my profile |
register |
faq |
search upload photo | donate | calendar |
10-04-2024, 02:00 PM | #1 |
User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 184
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
|
Opinions on 1937 S/42
A friend of my son has this Luger that was bought many years ago. The original seller said his dad brought it back after the war.
The gun strikes me as refinished and the magazine base looks like it was ground and restamped to match the gun. However, the letter suffix does not match. Probably because the match-maker didn't know the letter was part of the serial number, but the font looks good. The holster also looks boosted by the addition of stampings to the back. I told my son that the value as a shooter would be between $1000-1200. Am I pretty close?
__________________
"Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy". Last edited by JimD; 10-04-2024 at 05:17 PM. |
10-04-2024, 09:48 PM | #2 |
User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 623
Thanks: 823
Thanked 930 Times in 363 Posts
|
Better pics are needed to give good assessment. Top, sides and underside. Thanks.
G2 |
10-05-2024, 08:24 AM | #3 |
User
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 76
Thanks: 18
Thanked 58 Times in 35 Posts
|
If you are certain that it is a refinish then of course all collectibility is gone and the magazine is just a magazine.
So, it is a shooter grade at that point, but for someone to buy it to actually shoot then a VG bore condition or better is high on my list of must haves. I personally won't buy a shooter grade P.08 unless the bore condition is 75% or better, no matter how good it looks. So... if the bore is really good then yes, I think $1,000-$2,000 is in the ball park. If it has a fair to poor bore then I would rate it at more like $750. On the other hand, bore condition aside, then there is likely $1,000 worth of parts in that P.08, but then it's really not a "shooter grade at that point; it's more of a "parts grade" item, IMHO. Just my opinion, others may differ. -Bob |
10-05-2024, 08:49 AM | #4 |
User
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 847
Thanks: 782
Thanked 860 Times in 410 Posts
|
I’m not sure this is a refinish instead it just being a dip-blued 1937 from later in the year. 1937 was the transition from rust blue and straw to the dip blue process.
__________________
-QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22 |
The following member says Thank You to HerrKaiser for your post: |
10-05-2024, 12:20 PM | #5 |
User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 184
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
|
Thanks for the opinions. Unfortunately the gun is on the other side of the country so I can't examine it in person and my son is not experienced enough to form an opinion.
I'll see if he can get better photos. What is the serial number suffix letter?
__________________
"Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy". |
10-05-2024, 01:17 PM | #6 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: West Coast, USA
Posts: 543
Thanks: 116
Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts
|
Is there breach block damage next to the extractor?
|
10-05-2024, 03:04 PM | #7 |
User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 184
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
|
I don't know but see what you mean. I'll find out.
My son doesn't see the owner very often so it may be a while until I can get more details. As for now, I don't know that the gun is for sale but I think the guy is considering it. On the Jan Still Luger Forums there is a photo of 1937 S/42 letter suffixes and the one I posted looks the closest to W. https://www.lugerforums.com/threads/...mauser.130846/ That would make it a late, all blue model. Any observations on the holster? It looks like a period holster to which someone added markings.
__________________
"Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy". |
10-05-2024, 03:42 PM | #8 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: West Coast, USA
Posts: 543
Thanks: 116
Thanked 382 Times in 157 Posts
|
Yes that suffix is a "w".
The holster stamps do look suspicious. The were not stamping "P.08" on holsters in 1937. |
10-06-2024, 02:00 AM | #9 |
Lifetime Forum
Patron Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose.
Posts: 658
Thanks: 364
Thanked 1,175 Times in 393 Posts
|
A somewhat comparable late finish 1937 S/42 for comparison. No letter suffix. Plenty of original blue.
https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1728190746 https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1728190746 https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1728190746 https://forum.lugerforum.com/attachm...1&d=1728190746 |
The following member says Thank You to gunbugs for your post: |
10-06-2024, 02:35 PM | #10 |
User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 184
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
|
Thanks for the photos. It looks like the one I posted is probably the original finish.
__________________
"Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy". |
10-06-2024, 03:23 PM | #11 |
User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Northern GA
Posts: 343
Thanks: 2,215
Thanked 146 Times in 76 Posts
|
I agree with tharpo's obsevation the breach block is damaged. I had seen a similar. I don't think it's safe to shoot, suggest you check with an expert.
|
10-06-2024, 03:49 PM | #12 |
User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 184
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
|
Will do, thanks.
__________________
"Dyin' aint much of a livin', boy". |
10-06-2024, 06:10 PM | #13 |
User
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Vista, Ca
Posts: 28
Thanks: 20
Thanked 31 Times in 15 Posts
|
Replacement breech blocks are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
My 1939 P08 had a chip like that, on the right side vs. left side of the extractor. I went through multiple ejectors (3) before I installed a replacement breech block; the ejector hasn't failed since. On the other hand, based on what I've read on the 'net, other people have fired Lugers with chipped breech blocks with no adverse side effects. Last edited by Randall_G; 10-12-2024 at 12:50 PM. |
10-07-2024, 01:31 PM | #14 |
Lifer 2X
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005
Location: Somewhere in Montana
Posts: 2,635
Thanks: 3,174
Thanked 2,555 Times in 954 Posts
|
Never fire any firearm with a defective part !!!!!
__________________
Bill Lyon |
The following 5 members says Thank You to wlyon for your post: |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|