comments on my 42 code please

aolis110 · 01-11-2014, 01:21 PM

Hello, sirs, this is my favorite forum, and I highly value all I have learned here. Could I please have opinions on my code 42? I've had it for more than twenty five years, and I'm contemplating thinning out the herd. It is matching except the Fxo mag. Please note the three notches on the barrel. I don't know who did them or why. I do, however, beleive it adds to the mystic. I couldn't get a picture of the bore, but it is in fair condition. I look forward to all comments. Thank You.

318is_Parabellum · 01-11-2014, 04:58 PM

Sweet-looking Mauser! "42" code on toggle, yes?

Grips look especially nice, no "million dollar chip", either!

I'd love to have it, but I'm poor. No more lugers until I can find another safety manager job

alanint · 01-11-2014, 05:40 PM

Interesting "kill notches" on the barrel, as well.

318is_Parabellum · 01-11-2014, 06:57 PM

Agreed, very interesting!

Nomadr · 01-11-2014, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanint

Interesting "kill notches" on the barrel, as well.

Yes, and to bad.

Bob

DavidJayUden · 01-11-2014, 08:30 PM

Not much to say about it unless you have specific questions. A nice late war gun, average to above average condition, that somebody really sc***** the pooch on by cutting lines in the barrel, for whatever reason.
Is there bluing in the bottoms of the grooves?
dju

aolis110 · 01-11-2014, 09:43 PM

They have a mix of patina and bare metal. Could you give me the approx. value? Thank You.

DavidJayUden · 01-11-2014, 10:51 PM

Without the 3 grooves I'd guestimate it at roughly $1500. With the grooves it becomes difficult to price as it comes down to the buyer, and do they see them as "kill marks" or simply damage . Worst case scenario is $1000 as a shooter.
But let's see what the more experienced collectors have to say, as I've not dealt with these issues before.
dju

Sieger · 01-11-2014, 11:24 PM

Hi,

I think the kill notches are something from our barbaric past.

The next thing we will be doing is scalping again!

Sieger

318is_Parabellum · 01-11-2014, 11:25 PM

Obviously, the collector value has been impacted.

For a fellow of modest means such as myself, this is the sort of luger that I find very attractive. Nice condition, but not "top shelf", so it would be likely be affordable...for someone like myself.

DavidJayUden · 01-12-2014, 08:53 AM

Has anyone come across German guns "marked" for kills? Seems a bit "un-German" to me, and would probably be enough to land a poor soldier in the hooz-gow.
dju

alanint · 01-12-2014, 09:30 AM

The practice certainly existed in WW2. There are dozens of photos of both Flak cannon and tank cannon with "Kill" rings around the barrels. How much that extended to individual weapons is anyone's guess. I've seen K98s and Garands, with distinct notches in the stocks. It is unusual for someone to have done it into the metal when there are perfectly carve-able wood grips present.

DavidJayUden · 01-12-2014, 09:39 AM

Also, look at the cuts. There is no sign of blades having "walked" before a cut was started. Sort of like a band saw or cut-off wheel was used, then bluing applied? Just not sure how a soldier in the field would have made them.
Aolis:
Cold bluing has a very distinctive smell. Can you detect it in the area of the marks?
dju

aolis110 · 01-12-2014, 10:36 AM

The best I can tell. It smells a tiny bit like rust, not cold bluing.I myself have always taught this gun might have been captured and used by a GI or a resistance fighter of some sort. I bet it has quite a history.

Nomadr · 01-12-2014, 12:27 PM

Just a thought, you could always send it out to Thor and have him do his magic on JUST the barrel. Those notches really kill it for me. I could live with a partially refinished, rather than a defaced barrel. For all you know, they could be bubba made?

Of course that's if you planned on keeping it. If your selling, it would be an option to the new owner.

Bob

kubel · 01-12-2014, 10:57 PM

Historically, Germans didn't use "kill markings" on small arms. I agree that they were common on aircraft and flak/anti-tank guns but I've never seen legitimate kill markings on a German small arm, particularly a pistol. Remember, pistols were designed primarily as a personal self-defense weapon, not as an offensive weapon. Most kill markings on German pistols were probably added postwar by Amercans to embellish the history, mystique and value of the gun.

steven c · 01-17-2014, 07:53 PM

Over the years I've had many Japanese rifles but one had the so called notches on the wood. There were 5 or 7 all the same size and spaced or close enough but done by hand. Was that what they were? And when were they added? It didn't add more $ to it when I bought it or sold it.

Steve,

Aolis, the notches on yours could have been made with the side edge of a file? Had the to tell from the pic's

Sergio Natali · 01-18-2014, 05:26 AM

"Historically, Germans didn't use "kill markings" on small arms. I agree that they were common on aircraft and flak/anti-tank guns but I've never seen legitimate kill markings on a German small arm, particularly a pistol. Remember, pistols were designed primarily as a personal self-defense weapon, not as an offensive weapon. Most kill markings on German pistols were probably added postwar by Amercans to embellish the history, mystique and value of the gun."

I agree with Dale, it would be the first time that I see "kill notches" on a WWII pistol, I've seen some markings on rifles, but so far not on short guns, especially German.
Then those markings look a bit too perfect to think that a soldier made them.
IMHO

01-11-2014, 01:21 PM	#1
aolis110 User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	comments on my 42 code please Hello, sirs, this is my favorite forum, and I highly value all I have learned here. Could I please have opinions on my code 42? I've had it for more than twenty five years, and I'm contemplating thinning out the herd. It is matching except the Fxo mag. Please note the three notches on the barrel. I don't know who did them or why. I do, however, beleive it adds to the mystic. I couldn't get a picture of the bore, but it is in fair condition. I look forward to all comments. Thank You. Attached Thumbnails

01-17-2014, 07:53 PM	#17
steven c User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: texas Posts: 60 Thanks: 15 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Over the years I've had many Japanese rifles but one had the so called notches on the wood. There were 5 or 7 all the same size and spaced or close enough but done by hand. Was that what they were? And when were they added? It didn't add more $ to it when I bought it or sold it. Steve, Aolis, the notches on yours could have been made with the side edge of a file? Had the to tell from the pic's __________________ Looking for walther PP mag #981029

01-18-2014, 05:26 AM	#18
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	"Historically, Germans didn't use "kill markings" on small arms. I agree that they were common on aircraft and flak/anti-tank guns but I've never seen legitimate kill markings on a German small arm, particularly a pistol. Remember, pistols were designed primarily as a personal self-defense weapon, not as an offensive weapon. Most kill markings on German pistols were probably added postwar by Amercans to embellish the history, mystique and value of the gun." I agree with Dale, it would be the first time that I see "kill notches" on a WWII pistol, I've seen some markings on rifles, but so far not on short guns, especially German. Then those markings look a bit too perfect to think that a soldier made them. IMHO __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

01-11-2014, 04:58 PM	#2
318is_Parabellum User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 130 Thanks: 80 Thanked 75 Times in 31 Posts	Sweet-looking Mauser! "42" code on toggle, yes? Grips look especially nice, no "million dollar chip", either! I'd love to have it, but I'm poor. No more lugers until I can find another safety manager job

01-11-2014, 05:40 PM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Interesting "kill notches" on the barrel, as well.

01-11-2014, 06:57 PM	#4
318is_Parabellum User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 130 Thanks: 80 Thanked 75 Times in 31 Posts	Agreed, very interesting!

01-11-2014, 08:30 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Not much to say about it unless you have specific questions. A nice late war gun, average to above average condition, that somebody really sc***** the pooch on by cutting lines in the barrel, for whatever reason. Is there bluing in the bottoms of the grooves? dju

01-11-2014, 09:43 PM	#7
aolis110 User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	They have a mix of patina and bare metal. Could you give me the approx. value? Thank You.

01-11-2014, 10:51 PM	#8
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Without the 3 grooves I'd guestimate it at roughly $1500. With the grooves it becomes difficult to price as it comes down to the buyer, and do they see them as "kill marks" or simply damage . Worst case scenario is $1000 as a shooter. But let's see what the more experienced collectors have to say, as I've not dealt with these issues before. dju

01-11-2014, 11:24 PM	#9
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi, I think the kill notches are something from our barbaric past. The next thing we will be doing is scalping again! Sieger

01-11-2014, 11:25 PM	#10
318is_Parabellum User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 130 Thanks: 80 Thanked 75 Times in 31 Posts	Obviously, the collector value has been impacted. For a fellow of modest means such as myself, this is the sort of luger that I find very attractive. Nice condition, but not "top shelf", so it would be likely be affordable...for someone like myself.

01-12-2014, 08:53 AM	#11
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Has anyone come across German guns "marked" for kills? Seems a bit "un-German" to me, and would probably be enough to land a poor soldier in the hooz-gow. dju

01-12-2014, 09:30 AM	#12
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	The practice certainly existed in WW2. There are dozens of photos of both Flak cannon and tank cannon with "Kill" rings around the barrels. How much that extended to individual weapons is anyone's guess. I've seen K98s and Garands, with distinct notches in the stocks. It is unusual for someone to have done it into the metal when there are perfectly carve-able wood grips present.

01-12-2014, 09:39 AM	#13
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Also, look at the cuts. There is no sign of blades having "walked" before a cut was started. Sort of like a band saw or cut-off wheel was used, then bluing applied? Just not sure how a soldier in the field would have made them. Aolis: Cold bluing has a very distinctive smell. Can you detect it in the area of the marks? dju

01-12-2014, 10:36 AM	#14
aolis110 User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	The best I can tell. It smells a tiny bit like rust, not cold bluing.I myself have always taught this gun might have been captured and used by a GI or a resistance fighter of some sort. I bet it has quite a history.

01-12-2014, 12:27 PM	#15
Nomadr Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 276 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 22 Posts	Just a thought, you could always send it out to Thor and have him do his magic on JUST the barrel. Those notches really kill it for me. I could live with a partially refinished, rather than a defaced barrel. For all you know, they could be bubba made? Of course that's if you planned on keeping it. If your selling, it would be an option to the new owner. Bob

01-12-2014, 10:57 PM	#16
kubel User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 124 Thanks: 5 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts	Historically, Germans didn't use "kill markings" on small arms. I agree that they were common on aircraft and flak/anti-tank guns but I've never seen legitimate kill markings on a German small arm, particularly a pistol. Remember, pistols were designed primarily as a personal self-defense weapon, not as an offensive weapon. Most kill markings on German pistols were probably added postwar by Amercans to embellish the history, mystique and value of the gun.