Can you help me?

tbone176 · 10-29-2013, 11:28 PM

Hi,

I picked up this 1939 code 42 Luger a while back. I don't know a lot about them but I liked it so I bought it. If some of you don't mind, please give me any information about this pistol. I can tell you that the firing pin and other small parts in the gun have matching S/N. However the mags do not match. Also, there are no markings on the wood grips. Finally, the magazine release button has no markings either. I would also like any ideas any of you might have with respect to its value.

Thanks!

DavidJayUden · 10-30-2013, 07:05 AM

Mag. buttons should not be numbered, grips in 1939 are a "maybe".
If it's all matching except mags, original with no damage, functional, etc, I'd guess at around $1500 or a bit more.
What did you pay for it?
dju

tbone176 · 10-30-2013, 08:50 AM

Ok, I am into it for $1900.00. I am not too concerned, it seems that most collectible guns increase in value over time. I was more worried about the mag button and grips, I was afraid that it might not be numbers matching ( less the mags of course). Is there a list somewhere of parts that will be numbered, vs ones that are not? I had always heard that "everything" on a Luger had a S/N stamped on it. ( I even found it on the safety lever ), but apparently, not everything is numbered. Thanks for the info!

Tony Min · 10-30-2013, 08:55 AM

I would say $1500 for the gun plus the mags and holster if all original.

Sergio Natali · 10-30-2013, 09:10 AM

First of all congratulations for your rig.

For what I can see from the photos you posted it seems quite a nice Luger, the fact that you bought it in spite of the fact that you did not know much about this sort of gun shows that you are pretty lucky, in fact even experts sometimes end up with a lemon.

tbone176 · 10-30-2013, 04:50 PM

You know how the saying goes....sometimes it is better to be lucky than good

mystical_tutor · 10-30-2013, 05:48 PM

Isn't it supposed to have a fluted firing pin? Or did they come later>

kzullick · 10-30-2013, 06:16 PM

Very nice rig, I think you did ok.

tbone176 · 10-31-2013, 06:49 AM

Thanks all....I appreciate the comments.

spartacus38 · 10-31-2013, 09:31 AM

Firing pin should be fluted.
Bob

mrerick · 10-31-2013, 09:37 AM

A couple of things to check.

These should have a firing pin with 3 groove flutes cut into the face of the pin. If your pin doesn't have these, it is likely a replacement from an earlier Luger.

The inside of the side plate should have a number that is one more than the first digit of your 3 digit serial number. I think I saw a "988" as your serial number in the photo, therefore the inside of the plate should have the number "10" stamped in it, and the number "88" stamped on the outside.

There should be a suffix letter on the front of the frame under the serial number. That is part of the full serial number of the Luger.

If all correct and matching, I agree with $1500-$1600 for the Luger value. The holster is $200-$250 and the magazines are $175-$200 each. If all is correct, you did fine on your purchase.

10-29-2013, 11:28 PM	#1
tbone176 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can you help me? Hi, I picked up this 1939 code 42 Luger a while back. I don't know a lot about them but I liked it so I bought it. If some of you don't mind, please give me any information about this pistol. I can tell you that the firing pin and other small parts in the gun have matching S/N. However the mags do not match. Also, there are no markings on the wood grips. Finally, the magazine release button has no markings either. I would also like any ideas any of you might have with respect to its value. Thanks! Attached Thumbnails

10-30-2013, 09:10 AM	#5
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	First of all congratulations for your rig. For what I can see from the photos you posted it seems quite a nice Luger, the fact that you bought it in spite of the fact that you did not know much about this sort of gun shows that you are pretty lucky, in fact even experts sometimes end up with a lemon. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

10-31-2013, 09:37 AM	#11
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,907 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,108 Times in 1,509 Posts	A couple of things to check. These should have a firing pin with 3 groove flutes cut into the face of the pin. If your pin doesn't have these, it is likely a replacement from an earlier Luger. The inside of the side plate should have a number that is one more than the first digit of your 3 digit serial number. I think I saw a "988" as your serial number in the photo, therefore the inside of the plate should have the number "10" stamped in it, and the number "88" stamped on the outside. There should be a suffix letter on the front of the frame under the serial number. That is part of the full serial number of the Luger. If all correct and matching, I agree with $1500-$1600 for the Luger value. The holster is $200-$250 and the magazines are $175-$200 each. If all is correct, you did fine on your purchase. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-30-2013, 07:05 AM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Mag. buttons should not be numbered, grips in 1939 are a "maybe". If it's all matching except mags, original with no damage, functional, etc, I'd guess at around $1500 or a bit more. What did you pay for it? dju

10-30-2013, 08:50 AM	#3
tbone176 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok, I am into it for $1900.00. I am not too concerned, it seems that most collectible guns increase in value over time. I was more worried about the mag button and grips, I was afraid that it might not be numbers matching ( less the mags of course). Is there a list somewhere of parts that will be numbered, vs ones that are not? I had always heard that "everything" on a Luger had a S/N stamped on it. ( I even found it on the safety lever ), but apparently, not everything is numbered. Thanks for the info!

10-30-2013, 08:55 AM	#4
Tony Min User Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 169 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 14 Posts	I would say $1500 for the gun plus the mags and holster if all original.

10-30-2013, 04:50 PM	#6
tbone176 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	You know how the saying goes....sometimes it is better to be lucky than good

10-30-2013, 05:48 PM	#7
mystical_tutor User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 230 Thanks: 32 Thanked 39 Times in 25 Posts	Isn't it supposed to have a fluted firing pin? Or did they come later>

10-30-2013, 06:16 PM	#8
kzullick Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Berwick, Pennsylvania Posts: 227 Thanks: 614 Thanked 100 Times in 81 Posts	Very nice rig, I think you did ok.

10-31-2013, 06:49 AM	#9
tbone176 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks all....I appreciate the comments.

10-31-2013, 09:31 AM	#10
spartacus38 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Lake Tahoe,CA. Posts: 695 Thanks: 0 Thanked 70 Times in 56 Posts	Firing pin should be fluted. Bob