Greetings My First Luger

[ilikelugers]

I found this Luger and decided I always wanted one so I picked up this fine specimen:





The finish looks flawless and the gentleman said it still had cosmoline on the starboard side when He first took it out of the holster.



Top View:



Holster:



I bought it thinking I wanted a nice example that we could take to the range.

A gunsmith told me he thinks it's close to being unfired after the factory and it's worth double what I paid for it and will go down to a bit more than half what a really good one on GB typically get listed for if we take Lugey the Luger out to the range.

I don't know except that I am happy with my purchase!

The mag in the gun is serialed to the Luger and I have the tool in the holster. The extra mag in the holster is still wrapped in the cosmoline wrapper so I can't tell if it is serialed to Lugey.

I can take more pictures if you want to see them.

I did a google search and found this forum so I thought I would join to get some ideas of care and feeding of Lugey.

[DavidJayUden]

I suspect that this group will almost unanimously advise against shooting it, because if any numbered part should fail you will be out a lot of money.
Take your next available $1000 and buy a shooter. Cheap investment/insurance.
Generally those black plastic magazines were not numbered to the gun, but with Lugers we should rarely say "never". I'd like to see a few close-ups of the magazine and particularly the numbers.
If you care to learn about value, check out Simpson, Ltd. for some estimates on similar guns.
I will agree that your Luger is exceptionally nice! Congrats. and welcome to the forum.
dju

[DonVoigt]

Well, just so you know-
lugers were not stored in holsters with "cosmolene" on them- not very good for the leather at all; and mags were not wrapped in wax/grease paper. Both were likely done by the previous owner.

A nice Mauser luger for sure.

Welcome to the forum.

[mrerick]

What David said...

You have one that appears to be in extremely high original condition.

Black bakelite based magazines are not normally serialized to the pistol. Does this one have a "Ku" number on the left side of the receiver? These are more rare than normal 41 byf pistols.

The condition is so good, you should inspect it to see if it was possibly redone. There are internal parts that are normally in the white. There were also some prepared by workers at the end of the war for direct sale to GIs, and this could be one of them.

Don't store the pistol or magazines in the holster. The cosmoline could also do damage to the holster itself.

[ilikelugers]

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

I suspect that this group will almost unanimously advise against shooting it, because if any numbered part should fail you will be out a lot of money.
Take your next available $1000 and buy a shooter. Cheap investment/insurance.
Generally those black plastic magazines were not numbered to the gun, but with Lugers we should rarely say "never". I'd like to see a few close-ups of the magazine and particularly the numbers.
If you care to learn about value, check out Simpson, Ltd. for some estimates on similar guns.
I will agree that your Luger is exceptionally nice! Congrats. and welcome to the forum.
dju

Yes I went to Simpsons and found a great selection of "shooters". I will pursue that route. I had no Idea Simpsons existed. Here are some pictures of the mag and markings.



The marking read fxo and a 37 under a banner as well as the P.08. Yes it is not serialized to the pistol.





As I suspect, perhaps the Gentleman that brought this back perhaps picked up another magazine when they liberated the area this Luger was stored.

The Luger came from a WWII Vet's estate from which he passed a while ago and his 100 year old widow passed in the near past.

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Well, just so you know-
lugers were not stored in holsters with "cosmolene" on them- not very good for the leather at all; and mags were not wrapped in wax/grease paper. Both were likely done by the previous owner.

A nice Mauser luger for sure.

Welcome to the forum.

Some Holster pictures:

Originally Posted by mrerick

What David said...

You have one that appears to be in extremely high original condition.

Black bakelite based magazines are not normally serialized to the pistol. Does this one have a "Ku" number on the left side of the receiver? These are more rare than normal 41 byf pistols.

The condition is so good, you should inspect it to see if it was possibly redone. There are internal parts that are normally in the white. There were also some prepared by workers at the end of the war for direct sale to GIs, and this could be one of them.

Don't store the pistol or magazines in the holster. The cosmoline could also do damage to the holster itself.

Here is a picture of the number side of Lugey. I dont see a Ku on it:



Thanks all for the great advice!

[DavidJayUden]

I'm glad to hear that the main magazine is not numbered to the pistol. Had it been numbered to the gun that would have raised other red flags.
I'm unsure if keeping the second mag. in greased paper is necessary. As far as I know that was done later, post war, for storage and serves no further purpose. But let's wait and confirm that the paper is not original before you remove it.
Your gun, with the black bakelite grips and magazine bottom, is what is referred to as a "black widow", which is certainly not a term of endearment around here. I can see nothing suspicious about it and have to say, with a bit of envy, that you done well.
Please take good care of it because, like all of us, we are just temporary stewards.
dju

[MW2152]

Is it me or does that wrapped mag look like it has the same type wrapping material on it that unissued M1 Carbine mags have?

[gunbugs]

Originally Posted by MW2152

Is it me or does that wrapped mag look like it has the same type wrapping material on it that unissued M1 Carbine mags have?

I've got some wrapped carbine mags, and the stuff on his luger mag looks more like a sort of cheesecloth, or some such.