Dad left me his S/42 G

threedogs · 12-14-2014, 03:39 AM

Dad was in the Army, stationed in Heidelberg and Vienna just after the surrender. For many years I thought he brought his Luger home with him. I later found out he bought it stateside around 1970.

I've really enjoyed studying up on it here, this forum is a wonderful resource. As far as I can tell, it's a 1935 Mauser. I'd really like to learn more about this Luger's history.

The magazine is an obvious repro. It's chrome with a plastic butt plate, so I didn't include pics of it.

Thanks, Steve

threedogs · 12-14-2014, 04:13 AM

Here are some of the inside.

Her are some pics of the inside.

I'm curious what the X means, if anything.

The grips appear to made of ebony and have no markings. The left grip is covered in what looks like some sort of varnish-like substance.

Anything you guys can tell me about Dad's gun would be very much appreciated. Thanks again,

Steve

Lugerdoc · 12-14-2014, 08:14 AM

Steve. Your above grips are postwar Italian repros that have been restained. I also suspect that due to the thinning of the inspector's markings on the receiver, some polishing and refinishing has been done on some of the parts. TH

DavidJayUden · 12-14-2014, 08:44 AM

You are probably already aware, but the "G" over the chamber is a sort of code to hide the year of mfg, 1935. Those rascalls...
There is an absence of "halos" around the numbers, and the finish looks pretty uneven to me, possibly suggesting some cold bluing.
It should be discussed further, but I'm wondering if this one isn't a candidate for professional restoration.
But, anyway, the G date makes it worth a bit more than other similar-condition Lugers, and certainly a neat heirloom.
Congratulations!
dju

Edward Tinker · 12-14-2014, 08:56 AM

when did they stop the bluing that made halo's? Well the banging of the numbers causes the halo's. This might have had some work, but it could just be the lighting.

I would say its a pretty decent G date and would ensure I did not clean it up to much. I think its pretty nice example if you have only one that dad owned

\
Ed

DavidJayUden · 12-14-2014, 09:25 AM

Ed:
It is my understanding that you should see halo's all thru the rust bluing era, ending mid-1937. No?
dju

alvin · 12-14-2014, 09:46 AM

There is halo on barrel numbers.

The grip panels... gun oil soaked?? They are so dark, looks being saturated on oil. Many non-collectors are very generous on gun oil -- oil everything, including wood panels.

mrerick · 12-14-2014, 10:42 AM

Hello, welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your new Luger .

You would expect to see the number "40 or "41" stamped on the inside of the trigger plate. The finish appearance of this plate looks different from the rest of the gun, so I expect that it was replaced at some point. It was common for the Wehrmacht soldiers to throw away the plate if they knew they were about to be captures (to prevent the Luger from being used by a GI on a German), so this is not that unusual.

I also think that this one has been refinished at some point. Several things point to this, but the use of flash in the photography tends to wash out the details of the finish, so it's hard to judge.

As a result of a refinish and parts replacement, if correct this would not be considered a collectible Luger, but a "shooter" which you can feel comfortable firing.

It is, without question, a wonderful family heirloom, and the generosity of your Father.

Congratulations again! Marc

Sergio Natali · 12-14-2014, 02:50 PM

First of all welcome to this forum.
Then for what I can see from your pictures it's quite a nice gun, to keep as a remember of you father.
I'm not that sure that could be a valuable "collectible", as the use of the camera flash hides any visible halos.
In any case in 1935 MAUSER made not that many (about 55 thousand) of those "G" marked Lugers.
So after all, even in case it got somehow rebuffed, it is a bit of a special Luger.

Sergio

Sieger · 12-15-2014, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrerick

It was common for the Wehrmacht soldiers to throw away the plate if they knew they were about to be captures (to prevent the Luger from being used by a GI on a German), so this is not that unusual. Marc

Marc,

I've sure never heard that one before. Where did you read about it?

Sieger

alanint · 12-15-2014, 07:35 AM

While I agree that the gun has been refinished, I don't see any major issues with the sideplate. The font on the numbers is similar to the balance of the gun and although the inner numbers aren't apparent in the photo, they may be there under different light.

mrerick · 12-15-2014, 09:38 AM

Sieger, I can't attribute the information about throwing away side plates, but there are a number of people that have said that this was happening. It might be an "urban legend" but it makes sense.

The same thing happened with Garand rifles on the US side. When a weapon was about to be captured with a soldier, they often removed the trigger group and threw it away to prevent the firearm being used.

Marc

threedogs · 12-15-2014, 01:06 PM

Thanks, everybody, for the replies. I'm actually happy to hear that it's a shooter, as I own no safe queens. It's time to get it oiled up and out to the range.

I'd like to try and find a period appropriate mag for it, but I'm not sure of the markings to look for. I guess W154, and???

Thanks again, Steve

Sergio Natali · 12-15-2014, 02:42 PM

Steve

Use a fairly recent mag, and remember that old Lugers should NEVER be fired with modern
high speed and high power ammunition because they may be structurally unsound.
Enjoy your Dad's gun but shoot safe.

Sergio

12-14-2014, 03:39 AM	#1
threedogs Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dad left me his S/42 G Dad was in the Army, stationed in Heidelberg and Vienna just after the surrender. For many years I thought he brought his Luger home with him. I later found out he bought it stateside around 1970. I've really enjoyed studying up on it here, this forum is a wonderful resource. As far as I can tell, it's a 1935 Mauser. I'd really like to learn more about this Luger's history. The magazine is an obvious repro. It's chrome with a plastic butt plate, so I didn't include pics of it. Thanks, Steve

12-14-2014, 08:14 AM	#3
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	Steve. Your above grips are postwar Italian repros that have been restained. I also suspect that due to the thinning of the inspector's markings on the receiver, some polishing and refinishing has been done on some of the parts. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-14-2014, 08:56 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	when did they stop the bluing that made halo's? Well the banging of the numbers causes the halo's. This might have had some work, but it could just be the lighting. I would say its a pretty decent G date and would ensure I did not clean it up to much. I think its pretty nice example if you have only one that dad owned \ 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

12-14-2014, 10:42 AM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,919 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Hello, welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your new Luger . You would expect to see the number "40 or "41" stamped on the inside of the trigger plate. The finish appearance of this plate looks different from the rest of the gun, so I expect that it was replaced at some point. It was common for the Wehrmacht soldiers to throw away the plate if they knew they were about to be captures (to prevent the Luger from being used by a GI on a German), so this is not that unusual. I also think that this one has been refinished at some point. Several things point to this, but the use of flash in the photography tends to wash out the details of the finish, so it's hard to judge. As a result of a refinish and parts replacement, if correct this would not be considered a collectible Luger, but a "shooter" which you can feel comfortable firing. It is, without question, a wonderful family heirloom, and the generosity of your Father. Congratulations again! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-14-2014, 02:50 PM	#9
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	First of all welcome to this forum. Then for what I can see from your pictures it's quite a nice gun, to keep as a remember of you father. I'm not that sure that could be a valuable "collectible", as the use of the camera flash hides any visible halos. In any case in 1935 MAUSER made not that many (about 55 thousand) of those "G" marked Lugers. So after all, even in case it got somehow rebuffed, it is a bit of a special Luger. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

12-14-2014, 04:13 AM	#2
threedogs Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here are some of the inside. Her are some pics of the inside. I'm curious what the X means, if anything. The grips appear to made of ebony and have no markings. The left grip is covered in what looks like some sort of varnish-like substance. Anything you guys can tell me about Dad's gun would be very much appreciated. Thanks again, Steve

12-14-2014, 08:44 AM	#4
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	You are probably already aware, but the "G" over the chamber is a sort of code to hide the year of mfg, 1935. Those rascalls... There is an absence of "halos" around the numbers, and the finish looks pretty uneven to me, possibly suggesting some cold bluing. It should be discussed further, but I'm wondering if this one isn't a candidate for professional restoration. But, anyway, the G date makes it worth a bit more than other similar-condition Lugers, and certainly a neat heirloom. Congratulations! dju

12-14-2014, 09:25 AM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Ed: It is my understanding that you should see halo's all thru the rust bluing era, ending mid-1937. No? dju

12-14-2014, 09:46 AM	#7
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	There is halo on barrel numbers. The grip panels... gun oil soaked?? They are so dark, looks being saturated on oil. Many non-collectors are very generous on gun oil -- oil everything, including wood panels.

12-15-2014, 07:35 AM	#11
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	While I agree that the gun has been refinished, I don't see any major issues with the sideplate. The font on the numbers is similar to the balance of the gun and although the inner numbers aren't apparent in the photo, they may be there under different light.

12-15-2014, 09:38 AM	#12
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,919 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Sieger, I can't attribute the information about throwing away side plates, but there are a number of people that have said that this was happening. It might be an "urban legend" but it makes sense. The same thing happened with Garand rifles on the US side. When a weapon was about to be captured with a soldier, they often removed the trigger group and threw it away to prevent the firearm being used. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-15-2014, 01:06 PM	#13
threedogs Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks, everybody, for the replies. I'm actually happy to hear that it's a shooter, as I own no safe queens. It's time to get it oiled up and out to the range. I'd like to try and find a period appropriate mag for it, but I'm not sure of the markings to look for. I guess W154, and??? Thanks again, Steve

12-15-2014, 02:42 PM	#14
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Steve Use a fairly recent mag, and remember that old Lugers should NEVER be fired with modern high speed and high power ammunition because they may be structurally unsound. Enjoy your Dad's gun but shoot safe. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.