial number has no relationship to scarcity. Every block of 10,000 P.08s that was produced had a three digit serial number as they ran from 1 to 10,000. Was it stored in the holster? That's a bad thing.

It has limited collectible value but should have significant sentimental value especially if it is a bring back.

Hope this helps.

John

Edward Tinker · 01-14-2018, 07:59 PM

I would expect a value of approx $600-$800 - depends on if all matching or if matching magazine (same serial number and if suffix) the value would go up.

You will see 1939 / 42 marked toggles (42=Mauser as said above) for much more, the condition is a bit rough on this one. Otherwise it would be about double that or more.

Ed

Bobbysac · 01-14-2018, 08:53 PM

I believe it was a bring back from my grandmothers first husband who died shortly after, my father inherited it when his step-brother the original owners son passed away, other than that, that’s the only history I have. Unfortunately it was stored in the holster and the holster is stamped (P O). The 1 magazine has a 4 number non matching serial and the other mag is blank. Thank you guys for your help.

DavidJayUden · 01-14-2018, 10:50 PM

I'm not sure if I see damage to the side plate, but I'd estimate value at $1000 or so with the holster on a retail level. It should make a good shooter and a bit of TLC may bring it back to life. It is hard to be more confident or specific from the photos, but I think it has possibilities.
dju

Sonofeugene · 01-15-2018, 02:10 AM

If you remove the left grip, be super careful and go slow and easy. It doesn't yet have the million dollar chip.

Bobbysac · 01-15-2018, 08:21 AM

Thank you, super slow it is. I’ll post more pics when it’s disassembled.

Eugen · 01-15-2018, 09:24 AM

Bobbysac, welcome and congrats on your acquisition of a Luger. Keep it, learn about it, enjoy it and definitely don't sell it. I can't add anything to what's been said about your Luger so many of our experts has already chimed in. But, do read the FAQ, as it is more of a primer on Lugers.

Have fun and we hope to hear soon about your second Luger.

mrerick · 01-15-2018, 09:50 AM

You'll benefit from having a copy of the forum's FAQ PDF document. It's free, and contains quite a bit of useful reference information.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

You may find that the Luger will clean up nicely. Some of these 1939 "42" code Mauser Lugers had a very thin looking - almost translucent Bluing. I have one of these. Mauser was just a couple of years into moving from Rust to Salt bluing, and they were under pressure in 1939 to ship more guns more quickly. I expect some of the process changes worked better than others.

If your Luger is all matching (except for the magazines) and you have an original period correct magazine, the pistol is probably worth more than $1000, but we'll need a good look at it.

Take your pictures in shaded natural sunlight, and don't use flash. It tends to wash out the finish in photos.

The original holster adds a couple of hundred in value to the rig, and a marked tool in the tool pouch would add another hundred or so.

You can use well oiled 0000 steel or bronze wool on an oiled surface to help stabilize any active red oxide rust you find. I use sharpened bamboo chop sticks to get dirt out of grooved and corner areas. Proper cleaning and some preserving gun oil will help appearance. Don't store it in the holster - these can accumulate moisture and lead to corrosion. Carefully remove the grips before cleaning things. Be careful of the screws too, they have a unique thread pattern and you don't want to gall the screwdriver grooves.

Welcome to the fourm!

Marc

Lugerdoc · 01-15-2018, 11:13 AM

Bobby, From the photos that you posted, I can tell that your side plate has been renumbered with a modern die set. Also your TD lever and extractor appear to be unnumbered, so definately not a matching luger. Also your wood bottomed mag is too early to be of 1939 production. Finally, if your holster is marked PO8 in the upper right corner of the back, it is probably of later (1941 or 42) production. TH

mrerick · 01-15-2018, 12:50 PM

Look inside the side plate to see if the number "6" or "7" is stamped inside on the flat.

If non matching shooter, values are $1000 to $1100, possibly less if finish condition is poor.

Bobbysac · 01-15-2018, 06:10 PM

I am so glad I joined this forum, you guys are a wealth of knowledge. I have the dissasembly you tube video and plan to do it tomorrow. I will keep you posted. Once again thank you.

Mac Cat · 01-15-2018, 06:37 PM

Welcome to the forum!
You'll find a lot of good reliable technical information here.
There are great videos on YouTube showing how to disassemble it, too!

WE LOVE THESE KINDS OF FINDS !!

Take your time. Take it apart. It needs a little TLC (oil and a good rag, toothpicks, etc.).

It looks rusty, but we all know how hard it is to take good pictures of a very black gun !!!

You did pretty good, too!

You'll find the serial number under the barrel, on the front of the frame.
Check to see if it has a suffix.

Lots more to explore!!

Thanks for sharing and keep us posted on your investigation.

01-14-2018, 06:56 PM	#1
Bobbysac User Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Inherited luger Hey guys, my father passed away and left me some guns. One of the guns is a luger, I browsed some on the inter web and got some knowledge, can you guys chime in and let me know for sure what I have. Maybe how much it’s worth? Attached Thumbnails

01-14-2018, 07:27 PM	#3
Bobbysac User Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Thank you, I’ll have to do some research how to disassemble it. Here is more pics Attached Thumbnails

01-15-2018, 09:24 AM	#10
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 757 Thanks: 366 Thanked 594 Times in 313 Posts	Bobbysac, welcome and congrats on your acquisition of a Luger. Keep it, learn about it, enjoy it and definitely don't sell it. I can't add anything to what's been said about your Luger so many of our experts has already chimed in. But, do read the FAQ, as it is more of a primer on Lugers. Have fun and we hope to hear soon about your second Luger. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

01-15-2018, 09:50 AM	#11
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	You'll benefit from having a copy of the forum's FAQ PDF document. It's free, and contains quite a bit of useful reference information. http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121 You may find that the Luger will clean up nicely. Some of these 1939 "42" code Mauser Lugers had a very thin looking - almost translucent Bluing. I have one of these. Mauser was just a couple of years into moving from Rust to Salt bluing, and they were under pressure in 1939 to ship more guns more quickly. I expect some of the process changes worked better than others. If your Luger is all matching (except for the magazines) and you have an original period correct magazine, the pistol is probably worth more than $1000, but we'll need a good look at it. Take your pictures in shaded natural sunlight, and don't use flash. It tends to wash out the finish in photos. The original holster adds a couple of hundred in value to the rig, and a marked tool in the tool pouch would add another hundred or so. You can use well oiled 0000 steel or bronze wool on an oiled surface to help stabilize any active red oxide rust you find. I use sharpened bamboo chop sticks to get dirt out of grooved and corner areas. Proper cleaning and some preserving gun oil will help appearance. Don't store it in the holster - these can accumulate moisture and lead to corrosion. Carefully remove the grips before cleaning things. Be careful of the screws too, they have a unique thread pattern and you don't want to gall the screwdriver grooves. Welcome to the fourm! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-15-2018, 11:13 AM	#12
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	Bobby, From the photos that you posted, I can tell that your side plate has been renumbered with a modern die set. Also your TD lever and extractor appear to be unnumbered, so definately not a matching luger. Also your wood bottomed mag is too early to be of 1939 production. Finally, if your holster is marked PO8 in the upper right corner of the back, it is probably of later (1941 or 42) production. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

01-14-2018, 07:06 PM	#2
plunkster User Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	I'm far from being an expert (VERY far), but I suspect the real experts are going to want pics of the top of the toggle and of any proof marks in closeups. Pretty low serial number and the SNs that are visible seem to match, but that's only the superficial SNs. You'd need to disassemble it, at least partially, to check for matching numbers throughout. The magazine, especially if it's serial number is 627, and holster may add to the value substantially, btw...

01-14-2018, 07:42 PM	#4
guns3545 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 435 Thanks: 649 Thanked 490 Times in 216 Posts	Bobby, Welcome to the Forum. You are fortunate to have inherited this gun from your father. Did he serve in WWII?? Was it a bring back? The gun itself appears to be a 1939 Mauser built Model P.08, the standard military sidearm of the day. There were a lot of 1939s made so it is not a scarce variation and it has suffered from bad use or storage.. The three digit serial number has no relationship to scarcity. Every block of 10,000 P.08s that was produced had a three digit serial number as they ran from 1 to 10,000. Was it stored in the holster? That's a bad thing. It has limited collectible value but should have significant sentimental value especially if it is a bring back. Hope this helps. John

01-14-2018, 07:59 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	I would expect a value of approx $600-$800 - depends on if all matching or if matching magazine (same serial number and if suffix) the value would go up. You will see 1939 / 42 marked toggles (42=Mauser as said above) for much more, the condition is a bit rough on this one. Otherwise it would be about double that or more. Ed

01-14-2018, 08:53 PM	#6
Bobbysac User Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	I believe it was a bring back from my grandmothers first husband who died shortly after, my father inherited it when his step-brother the original owners son passed away, other than that, that’s the only history I have. Unfortunately it was stored in the holster and the holster is stamped (P O). The 1 magazine has a 4 number non matching serial and the other mag is blank. Thank you guys for your help.

01-14-2018, 10:50 PM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I'm not sure if I see damage to the side plate, but I'd estimate value at $1000 or so with the holster on a retail level. It should make a good shooter and a bit of TLC may bring it back to life. It is hard to be more confident or specific from the photos, but I think it has possibilities. dju

01-15-2018, 02:10 AM	#8
Sonofeugene User Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 157 Thanks: 1 Thanked 118 Times in 64 Posts	If you remove the left grip, be super careful and go slow and easy. It doesn't yet have the million dollar chip.

01-15-2018, 08:21 AM	#9
Bobbysac User Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Thank you, super slow it is. I’ll post more pics when it’s disassembled.

01-15-2018, 12:50 PM	#13
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Look inside the side plate to see if the number "6" or "7" is stamped inside on the flat. If non matching shooter, values are $1000 to $1100, possibly less if finish condition is poor. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-15-2018, 06:10 PM	#14
Bobbysac User Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	I am so glad I joined this forum, you guys are a wealth of knowledge. I have the dissasembly you tube video and plan to do it tomorrow. I will keep you posted. Once again thank you.

01-15-2018, 06:37 PM	#15
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 670 Thanks: 2,009 Thanked 542 Times in 292 Posts	Welcome to the forum! You'll find a lot of good reliable technical information here. There are great videos on YouTube showing how to disassemble it, too! WE LOVE THESE KINDS OF FINDS !! Take your time. Take it apart. It needs a little TLC (oil and a good rag, toothpicks, etc.). It looks rusty, but we all know how hard it is to take good pictures of a very black gun !!! You did pretty good, too! You'll find the serial number under the barrel, on the front of the frame. Check to see if it has a suffix. Lots more to explore!! Thanks for sharing and keep us posted on your investigation.