Newbie - Luger Identification and value

freeman · 10-19-2010, 09:30 PM

I posted this a few days ago, but now I have the pics.

I am looking to buy my first luger and wanted a little advice first.
I am trying to identify what kind of luger this is to get an approximate value. Banner police? The person is selling the gun for a friend who is in a nursing home, so no one is an expert here. I am told it was a nazi police pistol. The top is stamped "1942", and "Mauser". There is an eagle on the side, and all numbers seem to match with the last 2 digits of the serial number.
The magazine is aluminum with a round white button on the bottom. No numbers on the mag. A holster and tool are included and holster number and tool number match each other, not the gun.

Can anyone tell me what kind of luger this is and approx value?
Thanks for any help, don't want to get burned on my first buy.

freeman · 10-19-2010, 09:55 PM

I have more pics if needed.

sheepherder · 10-19-2010, 10:34 PM

Looks like a 1942 Mauser, one of the last made, and in excellent condition from what little is visible...

First thing I would do is see how far I could throw that magazine...and then buy a Mec-Gar for shooting and a good Luger mag from GT for display...

freeman · 10-20-2010, 06:19 AM

What would you pay for this rig?
Is this a Banner Police model?

Edward Tinker · 10-20-2010, 07:18 AM

I would want to pay $1500 for the rig, I believe that it is worth $1800-$2200 and perhaps a bit more for top dollar. The larger gun dealers would have it priced more...

The leather could be made to look nicer (read about proper ways to do so, if you buy it); the metal has some slight issues here and there; but overall is in nice condition.

The holster and tool match which is cool, but do not match the gun.

Banner Police are not rare, but far from common.

There are fewer folks who collect banners, let alone banner police.

Ed

lugerholsterrepair · 10-20-2010, 12:16 PM

Ed is pretty much on the money here. The mag is incorrect. The bottom is a repro. Should be an aluminum bottom with an Eagle L on it.

Jerry Burney

freeman · 10-20-2010, 09:33 PM

Were these made with all matching numbers, ie the gun, magazine, holster, and tool all have the same serial number?

Thanks for the info, very helpful. Love this site.

alanint · 10-20-2010, 11:06 PM

It would be more accurate to say that the rig was put together from various sources then each component stamped to match the others.

freeman · 10-21-2010, 06:57 AM

Let me re-phrase my question.
With Lugers in general, is it possible to have a complete rig with all serial numbers matching, gun, mag, holster, and tool?
Thanks

Norme · 10-21-2010, 08:45 AM

Hi Joe, Let me rephrase Doug's (Alanint) answer. It is possible to have an all matching number rig, but the numbers were applied, post manufacture, by various police departments. Mauser did not manufacture holsters or number tools. Only guns and magazines were numbered at the factory. The military did not number holsters and tools. Regards, Norm

Lugerdoc · 10-21-2010, 11:40 AM

Joe, Your 1942 dtd Mauser Banner luger serial falls in the correct range of an E/L contact for about 6000 of these. The finish appears to be exc original, so I'd estimate the value of this item with exc bore, matching grips & correct type mag (to be obtained) in the $2000 to $2500 range. Perhaps you can trade the earlier police hoster & tool for one closer to 1942 or for a "y" suffix police mag close to your serial. TH

freeman · 10-21-2010, 03:30 PM

Thanks for all the info. I think I will buy this one and maybe do like Lugerdoc says and try to get a police mag and a 1942 holster.
Good stuff. Thanks again.

freeman · 10-21-2010, 10:16 PM

Any issue that the barrel has no serial number?

freeman · 11-05-2010, 04:07 PM

I called the person selling this Luger asking him to check the grips before I purchased it. He told me he took the grips off and there are no numbers stamped in the grips. I am assuming that this means they are repro and not original. If this is the case, how would this affect the value and collectability of the firearm?

FNorm · 11-05-2010, 05:06 PM

FM,

I have a similar piece only about 2000 later, but still in the 'y' block. My grips are not numbered inside, nor is there a serial on the barrel. What you should see is the proof mark on the front sight.

FN

freeman · 11-06-2010, 05:25 AM

So grips are still original?

Norme · 11-06-2010, 08:15 AM

Hi Joe, My experience has been that Mauser grip numbering was erratic, sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. Your grips look original to me. Regards, Norm

freeman · 11-07-2010, 03:36 PM

Thanks Norm. I will check for the proof mark too.

10-19-2010, 10:34 PM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,208 Thanks: 1,425 Thanked 4,474 Times in 2,343 Posts	Looks like a 1942 Mauser, one of the last made, and in excellent condition from what little is visible... First thing I would do is see how far I could throw that magazine...and then buy a Mec-Gar for shooting and a good Luger mag from GT for display... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

10-20-2010, 07:18 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,608 Times in 2,123 Posts	I would want to pay $1500 for the rig, I believe that it is worth $1800-$2200 and perhaps a bit more for top dollar. The larger gun dealers would have it priced more... The leather could be made to look nicer (read about proper ways to do so, if you buy it); the metal has some slight issues here and there; but overall is in nice condition. The holster and tool match which is cool, but do not match the gun. Banner Police are not rare, but far from common. There are fewer folks who collect banners, let alone banner police. 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

10-20-2010, 12:16 PM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,134 Times in 1,439 Posts	Ed is pretty much on the money here. The mag is incorrect. The bottom is a repro. Should be an aluminum bottom with an Eagle L on it. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

10-21-2010, 11:40 AM	#11
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Joe, Your 1942 dtd Mauser Banner luger serial falls in the correct range of an E/L contact for about 6000 of these. The finish appears to be exc original, so I'd estimate the value of this item with exc bore, matching grips & correct type mag (to be obtained) in the $2000 to $2500 range. Perhaps you can trade the earlier police hoster & tool for one closer to 1942 or for a "y" suffix police mag close to your serial. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

10-20-2010, 09:33 PM	#7
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Were these made with all matching numbers, ie the gun, magazine, holster, and tool all have the same serial number? Thanks for the info, very helpful. Love this site.

10-20-2010, 11:06 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	It would be more accurate to say that the rig was put together from various sources then each component stamped to match the others.

10-21-2010, 06:57 AM	#9
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Let me re-phrase my question. With Lugers in general, is it possible to have a complete rig with all serial numbers matching, gun, mag, holster, and tool? Thanks

10-21-2010, 08:45 AM	#10
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Joe, Let me rephrase Doug's (Alanint) answer. It is possible to have an all matching number rig, but the numbers were applied, post manufacture, by various police departments. Mauser did not manufacture holsters or number tools. Only guns and magazines were numbered at the factory. The military did not number holsters and tools. Regards, Norm

10-21-2010, 03:30 PM	#12
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks for all the info. I think I will buy this one and maybe do like Lugerdoc says and try to get a police mag and a 1942 holster. Good stuff. Thanks again.

10-21-2010, 10:16 PM	#13
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Any issue that the barrel has no serial number?

11-05-2010, 04:07 PM	#14
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I called the person selling this Luger asking him to check the grips before I purchased it. He told me he took the grips off and there are no numbers stamped in the grips. I am assuming that this means they are repro and not original. If this is the case, how would this affect the value and collectability of the firearm?

11-06-2010, 05:25 AM	#16
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	So grips are still original?

11-06-2010, 08:15 AM	#17
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Joe, My experience has been that Mauser grip numbering was erratic, sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. Your grips look original to me. Regards, Norm

11-07-2010, 03:36 PM	#18
freeman User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 18 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks Norm. I will check for the proof mark too.