Luger 9mm P08 question

maarder · 02-02-2009, 11:11 AM

Hello

I found this forum when I was searching for info about a 9mm Luger P08, and hopefully someone here may help me.

I got a old luger from my husbands family. This is a luger that was used under ww2. I do know this is not a fake gun.

The strange thing is that most of the numbers is filed away, at least it seems like that. The only thing thats left is the DKM logo and a number 1940. The gun looks in good shape and it is probably reblued over whatever is filed off. I had to look very closely to be able to see that this was done.
However I did manage to find some numbers but can not make any sense of it. 1361 is what I could find, and some places the number 44.
The gun is registered today with the serial number P08

This gun has hardly not been used since ww2.

I do know who used it and some history, but do not understand why the numbers are gone. Why did thet do that under ww2?
This particular gun was used by a high rank norwegian who joined the german side in the war, I dont understand the need for a umarked gun for such a person?
Anyone who may enlighten me please

Is there anyone who might bother help how to figure out what kind of gun this is, when it is made and such?
I have to admit I do not know much about Luger, -or guns at all.
Value is not as important to me, as this would never be sold, but it would be fun to know more about the gun.

I will post some pictures as soon as possible

Sorry for my english as it is not my native language, Im from Norway.

Anne

John Sabato · 02-02-2009, 11:46 AM

We have a member named "Morgan Kane" who lives in Norway... Look for his posts and send him a Private Message by clicking on his name... he will likely not be very far from you. He is very knowledgeable and can provide assistance in your own language.

Please do post the photographs when you get them... it will help others identify what you have.

Welcome to the Lugerforum.

maarder · 02-02-2009, 01:41 PM

Thank you very much for your kind advice mr. Sabato, I will send him a pm

I'll post photos as soon as I lay my hands on a camera.

kindly, -Anne

John Sabato · 02-02-2009, 04:16 PM

Perhaps the numbers on the gun were sanitized to prevent it from being traced to the original Nazi collaborator owner?

By the way, Morgan Kane's real first name is Steinar...

Steinar · 02-03-2009, 04:33 AM

I'm just happy to help out the best I can.

In short, we are possibly "looking at" something produced within two different time periods in the Mauser factory, with a touch of DWM and possibly a hint of WW1 (adjustable sight). It's like a fine wine.. now we just need to taste it

maarder; du har en PM

maarder · 02-03-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

Perhaps the numbers on the gun were sanitized to prevent it from being traced to the original Nazi collaborator owner?

By the way, Morgan Kane's real first name is Steinar...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morgan Kane

I'm just happy to help out the best I can.

In short, we are possibly "looking at" something produced within two different time periods in the Mauser factory, with a touch of DWM and possibly a hint of WW1 (adjustable sight). It's like a fine wine.. now we just need to taste it

maarder; du har en PM

You are both so kind and helpful, what a joy to meet such nice people

It is for me very interesting to learn about this, I always tought that a Luger just was a gun used in ww2 and not all this different stories behind it (sorry for my explanation, cant find the right words)
Now that I have one in my hand and have been reading these pages I see there is a lot more to it.
This is fun

maarder · 02-03-2009, 04:19 PM

Tried to take some photos, hopefully they show something of sense

http://forum.lugerforum.com/album.php?albumid=56

alanint · 02-03-2009, 06:27 PM

Wow! A 1940 Mauser Artillery!!

What a story must be behind this put-together!

Steinar · 02-04-2009, 03:14 AM

maarder; I notice your English seems to be in order, so I give my second reply here instead of trough e-mail.

I'm no expert compared to the more experienced collectors in this forum, but I think I manage to put a date and manufacture on the pieces in this puzzle trough the PM I sent you earlier.
Glad you got interested in Lugers

For many of us, it's not how well it performs as a firearm that got us interested. But the fascination of the high quality handcraft and history that lies behind them, also a reminder of dark chapters in human history that shall not be forgotten.
Yours is a mix of various parts and manufactures, but that does not mean it has a lacks history. The barrel for instance, comes from a ww1 Luger, banned by the Treaty of Versailles and somehow mated with ww2 area Luger frame and upper. Just the fact that parts produced almost 30 years apart and from different manufactures can be put together is fascinating. No other firearm I know of has such tight tolerances.
Then there is the personal story that comes with it.. Since it's a family piece and you are not trying to sell it, I'm no person to deny it. One way or the other it was put together, but from a collector’s point of view, the odds that this was done by the wehrmacht is slim.
Wish you welcome and hope you stick around!

btw. your magazine seems to have an interesting non-blued 'shell'. Perhaps the mag bottom is the next to investigate?

maarder · 02-04-2009, 01:32 PM

Thank you very much

This is interesting, and brings out even more questions.

For what reason would anyone put together such a gun?
Was it common to do this?
Was it to make a better gun (in someones opinion) or just lack of spare parts?

I cant really understand the lack of parts during the ww2, thought there were plenty of guns then. Not that I know but I just imagined there would be.
The parts could of course been put together here in Norway during the ww2 by some gunsmith or skilled person, not nessecarily in German. Since this was a norwegian guy I guess it was done in Norway.
Maybe thats why the numbers are filed away because its parts are from different weapons?

The magazine looks like it is made of aluminium (is that the right word in english?). It fits well, but it looks odd because of the color. Not blued or treated in any way, just plain aluminium color all the way.

I do know that whatever what was done with this gun it was done during the ww2.
The gun was his private weapon, not his millitary weapon. After the war the owner was executed and the rest of the family tried to live on with the shame that he was a nazi. Not easy in a small place.
The gun was put away until it was handed over to me recently from a family member.

I also have a Model 1860 Kammerlader Rifle, who has been a part of the family history for years. Not as violent history with that one

I do not care much about their value in money, they are not for sale and the history behind is worth lot more to me. Knowing how, why and where they are made just add even more history to it.

The fact that this gun has parts from "all over" and they still fit together are quite stunning, it makes it even more interesting in my eyes, and I find it amazing that they can put together parts with 30 years in difference. They did some good work in those days.

Sorry for all these questions, there is so much info on this forum and Im not sure what to start looking for, and have to admit, -Im a complete newbie in weapons

02-02-2009, 11:11 AM	#1
maarder User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger 9mm P08 question Hello I found this forum when I was searching for info about a 9mm Luger P08, and hopefully someone here may help me. I got a old luger from my husbands family. This is a luger that was used under ww2. I do know this is not a fake gun. The strange thing is that most of the numbers is filed away, at least it seems like that. The only thing thats left is the DKM logo and a number 1940. The gun looks in good shape and it is probably reblued over whatever is filed off. I had to look very closely to be able to see that this was done. However I did manage to find some numbers but can not make any sense of it. 1361 is what I could find, and some places the number 44. The gun is registered today with the serial number P08 This gun has hardly not been used since ww2. I do know who used it and some history, but do not understand why the numbers are gone. Why did thet do that under ww2? This particular gun was used by a high rank norwegian who joined the german side in the war, I dont understand the need for a umarked gun for such a person? Anyone who may enlighten me please Is there anyone who might bother help how to figure out what kind of gun this is, when it is made and such? I have to admit I do not know much about Luger, -or guns at all. Value is not as important to me, as this would never be sold, but it would be fun to know more about the gun. I will post some pictures as soon as possible Sorry for my english as it is not my native language, Im from Norway. Anne

02-02-2009, 11:46 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	We have a member named "Morgan Kane" who lives in Norway... Look for his posts and send him a Private Message by clicking on his name... he will likely not be very far from you. He is very knowledgeable and can provide assistance in your own language. Please do post the photographs when you get them... it will help others identify what you have. Welcome to the Lugerforum. __________________ 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..."*

02-02-2009, 04:16 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Perhaps the numbers on the gun were sanitized to prevent it from being traced to the original Nazi collaborator owner? By the way, Morgan Kane's real first name is Steinar... __________________ 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..."*

02-03-2009, 04:33 AM	#5
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	I'm just happy to help out the best I can. In short, we are possibly "looking at" something produced within two different time periods in the Mauser factory, with a touch of DWM and possibly a hint of WW1 (adjustable sight). It's like a fine wine.. now we just need to taste it maarder; du har en PM __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

02-04-2009, 03:14 AM	#9
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	maarder; I notice your English seems to be in order, so I give my second reply here instead of trough e-mail. I'm no expert compared to the more experienced collectors in this forum, but I think I manage to put a date and manufacture on the pieces in this puzzle trough the PM I sent you earlier. Glad you got interested in Lugers For many of us, it's not how well it performs as a firearm that got us interested. But the fascination of the high quality handcraft and history that lies behind them, also a reminder of dark chapters in human history that shall not be forgotten. Yours is a mix of various parts and manufactures, but that does not mean it has a lacks history. The barrel for instance, comes from a ww1 Luger, banned by the Treaty of Versailles and somehow mated with ww2 area Luger frame and upper. Just the fact that parts produced almost 30 years apart and from different manufactures can be put together is fascinating. No other firearm I know of has such tight tolerances. Then there is the personal story that comes with it.. Since it's a family piece and you are not trying to sell it, I'm no person to deny it. One way or the other it was put together, but from a collector’s point of view, the odds that this was done by the wehrmacht is slim. Wish you welcome and hope you stick around! btw. your magazine seems to have an interesting non-blued 'shell'. Perhaps the mag bottom is the next to investigate? __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

02-02-2009, 01:41 PM	#3
maarder User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you very much for your kind advice mr. Sabato, I will send him a pm I'll post photos as soon as I lay my hands on a camera. kindly, -Anne

02-03-2009, 04:19 PM	#7
maarder User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tried to take some photos, hopefully they show something of sense http://forum.lugerforum.com/album.php?albumid=56

02-03-2009, 06:27 PM	#8
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Wow! A 1940 Mauser Artillery!! What a story must be behind this put-together!

02-04-2009, 01:32 PM	#10
maarder User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you very much This is interesting, and brings out even more questions. For what reason would anyone put together such a gun? Was it common to do this? Was it to make a better gun (in someones opinion) or just lack of spare parts? I cant really understand the lack of parts during the ww2, thought there were plenty of guns then. Not that I know but I just imagined there would be. The parts could of course been put together here in Norway during the ww2 by some gunsmith or skilled person, not nessecarily in German. Since this was a norwegian guy I guess it was done in Norway. Maybe thats why the numbers are filed away because its parts are from different weapons? The magazine looks like it is made of aluminium (is that the right word in english?). It fits well, but it looks odd because of the color. Not blued or treated in any way, just plain aluminium color all the way. I do know that whatever what was done with this gun it was done during the ww2. The gun was his private weapon, not his millitary weapon. After the war the owner was executed and the rest of the family tried to live on with the shame that he was a nazi. Not easy in a small place. The gun was put away until it was handed over to me recently from a family member. I also have a Model 1860 Kammerlader Rifle, who has been a part of the family history for years. Not as violent history with that one I do not care much about their value in money, they are not for sale and the history behind is worth lot more to me. Knowing how, why and where they are made just add even more history to it. The fact that this gun has parts from "all over" and they still fit together are quite stunning, it makes it even more interesting in my eyes, and I find it amazing that they can put together parts with 30 years in difference. They did some good work in those days. Sorry for all these questions, there is so much info on this forum and Im not sure what to start looking for, and have to admit, -Im a complete newbie in weapons __________________ Kindly, -Anne