1937 S/42 S/n question (with pic)

Zamo · 10-21-2007, 02:05 PM

Hi all, first post. I've just decided to get back into Luger collecting (small scale), having had a 1937 S/42 and a 1920 Commercial in the past (back when they were a lot cheaper).
I am looking at another 1937 S/42, and it has a strange S/N on the frame.
It looks like the lowercase alphbetic range stamp is either mis-struck, over-struck, or just "weird". In the photo below it shows what looks to me to be a "u", but the seller is calling it an "a". It came to my attention when he said that the finish is "Late style" 1937, that is all blued, with no straw. If it were a "u" I would think that would be correct, but if it's an "a", shouldn't it be strawed? Granted, I am a newbie here, but it's my understanding that this s/n 3746a would be pretty early in the 1937 production. If it was 3746u it would be much later. It's not a cheap Luger, and he's claiming it's the original finish, so that's why I thought I'd seek out some help from those in the know. Here is the photo the seller has provided:

Any one here have any experience dealing with Les, at Kustom Kraft Gunsmithing Corp. of Columbia, NJ? He seems alright, and has very good feedback on GB, but I am a little concerned. I've already past up a lot of really nice "refinished" Lugers because I wanted something better. I don't want to pay MORE for what I could have gotten for much LESS. You know. Same old deal.

Any help would be appreciative on this.
Zamo
Olympia, WA

tharpo · 10-21-2007, 02:54 PM

1937 S/42 production started in the "p" block and continued into the "b" block. This "a" block would have come at the end of the 1937 run. I did purchase a luger from Les last year without any problems.

Ron Smith · 10-21-2007, 03:04 PM

Christian, Welcome back... it happens when you get off your medication.

Tom beat me to it.. Your 1937 would be correct with blued small parts.

Zamo · 10-21-2007, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the excellent responses guys. I really appreciate it. I don't have any Luger books at this time, and was going off my (faulty) memory, and what I could find online. I'm glad I was in error, or operating on "insufficient data".

I have regreted selling both of my Lugers time and again, and have been idly looking for a new one for a couple months now.

It's sure nice to find a good forum to boot.

I will post pics when I settle on one and complete a transaction.

Chris
Olympia

Jan C Still · 10-21-2007, 03:32 PM

Zamo
An original 1937 S/42, sn 3746a, would have blued small parts (see Third Reich Lugers page 39). The following data might help:
1937 1938 DATA REQUEST 1 2 3 4 http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3490
Jan

10-21-2007, 02:05 PM	#1
Zamo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 142 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	1937 S/42 S/n question (with pic) Hi all, first post. I've just decided to get back into Luger collecting (small scale), having had a 1937 S/42 and a 1920 Commercial in the past (back when they were a lot cheaper). I am looking at another 1937 S/42, and it has a strange S/N on the frame. It looks like the lowercase alphbetic range stamp is either mis-struck, over-struck, or just "weird". In the photo below it shows what looks to me to be a "u", but the seller is calling it an "a". It came to my attention when he said that the finish is "Late style" 1937, that is all blued, with no straw. If it were a "u" I would think that would be correct, but if it's an "a", shouldn't it be strawed? Granted, I am a newbie here, but it's my understanding that this s/n 3746a would be pretty early in the 1937 production. If it was 3746u it would be much later. It's not a cheap Luger, and he's claiming it's the original finish, so that's why I thought I'd seek out some help from those in the know. Here is the photo the seller has provided: Any one here have any experience dealing with Les, at Kustom Kraft Gunsmithing Corp. of Columbia, NJ? He seems alright, and has very good feedback on GB, but I am a little concerned. I've already past up a lot of really nice "refinished" Lugers because I wanted something better. I don't want to pay MORE for what I could have gotten for much LESS. You know. Same old deal. Any help would be appreciative on this. Zamo Olympia, WA

10-21-2007, 03:04 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Christian, Welcome back... it happens when you get off your medication. Tom beat me to it.. Your 1937 would be correct with blued small parts. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

10-21-2007, 02:54 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	1937 S/42 production started in the "p" block and continued into the "b" block. This "a" block would have come at the end of the 1937 run. I did purchase a luger from Les last year without any problems.

10-21-2007, 03:26 PM	#4
Zamo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 142 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Thanks for the excellent responses guys. I really appreciate it. I don't have any Luger books at this time, and was going off my (faulty) memory, and what I could find online. I'm glad I was in error, or operating on "insufficient data". I have regreted selling both of my Lugers time and again, and have been idly looking for a new one for a couple months now. It's sure nice to find a good forum to boot. I will post pics when I settle on one and complete a transaction. Chris Olympia

10-21-2007, 03:32 PM	#5
Jan C Still User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Box 240188, Douglas, Alaska, 99824 Posts: 463 Thanks: 0 Thanked 52 Times in 32 Posts	Zamo An original 1937 S/42, sn 3746a, would have blued small parts (see Third Reich Lugers page 39). The following data might help: 1937 1938 DATA REQUEST 1 2 3 4 http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3490 Jan