1937 Mauser

[Insayn]

Thanks for the add to the forum.
Not too long ago my father passed down to me a German Luger my grandfather brought back from WWII. When the time comes I'll pass it to my eldest.
From the brief time I had to research this forum I've determined it's a 1937 Mauser Luftwaffe I believe. It has a 3 digit serial number, not 4 and no letter. Just about all the parts have the 3 digit number on or the last 2 digits. My question is the cocking assembly has 2 different digits. I am positive my grandfather had not done anything to it. Is it common for parts produced elsewhere to have different numbers? I'll post clear pictures when I get a chance this evening.

[guns3545]

Rob,

Welcome to the Forum!

Firstly, pictures are really the most effective way to get your questions answered and so we await them.

Secondly, what makes you think this P.08 was used by a Luftwaffe unit?

Thirdly, in ansewr to your question; P.08s were marked with the full serial number including suffix or no suffix on the front of the frame. The serial number without suffix is also stamped on the left side of the receiver. Most other small parts are stamped with the last two digits of the serial number. Blocks started with SN 1 and went to 10,000. The serial number may also include a suffix depending on the sequence of manufacturing. Production started in 1934 with NS and proceeded through the alphabet, less the letter j. It then repeated again and again..

Fourth, it is NOT usual or correct for serial numbers to be mixed on any given gun. Guns left the factory with all serial numbers matching in accordance with the description given above.

Hope this helps.

Just FYI, the 1937 year did include a block without suffix. The non-suffix block of 10,000 guns was produced in the October time frame or so. Mauser produced about 128,000 guns in 1937. The vast majority went to the Army.

John

[Insayn]

[Vlim]

Made it visible.

[guns3545]

Gerben,

Thank you for facilitating the picture.

Rob,

Thanks for posting the picture. Now we have a puzzle.

The NS block of guns was produced late in the year.

But.. by the summer, Mauser has switched from the reinforced frame as shown in you picture to the frame with a hump. My old eyes do not see a hump.

Second, by mid-year the transition to salt bluing had taken place. The picture is of a gun produced with strawed parts and no doubt rust bluing. But inspection would confirm it.

Are you sure there is no suffix?? Would be perhaps p through r or so.

Pictures of the magazine in the gun would help. You know, of course that the spare magazine is from a later year.

So we really need to confirm the year and the serial number. Perhaps frame and receiver are from different guns.

The new user section of the board provides guidelines to new users on photographs needed to fully investigate a gun. It would be appreciated if you could review the post and provide additional photos. Or the details of your observations if photos are not available.

Best,

John

[Insayn]

Alright, now that I have had time to sit down and look over the forum I see the suffix. I initially thought it was a proof mark. As for Luftwaffe my coworker has a book and researched it in there.

[Insayn]

[Edward Tinker]

ok, the byf equals Mauser but your code should be either S/42 or 42 (I don't remember, but know its one of them), byf was in 41 and 1942.

At some point, someone put the wrong toggle back onto the wrong receiver. It could have been at war or it could easily have been after the war (after capture). Even if grandfather did not swap it on purpose, it may have happened. It is highly doubted that it would have stayed in service like that but anything is possible if swapped out by a soldier or unit armorer -

[Insayn]

That's why I inquired. I figured it was a field repair, but was unsure if all parts had matching numbers or if certain parts were made elsewhere and assembled later.. I had a WWI Colt 1911 frame matched up with a WWII slide after it was arsenaled.

[DonVoigt]

I don't see anything about it that "says" Luftwaffe- did your friend explain his conclusion?

What you have today is simply a mismatched Mauser made luger; when/where/who/how it got mixed up we will never know.

Welcome to the luger puzzle forum!

[guns3545]

Originally Posted by Insayn

That's why I inquired. I figured it was a field repair, but was unsure if all parts had matching numbers or if certain parts were made elsewhere and assembled later.. I had a WWI Colt 1911 frame matched up with a WWII slide after it was arsenaled.

Rob,

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

Okay, this looks like a first variation 1937 pistol, with strawed parts, that has had the toggle train switched out with a late, 1941 or 1942 toggle train with the last two numbers of the serial number being 51. Difficult to say how or why the toggle train was switched out.

Everything else in the gun that is visible is consistent with Early 1937 production. Except the magazine whose characteristics I cannot see. But the SN clearly does not match.

I doubt that this gun saw Luftwaffe service. Records show that there was no allocation to the LW in 1937. FYI, in 1937 Krieghoff was in full production with LW contract P.08s.

We can see allocations to the Police and the Navy, very small quantities with the Army getting the vast majority of 1937 P.08 production from Mauser.

Hope this helps.

John

[Sergio Natali]

FWIK nothing to do with LUFTWAFFE, that at the time was still satisfied with all the KRIEGHOFF production.
I's a pity that it's not completely original, nice gun anyway.

[Mac Cat]

Regardless, you have an interesting gun to explore.
The proofs on the right frame are very cool and the serial number is pretty cool - the "100" and matching "00". It's worth exploring further, even if it's not of collector value.

When you break down the gun, you will probably find more parts that are numbered. Even the grips sometimes have numbers inside of them.

Thanks for sharing your photos!

[DavidJayUden]

Remember that one of every 100 S/42 guns has the correct number of toggle. While never original again, you may be able to buy a shooter with the 00 number, switch toggles, and re-sell the shooter at no loss. Just be certain that you stay in the rust blued series.
Also, as an aside, your side plate does not appear to be on correctly.
dju

[Mac Cat]

I tried to over-expose the original photo to expose the S/N and suffix.

I guessed a "t".

[MFC]

It is an 'r' suffix.

[Sergio Natali]

It's an interesting gun I would add, "r" suffix an interesting s/n, and it doesn't seem rebuffed, BUT the most important thing is that it's part of your family heirloom, so it has no price.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

Also, as an aside, your side plate does not appear to be on correctly.

Yes, I saw that too. Maybe a quick re-assembly for the pic [post #7] and the tab wasn't tucked into the frame before locking it in place with the locking bolt ["takedown lever"]???

Yes. In post #6 I can see the tab outside the frame. Not good.

[Insayn]

I haven't broke it down. My father did and we sat there staring at it a bit years ago trying to figure out how to reassemble. I'll break it down and try to see what's going on with it and take photos of other parts.

[DavidJayUden]

Regarding the side plate assembly, pressing rearward on the (empty) muzzle will allow you to clip in the rear of the side plate, swing the front in and raise the takedown lever. Also YouTube is a good source of assembly tutorials.
And don't feel bad, lots of these have gone back together incorrectly.
dju