HELP Wanted. 1937 Nazi Luger

[SBGreen0369]

My father-in-law gave me this a Luger that his old man brought back from WWII. He has every intention of selling it but I wanted to do a little research on it before he does. All the numbers match, has 2 matching mags, numbers matching take-down tool, and leather holster. Tons of Reich markings that I’d like to decipher and there’s a lot of conflicting info out there on the interwebs.

Anyone know anything about these old pistols??

By the way, I took it to the range and shot 30rds through it. Not the weapon I’d choose to take to war but it fired all 30rds without issue.

 

[Son of Dorn]

Simpson LTD specialize in Lugers and can surely help you. I am not an expert in any way but offhand I can say that, in general, most Lugers you see don't have a matching magazine nor takedown tool (if they have one at all). Having two matching mags is particularly desirable to collectors, even more so with the matching tool plus a holster.

 

[SBGreen0369]

Simpson LTD specialize in Lugers and can surely help you. I am not an expert in any way but offhand I can say that, in general, most Lugers you see don't have a matching magazine nor takedown tool (if they have one at all). Having two matching mags is particularly desirable to collectors, even more so with the matching tool plus a holster.

Thanks for the help man! I’ll get some photos up in the morning. It’s a pretty cool piece. Has some wear on it that you’d expect from an 80+ year old pistol but is in overall great shape.
The holster is in rough shape though. The belt loops are intact but the front buckle was torn at some point.

 

[Son of Dorn]

Thanks for the help man! I’ll get some photos up in the morning. It’s a pretty cool piece. Has some wear on it that you’d expect from an 80+ year old pistol but is in overall great shape.
The holster is in rough shape though. The belt loops are intact but the front buckle was torn at some point.

No problem. I'm sure there's some people around here who can help you out too. But one question, who made it?

 

[SBGreen0369]

No problem. I'm sure there's some people around here who can help you out too. But one question, who made it?

No idea... here’s some photos.

I was Pretty shocked when I took it to the range. Held a good group for a geriatric haha

 

[W54/XM-388]

Did your grandfather in law happen to have any paperwork about who it got taken off of or any other details about it?
If there is any additional details like which officer it got taken off of etc., that may also make it worth more.

 

[SBGreen0369]

Did your grandfather in law happen to have any paperwork about who it got taken off of or any other details about it?
If there is any additional details like which officer it got taken off of etc., that may also make it worth more.

Nada man..... I'm pretty sure it was stuffed in a sea bag and brought back in a clandestine manner. Wish I had some supporting documents because it would make the story a whole lot cooler.

Personally, I don’t care if it’s worth $100 or $25,000 ($25k would be nice). I just don’t want my father in law to sell it for chump change if it’s actually worth something legit.

 

[Son of Dorn]

Ah. Unfortunately the two magazines are not matching to the pistol's serial number. But they match each other and you can see the 1 and 2 on them; Lugers came from the factory with a pair of mags matched to the pistol. The S/42 on the top of the pistol would indicate you have a Mauser. They stopped having a MAUSER banner on them sometime between 1935 (when Germany started rearmament) and 1939, replacing it with a S/42. In 1939 they changed to simply "42", and then to "byf" in 1942.

This one here is a 1939 Mauser, for example.

 

[SBGreen0369]

Ah. Unfortunately the two magazines are not matching to the pistol's serial number. But they match each other and you can see the 1 and 2 on them; Lugers came from the factory with a pair of mags matched to the pistol. The S/42 on the top of the pistol would indicate you have a Mauser. They stopped having a MAUSER banner on them sometime between 1935 (when Germany started rearmament) and 1939, replacing it with a S/42. In 1939 they changed to simply "42", and then to "byf" in 1942.

This one here is a 1939 Mauser, for example.

Gotcha, I wasn’t sure if the SN on the mags were supposed to match each other or were part of the initial pistol issue.

Any idea off-hand what it’s worth?

 

[Son of Dorn]

Gotcha, I wasn’t sure if the SN on the mags were supposed to match each other or were part of the initial pistol issue.

Any idea off-hand what it’s worth?

Based on what Simpson is selling their 1937 S/42 Mausers for, not all of which have two mags, tool, and holster? Even with the broken strap, I would hazard $2K or more? This is not any kind of official appraisal or estimate by an expert, mind you, I'm just going off what I see here:

Simpson Ltd

Firearms for the Finest Collectors

simpsonltd.com

 

[SBGreen0369]

Based on what Simpson is selling their 1937 S/42 Mausers for, not all of which have two mags, tool, and holster? Even with the broken strap, I would hazard $2K or more? This is not any kind of official appraisal or estimate by an expert, mind you, I'm just going off what I see here:

Simpson Ltd

Firearms for the Finest Collectors

simpsonltd.com

Totally understand brother, I appreciate the input. I’ll encourage my father in law to get the appraisal and we’ll go from there.

 

[Son of Dorn]

Totally understand brother, I appreciate the input. I’ll encourage my father in law to get the appraisal and we’ll go from there.

Best of luck to you!

 

[sandwarrior]

I'm no Luger expert, but having shot a bunch of them, they definitely have that, "fit your hand," feel and of course, the cool factor. I agree, they wouldn't be my tactical choice of weapon. But, you could do some damage with one if you had extra mags.

I owned a P-38 from WWII and if nothing else it was really accurate. Easier switching mags too, it seemed. P-08's were pretty, and P-38's were pretty tough.

I can't grade that pistol either, but I'd say north of $2K is minimum for it. Mauser made Lugers have always brought a lot for some reason.

 

[Kadams1563]

That’s not something you sell. Ever.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

^^^^^. This!! Buy it yourself and keep it in the family... get a letter that says how your gf brought it back (even if just recollections of his sons or descendants). And keep that priceless bring back war trophy!

To anyone else, it’s an old Luger. One of millions.

To your family it is a token of the fact that grand dad was once a guy with the right stuff to stomp out the Nazis.

Btw, scan Gunbroker for similar guns and you will see retail prices. The mismatched mags do not hurt that much. The condition appears to be superior!!!

Cheers, Sirhr

 

[Son of Dorn]

Yeah, I'm with Sirhr and Kadams. If y'all don't have to sell it, keep it in the family. Keep keep keep. Get it appraised, see what folks figure it's worth, get an idea of its condition and all... and then sit on it. That's a family heirloom many people would give their teeth and both avocados (not the fruit) for; there's zero reason to get rid of it unless it's an absolute necessity, life-or-death situation 'cause for a collector, sure, maybe $2K or more but for y'all it's priceless. Cousin of mine has a Kar98k tucked away somewhere that was a war bring-back; his granddad shot the German sniper right outta a tree, so the story goes, and brought his rifle back minus the scope.

 

[biffj]

There are a number of Luger bulletin boards out there where you can find some help. Have a look at them. Simpsons is good too but having an interested party give you a rundown on something they may want to buy isn't always the best way to do things.
Mauser made most all of the Luger pistols after 1934 for the German Army. The Luftwaffe had Heinrich Krieghoff but actually made very few. The S/42 code was assigned to Mauser so that is a giveaway. The holster doesn't look that bad and the latch straps were frequently damaged.
Jan Stils Gunboards Luger board https://luger.gunboards.com/

The Luger forums http://www.lugerforum.com/

Hope something there helps. I've always loved the lugers and used to collect the 8 in barreled artillery models. Loved shooting them especially with the shoulder stocks attached.

Frank

 

[Ledzep]

I'd guess in the $2200-2600 range if you were to sell it. That's my unprofessional guess, having shopped around for them in the last year. Never hurts to send it to Simpson's for a professional quote. They're never going to get cheaper if you wanted one again, and what you have is in pretty good shape-- the only way they get better is matching magazines and then the price goes full retard. I agree with those above who say to keep it. I have a 1936 S/42 in similar shape (from the pics you posted your bluing is in a little better shape) and I got the pistol (no holster/takedown tool) for $1550, then paid another $400 or so for a holster, extra mag, tool, etc. Neither of my magazines match.

1937 pistol should have blued body roll-crimped magazines with an aluminum base plate and a straight-eagle 63 stamp. 1937 was a transition year, yours was made in the early style with the straw finish on the trigger, magazine release, safety, etc... That was dropped later in 1937 and those parts were blued from there on out until production stopped in 1942/1943.

Lots to learn about those pistols and their production. Tons of little minutia and nuances that for whatever reason spark drastic changes in value for those who know/care.

 

[cplnorton]

I've owned a couple dozen lugers and set up at shows with a guy which that is all about he sells. The value is how rare the date and maker is, and if it's all matching, including matching mags. You would expect to get North of 2500 if both mags matched, maybe even more. But this is one that would be best matching except the mags.

Now this is saying if you tore it all down too and everything matched. the grips are numbered, as well as the firing pin, and trigger. There are a few serials internal that most luger collectors will want to see.

I think if this was lying on our table at one of our shows in the midwest, I would expect 1500 to 1800. Maybe 2000 on a really good day.

With that being said, if you had the original Capture paperwork that came home with the pistol, when it came home. It would bring that 2k figure.

 

[Jscb1b]

I'm with the keep it guys. That pistol is an irreplaceable family heirloom.

 

[sandwarrior]

As much as I want to agree with the "keep it" crowd, it's not the OP's to do so. And, it may be the OP's current fortunes are that he can't buy it. Although, I would if I could.

In which case, let us know how, or if, he may want to sell it, and someone here may get the chance to purchase it.