1940 Mauser, What else can you tell me?

jswilli1 · 01-04-2010, 05:14 PM

This gun has been in my family since my Grandfather brought it back in WWII. I inherited it about 4yrs ago after my father passed away. It has not been fired for at least 40yrs since everyone thought the firing pin was broken. I took the Luger to a gun show recently as I found someone familiar with lugers and had the fluted firing pin the pistol needed. He examined the gun and the firing pin is indeed intact and original along with all the other parts. The part that fell out some 40yrs ago was the "L" shaped retaining pin that goes on the lever to remove the plate for removal of the slide. The grips as I have found from this Forum are "Sweet Heart" grips, but the story I was told was my grandfather had made them out of aircraft windshield while he was overseas. I have nothing to compare them too so maybe someone here can validate this? I was told by the gentleman at the gun show that this was a police issue Luger by the marking and he said it was a rather rare pistol? The only item that I don't have with this pistol are the original grips, but I honestly think the sweet heart grips make this pistol unique since there is a picture of my grandmother on one side and a picture of my grandfathers sister on the other. The running joke for years was the other woman was his girlfriend while overseas! I mentioned this pistol has not been fired in 40yrs, after finding that the firing pin was indeed intact I took it out a few weeks and put a few rounds through it. I have fired several pistols and calibers over the years, but the Luger was so smooth and dead on accurate. Here are some pictures of the markings and items I have with the Luger.

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Edward Tinker · 01-04-2010, 05:26 PM

Great story.

For us to help, we need pictures, serial number, suffix and anything besides the 1940.

Unit markings on a 1940 would be very unlikely, so would need to see them.

Welcome to the forum,

ed

jswilli1 · 01-04-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Great story.

For us to help, we need pictures, serial number, suffix and anything besides the 1940.

Unit markings on a 1940 would be very unlikely, so would need to see them.

Welcome to the forum,

ed

I think I have all the angles covered, had some issues downsizing the pictures to be uploaded to the sight. Glad to be apart of the forum and enjoy what I have seen so far.

Thor · 01-04-2010, 06:21 PM

Looks like a 1940 Mauser Banner Commercial without the right grips.

Edward Tinker · 01-04-2010, 06:22 PM

It is a rarer gun, not because it was a police but because it is a Mauser Banner, a commericial gun taken into military service (thus the 1940 date).

Ed

Ron Wood · 01-04-2010, 07:12 PM

I like the gun and love the grips! A great heirloom. With that kind of history I wouldn't even think about trying to find original grips. Thank you for sharing the gun and the story.

Jason L · 01-04-2010, 08:19 PM

Great pistol...I like the grips too.....the matching mag is a huge +

jswilli1 · 01-05-2010, 12:43 AM

Thanks guys for all input, I am glad that I was able to share it with you.

01-04-2010, 05:14 PM	#1
jswilli1 User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1940 Mauser, What else can you tell me? This gun has been in my family since my Grandfather brought it back in WWII. I inherited it about 4yrs ago after my father passed away. It has not been fired for at least 40yrs since everyone thought the firing pin was broken. I took the Luger to a gun show recently as I found someone familiar with lugers and had the fluted firing pin the pistol needed. He examined the gun and the firing pin is indeed intact and original along with all the other parts. The part that fell out some 40yrs ago was the "L" shaped retaining pin that goes on the lever to remove the plate for removal of the slide. The grips as I have found from this Forum are "Sweet Heart" grips, but the story I was told was my grandfather had made them out of aircraft windshield while he was overseas. I have nothing to compare them too so maybe someone here can validate this? I was told by the gentleman at the gun show that this was a police issue Luger by the marking and he said it was a rather rare pistol? The only item that I don't have with this pistol are the original grips, but I honestly think the sweet heart grips make this pistol unique since there is a picture of my grandmother on one side and a picture of my grandfathers sister on the other. The running joke for years was the other woman was his girlfriend while overseas! I mentioned this pistol has not been fired in 40yrs, after finding that the firing pin was indeed intact I took it out a few weeks and put a few rounds through it. I have fired several pistols and calibers over the years, but the Luger was so smooth and dead on accurate. Here are some pictures of the markings and items I have with the Luger. Last edited by jswilli1; 01-04-2010 at 05:52 PM. Reason: Added Pics

01-04-2010, 05:26 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,962 Thanks: 2,063 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Great story. For us to help, we need pictures, serial number, suffix and anything besides the 1940. Unit markings on a 1940 would be very unlikely, so would need to see them. Welcome to the forum, 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

01-04-2010, 06:21 PM	#4
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Looks like a 1940 Mauser Banner Commercial without the right grips. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-04-2010, 06:22 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,962 Thanks: 2,063 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	It is a rarer gun, not because it was a police but because it is a Mauser Banner, a commericial gun taken into military service (thus the 1940 date). 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

01-04-2010, 07:12 PM	#6
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	I like the gun and love the grips! A great heirloom. With that kind of history I wouldn't even think about trying to find original grips. Thank you for sharing the gun and the story. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-04-2010, 08:19 PM	#7
Jason L User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CT. USA Posts: 66 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Great pistol...I like the grips too.....the matching mag is a huge +

01-05-2010, 12:43 AM	#8
jswilli1 User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks guys for all input, I am glad that I was able to share it with you.