First Luger, Did I get hosed?

Sgt. Shifty · 12-20-2010, 01:11 AM

Hello Gentlemen!
New member here, looking for some info on the Luger he just bought at an auction! There is definitely a lot to take in here on your site and I am trying to learn on my own, however I am dying to know if I did "ok" buying my Luger.

It is a 1937 S/42 Mauser, and it came with a holster, two magazines (non matching), and capture papers. I have not taken it apart, but every number I can see from the outside is matching. The capture paper looks legit to me, and what I thought was cool is that the GI wrote his name in pencil inside the holster! One thing that kind of made me wonder is the blued mag, it has no serial number and looks to be in too good shape?

From what I have read so far, I am wondering if I gave too much for it....about $2k....a friend thought that was a good price but from what I have found so far I am not so sure. So, that's what brings me here!

Anything you could tell me about it, or an idea of it's value would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and a Merry Christmas to All!

Vlim · 12-20-2010, 06:43 AM

Hi,

You didn't make the deal of the century, but I think you did pretty well. The gun is an honest, well used, Mauser (with a broken ejector, but that is an unnumbered part that can easily be replaced). The black bottom FXO is nice and has it's own value. The holster and capture papers also look OK to me, so if you take the sum of the individual parts, you should be ok.

Rough estimate, I would say you overpaid about $500 .

But what is money compared to a complete original bring back rig?

DavidJayUden · 12-20-2010, 07:45 AM

Seems to me that there are no 'deals' found at auctions, at least not when I am there. You might have overpaid by a bit, but assuming that it is all matching, and that you get that ejector spring replaced (LugerDoc) you have a nice piece of history there.
Welcome aboard.
dju

Lugerdoc · 12-20-2010, 09:50 AM

I do have NOS Mauser PO8 ejectors in stock. TH

Hugo Borchardt · 12-20-2010, 10:56 AM

Looks like a nice untampered with full rig courtesy of Sgt. Burt! I sure would like to hear his story. I like it.

Jason L · 12-20-2010, 09:06 PM

you Live and you learn......try to sell it for 2k here.

Sgt. Shifty · 12-21-2010, 04:27 PM

Thank you all for the replies! And thanks for pointing out the ejector, I didn't even notice that! It really is pretty interesting to me from a historical aspect. I tried to look up the names on the capture paper but no dice, also I cannot figure out the unit listed. (376 dv?)

Also, a question on the fxo magazine. Is that an armorer's replacement magazine? It looked so nice I wondered if it was a repro but it sounds like it is correct.

rivieraranch · 12-21-2010, 04:44 PM

Maybe Burt Reynolds owned it. Then you would have paid a fair price for it. When the economy improves you will be fine.

mrerick · 12-21-2010, 06:29 PM

Most of the late plastic bottom FXO magazines were not numbered. As long as it's got a WaAmt office acceptance stamp, it's likely authentic WW-II.

A very similar magazine was made after the war for the East Germans by Haenel Schmeisser. It's stamped differently.

Marc

LugerVern · 12-22-2010, 07:26 AM

Could we get a clear picture of the serial number on the upper receiver?

thanks

Vern

WestPoint18A · 12-26-2010, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt. Shifty

also I cannot figure out the unit listed. (376 dv?)

The unit is the 376th Field Artillery Battalion, which fell under the command of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII.

Sgt. Shifty · 12-29-2010, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugerVern

Could we get a clear picture of the serial number on the upper receiver?

thanks

Vern

Sorry for the delay, Christmas had me busy, hope everyone had a good one!

Is this what you are looking for?

Sgt. Shifty · 12-29-2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestPoint18A

The unit is the 376th Field Artillery Battalion, which fell under the command of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII.

I was thinking that was a possibility, thanks!

Edward Tinker · 12-29-2010, 01:36 AM

No, they are looking for the front of the frame serial number.....

jimmythejug · 01-07-2011, 09:33 AM

Nice gun.

You're fortunate to have found an "honest" gun at an auction. There's a lot of misrepresentation.

I like the rig. I'd rather overpay a bit for a honest one than pay a "market" price for the wrong gun. In a few months (or less) it won't matter how much you paid; you'll enjoy the fact that it's your gun and that it's a "real" piece of history.

12-20-2010, 01:11 AM	#1
Sgt. Shifty New User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	First Luger, Did I get hosed? Hello Gentlemen! New member here, looking for some info on the Luger he just bought at an auction! There is definitely a lot to take in here on your site and I am trying to learn on my own, however I am dying to know if I did "ok" buying my Luger. It is a 1937 S/42 Mauser, and it came with a holster, two magazines (non matching), and capture papers. I have not taken it apart, but every number I can see from the outside is matching. The capture paper looks legit to me, and what I thought was cool is that the GI wrote his name in pencil inside the holster! One thing that kind of made me wonder is the blued mag, it has no serial number and looks to be in too good shape? From what I have read so far, I am wondering if I gave too much for it....about $2k....a friend thought that was a good price but from what I have found so far I am not so sure. So, that's what brings me here! Anything you could tell me about it, or an idea of it's value would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and a Merry Christmas to All!

12-20-2010, 09:50 AM	#4
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	I do have NOS Mauser PO8 ejectors in stock. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-20-2010, 10:56 AM	#5
Hugo Borchardt User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 370 Thanks: 339 Thanked 133 Times in 47 Posts	Looks like a nice untampered with full rig courtesy of Sgt. Burt! I sure would like to hear his story. I like it. __________________ My militaria collection is dedicated to the memory of my Grandfather, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Dave Hill, Jr., wounded in action at The Assault of the Second Marine Division on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, 20-23 November, 1943. http://www.tarawa1943.com/pages/casualties%20tarawa.htm

12-21-2010, 06:29 PM	#9
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	Most of the late plastic bottom FXO magazines were not numbered. As long as it's got a WaAmt office acceptance stamp, it's likely authentic WW-II. A very similar magazine was made after the war for the East Germans by Haenel Schmeisser. It's stamped differently. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-29-2010, 01:36 AM	#14
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	No, they are looking for the front of the frame serial number..... __________________ 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

12-20-2010, 06:43 AM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,987 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, You didn't make the deal of the century, but I think you did pretty well. The gun is an honest, well used, Mauser (with a broken ejector, but that is an unnumbered part that can easily be replaced). The black bottom FXO is nice and has it's own value. The holster and capture papers also look OK to me, so if you take the sum of the individual parts, you should be ok. Rough estimate, I would say you overpaid about $500 . But what is money compared to a complete original bring back rig?

12-20-2010, 07:45 AM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Seems to me that there are no 'deals' found at auctions, at least not when I am there. You might have overpaid by a bit, but assuming that it is all matching, and that you get that ejector spring replaced (LugerDoc) you have a nice piece of history there. Welcome aboard. dju

12-20-2010, 09:06 PM	#6
Jason L User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CT. USA Posts: 66 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	you Live and you learn......try to sell it for 2k here.

12-21-2010, 04:27 PM	#7
Sgt. Shifty New User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you all for the replies! And thanks for pointing out the ejector, I didn't even notice that! It really is pretty interesting to me from a historical aspect. I tried to look up the names on the capture paper but no dice, also I cannot figure out the unit listed. (376 dv?) Also, a question on the fxo magazine. Is that an armorer's replacement magazine? It looked so nice I wondered if it was a repro but it sounds like it is correct.

12-21-2010, 04:44 PM	#8
rivieraranch User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 101 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Maybe Burt Reynolds owned it. Then you would have paid a fair price for it. When the economy improves you will be fine.

12-22-2010, 07:26 AM	#10
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Could we get a clear picture of the serial number on the upper receiver? thanks Vern

01-07-2011, 09:33 AM	#15
jimmythejug User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 36 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice gun. You're fortunate to have found an "honest" gun at an auction. There's a lot of misrepresentation. I like the rig. I'd rather overpay a bit for a honest one than pay a "market" price for the wrong gun. In a few months (or less) it won't matter how much you paid; you'll enjoy the fact that it's your gun and that it's a "real" piece of history.