My first Luger - Interesting find?

Badb · 11-14-2003, 02:27 PM

I have been bitten by the bug, like so many! My first Luger I purchased was a 1937 S/42 at a militaria fair in Warwickshire, United Kingdom. I purchased the book by John Walter "The Luger Story" shortly afterwards and I noted in a passage in Chapter 14 "The Second World War and the demise of the Luger". In the passage John writes about an incident when a British Destroyer, HMS Janus, on patrol in the North Sea spots a German Dornier Do.18 reconnaissance flying boat that had been hit by AA fire and had ditched.

The Chief Petty Officer, Robert Gibbs, describes the incident fully when the Destroyer engages the Dornier after the Germans open fire on them and the subsequent capture of the crew. One of the crew surrenders his Luger to Gibbs and John Walters writes "The captured pistol proved to be no.4125u, an 'S/42' example made by Mauser in 1937."

The serial number on my Luger is 4125u, the question is is this the same one?! And if it is, does this provenance make it any more valuable, can anyone advise?

Thanks

Gavin

John Sabato · 11-14-2003, 02:45 PM

Gavin,

If you haven't made a mistake in reading the serial number and it really does match what is said in the Walter book...(and he didn't make a mistake transcribing it either) then the gun is in fact the same gun. There would be only ONE 1937 S/42 Mauser Luger with the serial number 4125u.

How this would affect the value of your Luger in the UK would be entirely up to who might want to buy it and whether or not knowing some of the history of the origin of the gun was important to the buyer...

It would be interesting to see if you could find out the name of the German sailor who surrendered it, and if he was still alive, confirm that the pistol is the one he surrendered. If ship's logs are public information, it would seem to me that the information regarding the capture of the pistol, by serial number would be part of that entry in the log...

I presume that your gun has been "deactivated" according to UK law... which would drastically reduce it's value here in the U.S.

Welcome to the Lugerforum, you are surrounded by fellow sufferers of the Luger "bug" affliction.

Badb · 11-14-2003, 03:03 PM

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. I'm already digging around looking for information. I got the Ships Log from thr British Public Record Office National Archives, it does record the incident but not the handover of weapons or even Aircrew names.I have written to John Walter's publishers asking them to forward a letter on to him so that I can find his source.

This is fun!!

Regards

Gavin

stevezz1 · 11-15-2003, 05:08 PM

Hi Gavin,

What a fantastic find....I bet the dealer you bought it from will be kicking himself.

Good luck with your search....

Where abouts in the U.K are you?

Regards,

Steve. (just south of Tunbridge Wells, Kent)

Badb · 11-17-2003, 09:33 AM

Hi Steve,

Thanks, yes it's nice to get a find like this. I'll keep everybody posted on my hunt for it's provenance.

I live in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Regards

Gavin

Lugerdoc · 11-17-2003, 10:19 AM

Gavin, I think that you are on the right track trying to locate Walter's source for this serial number. If it does come up the same, you can probably auction it off for enough to purchase several lugers. Th

jamese · 11-17-2003, 04:49 PM

Gavin,
Great find...some have all the luck, keep up the good work.

11-14-2003, 02:27 PM	#1
Badb User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first Luger - Interesting find? I have been bitten by the bug, like so many! My first Luger I purchased was a 1937 S/42 at a militaria fair in Warwickshire, United Kingdom. I purchased the book by John Walter "The Luger Story" shortly afterwards and I noted in a passage in Chapter 14 "The Second World War and the demise of the Luger". In the passage John writes about an incident when a British Destroyer, HMS Janus, on patrol in the North Sea spots a German Dornier Do.18 reconnaissance flying boat that had been hit by AA fire and had ditched. The Chief Petty Officer, Robert Gibbs, describes the incident fully when the Destroyer engages the Dornier after the Germans open fire on them and the subsequent capture of the crew. One of the crew surrenders his Luger to Gibbs and John Walters writes "The captured pistol proved to be no.4125u, an 'S/42' example made by Mauser in 1937." The serial number on my Luger is 4125u, the question is is this the same one?! And if it is, does this provenance make it any more valuable, can anyone advise? Thanks Gavin

11-14-2003, 02:45 PM	#2
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	Gavin, If you haven't made a mistake in reading the serial number and it really does match what is said in the Walter book...(and he didn't make a mistake transcribing it either) then the gun is in fact the same gun. There would be only ONE 1937 S/42 Mauser Luger with the serial number 4125u. How this would affect the value of your Luger in the UK would be entirely up to who might want to buy it and whether or not knowing some of the history of the origin of the gun was important to the buyer... It would be interesting to see if you could find out the name of the German sailor who surrendered it, and if he was still alive, confirm that the pistol is the one he surrendered. If ship's logs are public information, it would seem to me that the information regarding the capture of the pistol, by serial number would be part of that entry in the log... I presume that your gun has been "deactivated" according to UK law... which would drastically reduce it's value here in the U.S. Welcome to the Lugerforum, you are surrounded by fellow sufferers of the Luger "bug" affliction. __________________ 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..."*

11-15-2003, 05:08 PM	#4
stevezz1 User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: England / South East Posts: 38 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Gavin, What a fantastic find....I bet the dealer you bought it from will be kicking himself. Good luck with your search.... Where abouts in the U.K are you? Regards, Steve. (just south of Tunbridge Wells, Kent) __________________ As she abused the sausage pattie and said 'why don't you treat me mean'.

11-17-2003, 10:19 AM	#6
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	Gavin, I think that you are on the right track trying to locate Walter's source for this serial number. If it does come up the same, you can probably auction it off for enough to purchase several lugers. Th __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

11-17-2003, 04:49 PM	#7
jamese User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 792 Thanks: 0 Thanked 86 Times in 36 Posts	Gavin, Great find...some have all the luck, keep up the good work. __________________ The "truth" is a matter of Perception

11-14-2003, 03:03 PM	#3
Badb User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi John, Thanks for the reply. I'm already digging around looking for information. I got the Ships Log from thr British Public Record Office National Archives, it does record the incident but not the handover of weapons or even Aircrew names.I have written to John Walter's publishers asking them to forward a letter on to him so that I can find his source. This is fun!! Regards Gavin

11-17-2003, 09:33 AM	#5
Badb User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Steve, Thanks, yes it's nice to get a find like this. I'll keep everybody posted on my hunt for it's provenance. I live in Rugby, Warwickshire. Regards Gavin