1941 P08 Mauser Found

josef · 09-05-2004, 05:24 PM

In remarkably well-preserved state, by my good friend Jan. ALong with other items, this was in an MG ammunition box. Will post the P08 only here. No graves or battlefields were dug, found on private property. Thanks for looking.

lugercollector · 09-05-2004, 09:48 PM

Hey Joseph....That is an interesting find.....how did it look once it was cleaned up??...

josef · 09-05-2004, 10:27 PM

My friend is in the process of cleaning it as we speak. Wrapped in part of a zeltbahn. I know he has already removed the magazine with ease, it is a 1941 dated Luger with the Mauser Banner on the top. Ammunition was marked RM B 43. Hopefully more pics tonight, thanks for looking!
Joe

Edward Tinker · 09-05-2004, 11:36 PM

joesf, way too cool!

after pictures please mein herren!

Ed

Dwight Gruber · 09-06-2004, 12:48 AM

...and a bit of the back story, too!!

--Dwight

John D. · 09-06-2004, 09:29 AM

That is amazing!!!!! josef, I'd love to see pics as your friend cleans it up - if that's possible? Also - pictures of all the items you have unearthed..

These are like a "time capsule" - and I'm fascinated... Simply outstanding!

John D.

josef · 09-06-2004, 10:17 AM

Thanks Gentlemen! I am so glad to see my friend Jan has joined this great forum, so I am certain he will be posting soon. I will post my finds over the years in another topic, as this one belongs to Jan. I think his camera is pooched, so hopefully he can get some pics out soon. A true time capsule indeed! Thanks for looking Gentlemen.

John Sabato · 09-07-2004, 09:55 AM

Simply amazing josef... Congrats to Jan for his find.

I can't wait to see the photos of the gun cleaned up... if all that black stuff is grease or congealed oil as I suspect, the gun may be in remarkable condition after all these years...

Where was it found?

josef · 09-07-2004, 09:23 PM

Thanks Gentlemen, Jan emailed me these pics this morning of the initial disassembly of the Luger, I forgot to ask if it is still coated in grease, but he will clean it up and send more pics.

josef · 09-07-2004, 09:24 PM

And the next one.

josef · 09-07-2004, 09:35 PM

It was found in the Czech Republic along with other items. Here is a portion of the email Jan has sent to me regarding the circumstances of the finds. "there were
totaly 4 boxes found - 2pcs found by my friend, 2pcs found by me. His
two boxes contained only ammo. I found at least 20 buttons and
that SS textile rank tab close to it and near the tree I found
Sachson brass belt buckle. At the beginning of the road (near the
field)my friend found Astra 600 pistol, SA sport badge and Police
belt buckle. Two or three hundred metres from that he found
P08 mag. And some SS ID tag was found by him here too. "
I hope he will be able to post here soon, he is a great guy, a true collector. I am so pleased to introduce him to this forum, where fellow collectors can just appreciate the historical relevance of such a great find! More pics to come soon, thanks again for the interest!

minigun · 09-08-2004, 01:18 AM

Whoa! Simply neat as can be.....

G.T. · 09-08-2004, 10:18 AM

That has to be every Luger collectors dream!! I haven't found even one buried here in Phoenix!

Actually, I would love to just soak in the history exploring old WWII battlegrounds... but, I would assume, as with most of the sites here in the states..it is all protected... Very neat find! Can't hardly wait to see whats under the grease! best to all! til...lat'r...GT

Edward Tinker · 09-08-2004, 12:30 PM

GT, when I was over there with the army in 1998/1999, I suddenly thought I should go wander around. Huge important battle sites are protected, but other ones are just out in the woods. I went out to several places outside of Aachen and found spent ammo, lots of pieces of metal, but nothing wonderful. I didn't try as hard as these guys do, but it is very interesting to do!

Ed

josef · 09-08-2004, 09:18 PM

As we wait for the cleanup of the P08, here is a pic Jan sent me of the contents of the box. An SS tag was found in the very area. Look at the zeltbahn, does anyone recognize it?

Nomadr · 09-08-2004, 10:08 PM

I think I would verrry careful with that old ammo?

josef · 09-08-2004, 10:20 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Nomadr:
I think I would verrry careful with that old ammo?<hr /></blockquote>I am sure they are

minigun · 09-09-2004, 09:07 AM

Can't say about the Zeltban, but looks like MG 34/42 ammo belts, and possibly MP43/44 mags....?

josef · 09-09-2004, 10:04 AM

You are correct Mimigun, thanks! The zeltbahn is an SS one, not army. Just wondering if anyone knows what pattern it was. Thanks for looking!

John Sabato · 09-09-2004, 10:18 AM

This story is exciting as it unfolds... I can hardly wait to see the P-08 cleaned up...

09-05-2004, 05:24 PM	#1
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	1941 P08 Mauser Found In remarkably well-preserved state, by my good friend Jan. ALong with other items, this was in an MG ammunition box. Will post the P08 only here. No graves or battlefields were dug, found on private property. Thanks for looking.

09-05-2004, 11:36 PM	#4
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	joesf, way too cool! after pictures please mein herren! Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-07-2004, 09:55 AM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Simply amazing josef... Congrats to Jan for his find. I can't wait to see the photos of the gun cleaned up... if all that black stuff is grease or congealed oil as I suspect, the gun may be in remarkable condition after all these years... Where was it found? __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-08-2004, 12:30 PM	#14
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	GT, when I was over there with the army in 1998/1999, I suddenly thought I should go wander around. Huge important battle sites are protected, but other ones are just out in the woods. I went out to several places outside of Aachen and found spent ammo, lots of pieces of metal, but nothing wonderful. I didn't try as hard as these guys do, but it is very interesting to do! Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-08-2004, 10:20 PM	#17
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Nomadr: <strong>I think I would verrry careful with that old ammo?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">I am sure they are

09-05-2004, 09:48 PM	#2
lugercollector Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: canada Posts: 322 Thanks: 0 Thanked 25 Times in 15 Posts	Hey Joseph....That is an interesting find.....how did it look once it was cleaned up??...

09-05-2004, 10:27 PM	#3
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	My friend is in the process of cleaning it as we speak. Wrapped in part of a zeltbahn. I know he has already removed the magazine with ease, it is a 1941 dated Luger with the Mauser Banner on the top. Ammunition was marked RM B 43. Hopefully more pics tonight, thanks for looking! Joe

09-06-2004, 12:48 AM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,889 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,281 Times in 423 Posts	...and a bit of the back story, too!! --Dwight

09-06-2004, 09:29 AM	#6
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 471 Thanked 513 Times in 127 Posts	That is amazing!!!!! josef, I'd love to see pics as your friend cleans it up - if that's possible? Also - pictures of all the items you have unearthed.. These are like a "time capsule" - and I'm fascinated... Simply outstanding! John D.

09-06-2004, 10:17 AM	#7
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks Gentlemen! I am so glad to see my friend Jan has joined this great forum, so I am certain he will be posting soon. I will post my finds over the years in another topic, as this one belongs to Jan. I think his camera is pooched, so hopefully he can get some pics out soon. A true time capsule indeed! Thanks for looking Gentlemen.

09-07-2004, 09:23 PM	#9
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks Gentlemen, Jan emailed me these pics this morning of the initial disassembly of the Luger, I forgot to ask if it is still coated in grease, but he will clean it up and send more pics.

09-07-2004, 09:24 PM	#10
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	And the next one.

09-07-2004, 09:35 PM	#11
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	It was found in the Czech Republic along with other items. Here is a portion of the email Jan has sent to me regarding the circumstances of the finds. "there were totaly 4 boxes found - 2pcs found by my friend, 2pcs found by me. His two boxes contained only ammo. I found at least 20 buttons and that SS textile rank tab close to it and near the tree I found Sachson brass belt buckle. At the beginning of the road (near the field)my friend found Astra 600 pistol, SA sport badge and Police belt buckle. Two or three hundred metres from that he found P08 mag. And some SS ID tag was found by him here too. " I hope he will be able to post here soon, he is a great guy, a true collector. I am so pleased to introduce him to this forum, where fellow collectors can just appreciate the historical relevance of such a great find! More pics to come soon, thanks again for the interest!

09-08-2004, 01:18 AM	#12
minigun User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 424 Thanks: 15 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Whoa! Simply neat as can be.....

09-08-2004, 10:18 AM	#13
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,485 Thanks: 1,283 Thanked 3,581 Times in 989 Posts	That has to be every Luger collectors dream!! I haven't found even one buried here in Phoenix! Actually, I would love to just soak in the history exploring old WWII battlegrounds... but, I would assume, as with most of the sites here in the states..it is all protected... Very neat find! Can't hardly wait to see whats under the grease! best to all! til...lat'r...GT

09-08-2004, 09:18 PM	#15
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	As we wait for the cleanup of the P08, here is a pic Jan sent me of the contents of the box. An SS tag was found in the very area. Look at the zeltbahn, does anyone recognize it?

09-08-2004, 10:08 PM	#16
Nomadr Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 276 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 22 Posts	I think I would verrry careful with that old ammo?

09-09-2004, 09:07 AM	#18
minigun User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 424 Thanks: 15 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Can't say about the Zeltban, but looks like MG 34/42 ammo belts, and possibly MP43/44 mags....?

09-09-2004, 10:04 AM	#19
josef User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CANADA Posts: 194 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	You are correct Mimigun, thanks! The zeltbahn is an SS one, not army. Just wondering if anyone knows what pattern it was. Thanks for looking!

09-09-2004, 10:18 AM	#20
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	This story is exciting as it unfolds... I can hardly wait to see the P-08 cleaned up... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*