1937 Latvian; a rare find

Mike B · 09-22-2016, 07:54 PM

I don't like to toot my own horn when I acquire a rare or unusual Luger. However, I think this Luger bears some recognition. After a bit of research, I have determined that this is a 1937 Latvian Luger. First it is a 7.65mm, which is uncommon for a Mauser banner. Second, the serial number 5047v fits right in the middle of the range for a Latvian. Third, the front sight and rear sight have been altered in a manner which is common to Latvian Lugers and a few Swiss.
This Luger is all matched including the mag. It is in very good condition. This exact Luger serial number is listed on page 524 of the Luger Mauser book by Don & Joop. I think that this Luger went unrecognized in the latest Rock Island Auction, as I was the winning bidder with a hammer price of $1200.00. I waited patiently for it to hit the block, knowing that I was probably not the only person who recognized it. The word "LATVIAN" did not appear anywhere in their description. Either they did not know what it was, or it was an oversight. According to the Mauser book, there were approximately 2000 of these made in this contract.
Mike

lugerholsterrepair · 09-22-2016, 08:11 PM

Mike..Great catch! Latvian or not $1,200 is cheap for a 1937 Mauser Banner! In that condition too! Latvian..icing on the cake! Nice...

Edward Tinker · 09-22-2016, 08:11 PM

well done

proper research netted you a rare piece!

cirelaw · 09-22-2016, 09:36 PM

All Lavians have a "v" Great Find!

tharpo · 09-22-2016, 09:51 PM

Very nice pickup, toot your horn all you want!

Tom

DonVoigt · 09-22-2016, 10:55 PM

Great deal for a "v" Mauser!

Even better to get it "under the radar"!

Eugen · 09-23-2016, 09:39 AM

Mike, great find for sure. Looks to be in great condition...and rare. You sure know your Lugers.

mrerick · 09-23-2016, 10:08 AM

Mike, congratulations!

Knowledge is power, especially in collecting.

When you buy and read the reference books (like the excellent book by Don and Joop) you eventually can save or benefit from many times the cost of acquiring it.

Marc

John Sabato · 09-23-2016, 10:42 AM

A great find Mike. Well worth the asking price in my humble opinion.

But I have a question, because I have never examined a "Latvian" other than by brother's son-in-law named Karlis,

I have never seen original Luger sights like those shown on your new acquisition.

I have never seen an OEM square notch rear or the side profile of the front sight before.

Can anyone substantiate that these sights are original or if they were modified/changed after production? Inquiring minds want to know

Mike B · 09-23-2016, 12:10 PM

John,
Thanks for your interest in my Luger. I cannot substantiate the history of the sights. I can say that replacing the front sight is a very simply task. The rear sight is a different story. I took a picture of the rear sight and edited it to exaggerate the metal color. It seems to me that the small area in front of sight has undergone some sort of heat bearing work. Possibly welding or grinding. Any opinion is welcome. BTW: that color is not easily visible to the human eye. Mike

mrerick · 09-23-2016, 12:15 PM

It looks to me like the front sight is unusually high and the rear sight has been cut unusually low with a squared notch.

Raising the front sight, and lowering the rear sight notch would considerably drop the point of aim.

It may be that they had to grind the front face of the sight square to get it notched that low. Finishing that modified area could reflect different surface polish and grinding direction.

Hard to know who did this work, or why without documentation.

Marc

John Sabato · 09-23-2016, 02:56 PM

Regardless how or why the sights were modified, I would have to say that it would be a major improvement in the sight picture...

09-22-2016, 07:54 PM	#1
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	1937 Latvian; a rare find I don't like to toot my own horn when I acquire a rare or unusual Luger. However, I think this Luger bears some recognition. After a bit of research, I have determined that this is a 1937 Latvian Luger. First it is a 7.65mm, which is uncommon for a Mauser banner. Second, the serial number 5047v fits right in the middle of the range for a Latvian. Third, the front sight and rear sight have been altered in a manner which is common to Latvian Lugers and a few Swiss. This Luger is all matched including the mag. It is in very good condition. This exact Luger serial number is listed on page 524 of the Luger Mauser book by Don & Joop. I think that this Luger went unrecognized in the latest Rock Island Auction, as I was the winning bidder with a hammer price of $1200.00. I waited patiently for it to hit the block, knowing that I was probably not the only person who recognized it. The word "LATVIAN" did not appear anywhere in their description. Either they did not know what it was, or it was an oversight. According to the Mauser book, there were approximately 2000 of these made in this contract. Mike Attached Thumbnails

09-22-2016, 08:11 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Mike..Great catch! Latvian or not $1,200 is cheap for a 1937 Mauser Banner! In that condition too! Latvian..icing on the cake! Nice... __________________ 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."

09-22-2016, 10:55 PM	#6
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,354 Times in 2,041 Posts	Great deal for a "v" Mauser! Even better to get it "under the radar"! __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

09-23-2016, 09:39 AM	#7
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 793 Thanks: 400 Thanked 634 Times in 336 Posts	Mike, great find for sure. Looks to be in great condition...and rare. You sure know your Lugers. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

09-23-2016, 10:08 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	Mike, congratulations! Knowledge is power, especially in collecting. When you buy and read the reference books (like the excellent book by Don and Joop) you eventually can save or benefit from many times the cost of acquiring it. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

09-22-2016, 08:11 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,591 Times in 2,114 Posts	well done proper research netted you a rare piece!

09-22-2016, 09:36 PM	#4
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	All Lavians have a "v" Great Find!

09-22-2016, 09:51 PM	#5
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 543 Thanks: 118 Thanked 383 Times in 158 Posts	Very nice pickup, toot your horn all you want! Tom

09-23-2016, 10:42 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	A great find Mike. Well worth the asking price in my humble opinion. But I have a question, because I have never examined a "Latvian" other than by brother's son-in-law named Karlis, I have never seen original Luger sights like those shown on your new acquisition. I have never seen an OEM square notch rear or the side profile of the front sight before. Can anyone substantiate that these sights are original or if they were modified/changed after production? Inquiring minds want to know __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-23-2016, 12:10 PM	#10
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Latvian sights John, Thanks for your interest in my Luger. I cannot substantiate the history of the sights. I can say that replacing the front sight is a very simply task. The rear sight is a different story. I took a picture of the rear sight and edited it to exaggerate the metal color. It seems to me that the small area in front of sight has undergone some sort of heat bearing work. Possibly welding or grinding. Any opinion is welcome. BTW: that color is not easily visible to the human eye. Mike Attached Thumbnails

09-23-2016, 12:15 PM	#11
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	It looks to me like the front sight is unusually high and the rear sight has been cut unusually low with a squared notch. Raising the front sight, and lowering the rear sight notch would considerably drop the point of aim. It may be that they had to grind the front face of the sight square to get it notched that low. Finishing that modified area could reflect different surface polish and grinding direction. Hard to know who did this work, or why without documentation. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

09-23-2016, 02:56 PM	#12
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Regardless how or why the sights were modified, I would have to say that it would be a major improvement in the sight picture... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*