Old German Luger expert wanted.

[sindominator]

Hello,

I have an opportunity to purchase a 1 of a kind Luger. I has all numbers matching even the magazine. It has S/42 markings which makes it a Mauser Werke as the manufacture. It is also labeled "Gesichert" on the safety housing area.

They are giving it me at an incredible price for 1 reason. It was ran over by a car (while in a thick fabric carrying case) and it pinched the magazine well slightly. So the magazine must be forced in and out. I have taken some calipers and done some measuring. It is only bent slightly inward on the right side. Directly under neath the wooden grip and grip screw. I am 500% sure that I can fix this and 1000% sure this is a walk in the park for any gunsmith or machinist with the right tools.

The only other thing that just bugles my mind is that the gun is a Nickel plated, all around. To be honest it looks very, very, very original. I have taken it apart as much as I could and everything internal (pins, latches, springs etc...) seems to be Nickel plated. Obviously all the internals are a bit darker because of the carbon build up. The barrel is counter bored (counter clockwise), and it's a bit dirty but riffling is very strong still. Its got the year 1937 engraved on it.

It has everything listed on this website:

http://www.ai4fr.com/main/page_militaria__collectibles_germany_luger_s42_39.html

Anybody here a Luger guru or does somebody own the "Gun Blue Book". Or perhaps there is a cool website were I can input the serial number of the pistol and get some history on it.

Many thanks
-gus

[ciscosixgun]

Krauswerk in San Mateo. Mike Krause is the authority on lugers.

[sindominator]

Brilliant!!!
Thanks Cisco. So far from intense Internet homework I have found that many service men who came back with Lugers did get them Nickeled. Which is probably why it looks so original, because it was done many years ago.

However there were very, very, very few factory Nickel plated ones (hopefully the one I am trying to purchase). That were limited or for the high command Germans. Some of the service men had seen or heard of those limited Lugers, and were lured by them. Which is why some of them came back and decided to Nickel plate them.

History is so exciting =). Hopefully I draw the lucky hand and have a factory original. I hope that serial number info is floating out there some where.

[SVT-40]

It's a Mauser made Luger made in 1937. It's not "one of a kind" as the S/42 chamber dated Lugers are one of the most common WWII Luger pistols. The nickel finish is not a factory applied finish and as such ruined any collector value. So it would only be a shooter, add to that the damage from being run over.

Sorry, but it is what it is. It's to bad because if it were all original it would be worth at least $1,000 depending on condition.

As far as more info, well there isn't really much more to know. It was made by Mauser in 1937. There is no more info available.

If you are buying it as a shooter maybe $300 or so. That is, if it even functions.

Don't buy it if you are interested in it's collector value, because it has none.


When buying "collectable" firearms always remember: Buy the gun not the story. And If it sounds to good to be true... It probably isn't true.


Save your money for a undamaged legitimate Luger which will hold it's value or even increase in value.

[sindominator]

Thanks SVT. When I meant by "one of a kind" was because of the Nickel finish on it. Again I feel it's a really easy fix. Yeah, for sure I wasn't going to pay over $600 for it. Still a gorgeous chunk of German steel. After all I am the shooter type of guy, if ever did come across something historical I'll would make sure it goes to a better owner or museum.

I'll take it to a few shows and that guy in San Mateo. What's the worst that happen right? A nice history lesson on Lugers and German arms. =)

[SVT-40]

Buy it, love it, shoot it. But get it at a good price. $600 is way to much. Offer $300 due to the damage. Work up from there.

[smle-man]

Do you only want to hear from old Germans or will middle aged Americans do? . Sorry, couldn't resist!

[pzfaust]

Pls. keep us posted. If you do purchase it, we'd like to see pics.