Questions on a 1938 S/42

thorin6 · 10-01-2017, 10:06 PM

Signed in yesterday to find it's been 4 years since I've been here. Still the best place in the world to research the P08 pistol. After perusing quite a bit of information, I've got some questions that I've not been able to get answers.
I picked up a 1938 S/42 P08 rig this weekend; pistol, holster (with loading tool), and extra magazine. Original finish (I've checked for tool marks, they seem to be all there) a bit worn. All matching as far as I can see (I haven't taken it apart yet, that will come later) and the grips are correct (marked 74 on the left grip). Both magazines are black plastic bases marked fxo over wing over 37 and P08 near the base. Tool is marked wing over 655 (thank goodness for magnifying glasses). Holster marked P08 and dtu 41 with WaA163 under the wing.
The markings on the pistol have me scratching my head; the serial number is 5174 with a v suffix; I didn't know they went that high. There are no proofs on the right side of the frame. There is a proof 63 under the wing on the barrel, and proof, crown over crown over U, which would indicate a commercial pistol (I think), and what looks like the same commercial proof on the bolt, but it appears to have been scratched over. The black plastic fxo bases come much later than 1938, but look like they have been with the rig for some time (the magazine in the holster has a matching chip in the base to a deformation in the leather).
So it looks like I have commercial frame that was diverted to a military pistol, but I have nothing to tell me that is correct. Anything that can enlighten me would be appreciated.
Pictures follow, if any more are needed let me know.
Thanks.

tharpo · 10-01-2017, 11:38 PM

Are you a member of Jan Still's Luger Forum? Joop van de Kant did a study of V suffix Mausers over there. Here are two links that can help you identify your gun.
http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...auser-V-Series

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...-series-1-6000

ecoman · 10-02-2017, 06:40 PM

This is a 1938 S/42 commercial. The serial is in the correct range as in the Mauser Parabellum book by Hallock and Van DeKant. I just sold one a few months back (5532V). I still have another one in great condition (5200V) that got diverted to the police. These are very rare. They made somewhere in the neighborhood of 250-300 of these. For some reason the military coded toggle links were used on these pistols instead of the Mauser banner. Your gun has seen some use, but appears original. Depending on what you spent, you might have done quite well on this pick up. These do not turn up often. Hope this helps.

thorin6 · 10-02-2017, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the responses and suggestions; I'm going to have to do some more digging I think.

thorin6 · 10-03-2017, 07:06 PM

If I have this right, the serial number indicates a contract for Latvia, and the S/42 (instead of the Mauser Banner) on the toggle is one of 256 made with contract proofs and a military designation. It apparently is also one of 20 plus that are know to exist. Also, I checked the front sight and it does have the CcU proof mark (I think that's the right designation for large crown over small crown over U). In that I bought what I thought was a standard military P08 rig with 60% original finish that is all matching, can anyone give me a rough idea of what value to put on the rig? Also, can anyone offer an explanation how this pistol ended up in a 1941 dated holster with two black plastic fxo magazines?
Thanks for the help.

10-01-2017, 10:06 PM	#1
thorin6 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 43 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Questions on a 1938 S/42 Signed in yesterday to find it's been 4 years since I've been here. Still the best place in the world to research the P08 pistol. After perusing quite a bit of information, I've got some questions that I've not been able to get answers. I picked up a 1938 S/42 P08 rig this weekend; pistol, holster (with loading tool), and extra magazine. Original finish (I've checked for tool marks, they seem to be all there) a bit worn. All matching as far as I can see (I haven't taken it apart yet, that will come later) and the grips are correct (marked 74 on the left grip). Both magazines are black plastic bases marked fxo over wing over 37 and P08 near the base. Tool is marked wing over 655 (thank goodness for magnifying glasses). Holster marked P08 and dtu 41 with WaA163 under the wing. The markings on the pistol have me scratching my head; the serial number is 5174 with a v suffix; I didn't know they went that high. There are no proofs on the right side of the frame. There is a proof 63 under the wing on the barrel, and proof, crown over crown over U, which would indicate a commercial pistol (I think), and what looks like the same commercial proof on the bolt, but it appears to have been scratched over. The black plastic fxo bases come much later than 1938, but look like they have been with the rig for some time (the magazine in the holster has a matching chip in the base to a deformation in the leather). So it looks like I have commercial frame that was diverted to a military pistol, but I have nothing to tell me that is correct. Anything that can enlighten me would be appreciated. Pictures follow, if any more are needed let me know. Thanks. Attached Thumbnails

10-01-2017, 11:38 PM	#2
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 537 Thanks: 116 Thanked 376 Times in 154 Posts	Are you a member of Jan Still's Luger Forum? Joop van de Kant did a study of V suffix Mausers over there. Here are two links that can help you identify your gun. http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...auser-V-Series http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...-series-1-6000

10-02-2017, 06:40 PM	#3
ecoman User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Oregon Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 2 Posts	This is a 1938 S/42 commercial. The serial is in the correct range as in the Mauser Parabellum book by Hallock and Van DeKant. I just sold one a few months back (5532V). I still have another one in great condition (5200V) that got diverted to the police. These are very rare. They made somewhere in the neighborhood of 250-300 of these. For some reason the military coded toggle links were used on these pistols instead of the Mauser banner. Your gun has seen some use, but appears original. Depending on what you spent, you might have done quite well on this pick up. These do not turn up often. Hope this helps.

10-02-2017, 07:06 PM	#4
thorin6 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 43 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the responses and suggestions; I'm going to have to do some more digging I think.

10-03-2017, 07:06 PM	#5
thorin6 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 43 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If I have this right, the serial number indicates a contract for Latvia, and the S/42 (instead of the Mauser Banner) on the toggle is one of 256 made with contract proofs and a military designation. It apparently is also one of 20 plus that are know to exist. Also, I checked the front sight and it does have the CcU proof mark (I think that's the right designation for large crown over small crown over U). In that I bought what I thought was a standard military P08 rig with 60% original finish that is all matching, can anyone give me a rough idea of what value to put on the rig? Also, can anyone offer an explanation how this pistol ended up in a 1941 dated holster with two black plastic fxo magazines? Thanks for the help.