New luger

Chiroman114 · December 20, 2016, 06:41 AM

I've wanted one for a while and do not know much about them. I was able to pick this up this weekend for a reasonable price. Any help with identification on this would be much appreciated.

mapsjanhere · December 20, 2016, 08:25 AM

You got a Mauser manufactured pre-war gun, are the numbers matching? Proofmarks look right for the period, but aren't very deep what has me wonder if the gun was refinished. If the numbers are matching and the finish is real, probably worth over $2000, if mismatched and refinished half that.

Chiroman114 · December 20, 2016, 09:03 AM

Hello. Yes all the numbers match. I'm unsure if it's been refinished though. Payed 900 for it so either way I think I did ok

Jim Watson · December 20, 2016, 09:19 AM

Hey, I had one just like that. Really, a 1936 S/42. Sold it to a collector when I could no longer get the Canadian surplus 9mm it shot reliably.

The extractor looks purple in the picture. Is it really or is it just the lighting?
Do the trigger, takedown, safety, mag catch and ejector retain the "straw" color?

Minorcan · December 20, 2016, 09:29 AM

$900 for a nice looking and functional pre war Luger is a good deal. Congrats!!!

PolarFBear · December 20, 2016, 09:38 AM

Why does the Mitchell Arms "Luger" not get any love? Mine seems to be identical to any "authentic" Luger. It shoots well and the stainless finish is terrific. Seems that these would be sought after but not case. Never even mentioned.

Chiroman114 · December 20, 2016, 11:04 AM

the extractor is not purple, I think its the light but there is a color difference. Ill try taking another photo when I get home

**44 AMP** · December 20, 2016, 02:33 PM

S/42 is the code for Mauser manufacture, under military contract.

I have a 1936 S/42 though it is not matching and has been reblued. The 1936 s/42 is considered a "common" Luger, and approximately 89,500 were made.

Original finish is salt blue, with the extractor, mag catch, takedown lever, safety lever, and trigger straw colored.

Original magazines should have the aluminum base, and be serial #'d to the gun.

The full serial number is found on the bottom of the barrel, front of the frame, and left side of the receiver. The last 2 digits of the ser # are on the breechblock (lower left side), extractor, front toggle link (bottom), rear toggle link (back), Sear (left side), sear bar safety lever, side plate, takedown lever (bottom), thumb safety lever (top), trigger (top left), and grips (inside)

Book value (matching gun) "good" finish was $1000, in 2006 (the date of my book

)

I'd say you got a good deal for $900.

Stick with standard velocity 115gr (or 124gr) stuff. NO +P!!!!!

Now, you need a holster, and the loading tool!

Bill DeShivs · December 20, 2016, 03:45 PM

The gun has been refinished.

Chiroman114 · December 20, 2016, 05:33 PM

What makes you say it was refinished? Trying to learn as much as I can about these guns

Quentin2 · December 20, 2016, 05:57 PM

Well, as 44 AMP said, the smaller parts on early S/42s originally would be straw colored, not blue. This is a fragile "bluing" and can fade away so when the pistol is reblued the small parts also are blued. I think around 1938 the S/42 small parts weren't strawed any longer.

Still it looks really good for $900!

**44 AMP** · December 20, 2016, 06:20 PM

Mauser S/42 1937 Date Late Finish
All parts finished in salt blue. No straw color parts.
Mauser dropped the straw color finish on the small parts during the 1937 production run. Early 1937s have straw colors, late ones don't.
All Mauser Lugers after this were also done the same way.

I have data that says Krieghoff guns kept the straw colors until the end of production (300 pistols in 1943, 100 in 1944)

Mass production of the P.08 ended in 1942.

fourbore · December 23, 2016, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Why does the Mitchell Arms "Luger" not get any love? Mine seems to be identical to any "authentic" Luger. It shoots well and the stainless finish is terrific. Seems that these would be sought after but not case. Never even mentioned.

I had an opportunity to handle a NIB Mitchel a couple weeks ago and the fit around the toggle was not as close as German made Lugers. I mostly felt the use of stainless did not look right. Really the "look" was wrong. it seems a shame for what must have been a significant effort, to miss the mark with stainless. It is similar to the Henry lever actions. Just missed the mark. In blue steel I might have taken it home for the short money involved.

P5 Guy · December 23, 2016, 11:26 AM

Mauser Original Parabellum Pistols made and imported 40 some years ago. I had a few but didn't shoot them often.

RickB · December 23, 2016, 05:12 PM

I shoot my Luger once a year, in an IDPA grudge match with a buddy who also has one.
Two parts broke while I was shooting on Saturday; luckily, neither is a fitted or numbered part, so it's just a matter of finding a place that has them in stock at something less than highway-robbery prices.
Any time you shoot an old gun, you're risking the originality that is so important to the value.

**44 AMP** · December 23, 2016, 09:58 PM

Quote:

I mostly felt the use of stainless did not look right. Really the "look" was wrong. it seems a shame for what must have been a significant effort, to miss the mark with stainless. It is similar to the Henry lever actions. Just missed the mark

Everyone has their own opinion, of course. I rather like the look of the stainless Luger I have. I do not know the Mitchell, mine is a Stoeger.

Stainless steel, mine is an excellent copy of the P.08, even has an American Eagle on the chamber and magazine bottoms. Made in TEXAS..

Mine is not a PERFECT copy of a Luger, its very slightly "off" in dimensions, actual P.08 mags will not work. Deliberate, I think. Still a really neat piece, I got it unfired, but it didn't stay that way.

tynman · December 23, 2016, 10:54 PM

I too would like to add one of those to my collection but dont know enough to pay that kind of money. But to find one for 900 I think I would even jump on that.

Very Nice pistol good luck with it and have fun..

December 20, 2016, 08:25 AM	#2
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	You got a Mauser manufactured pre-war gun, are the numbers matching? Proofmarks look right for the period, but aren't very deep what has me wonder if the gun was refinished. If the numbers are matching and the finish is real, probably worth over $2000, if mismatched and refinished half that. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

December 20, 2016, 09:38 AM	#6
PolarFBear Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2015 Location: NE Tennessee, a "Free State" Posts: 477	Mitchell Arms Luger Why does the Mitchell Arms "Luger" not get any love? Mine seems to be identical to any "authentic" Luger. It shoots well and the stainless finish is terrific. Seems that these would be sought after but not case. Never even mentioned.

December 20, 2016, 02:33 PM	#8
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,822	S/42 is the code for Mauser manufacture, under military contract. I have a 1936 S/42 though it is not matching and has been reblued. The 1936 s/42 is considered a "common" Luger, and approximately 89,500 were made. Original finish is salt blue, with the extractor, mag catch, takedown lever, safety lever, and trigger straw colored. Original magazines should have the aluminum base, and be serial #'d to the gun. The full serial number is found on the bottom of the barrel, front of the frame, and left side of the receiver. The last 2 digits of the ser # are on the breechblock (lower left side), extractor, front toggle link (bottom), rear toggle link (back), Sear (left side), sear bar safety lever, side plate, takedown lever (bottom), thumb safety lever (top), trigger (top left), and grips (inside) Book value (matching gun) "good" finish was $1000, in 2006 (the date of my book ) I'd say you got a good deal for $900. Stick with standard velocity 115gr (or 124gr) stuff. NO +P!!!!! Now, you need a holster, and the loading tool! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 20, 2016, 03:45 PM	#9
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	The gun has been refinished. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 20, 2016, 06:20 PM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,822	Mauser S/42 1937 Date Late Finish All parts finished in salt blue. No straw color parts. Mauser dropped the straw color finish on the small parts during the 1937 production run. Early 1937s have straw colors, late ones don't. All Mauser Lugers after this were also done the same way. I have data that says Krieghoff guns kept the straw colors until the end of production (300 pistols in 1943, 100 in 1944) Mass production of the P.08 ended in 1942. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 20, 2016, 09:03 AM	#3
Chiroman114 Junior Member Join Date: December 19, 2016 Posts: 4	Hello. Yes all the numbers match. I'm unsure if it's been refinished though. Payed 900 for it so either way I think I did ok

December 20, 2016, 09:19 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	Hey, I had one just like that. Really, a 1936 S/42. Sold it to a collector when I could no longer get the Canadian surplus 9mm it shot reliably. The extractor looks purple in the picture. Is it really or is it just the lighting? Do the trigger, takedown, safety, mag catch and ejector retain the "straw" color?

December 20, 2016, 09:29 AM	#5
Minorcan Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2015 Posts: 379	$900 for a nice looking and functional pre war Luger is a good deal. Congrats!!!

December 20, 2016, 11:04 AM	#7
Chiroman114 Junior Member Join Date: December 19, 2016 Posts: 4	the extractor is not purple, I think its the light but there is a color difference. Ill try taking another photo when I get home

December 20, 2016, 05:33 PM	#10
Chiroman114 Junior Member Join Date: December 19, 2016 Posts: 4	What makes you say it was refinished? Trying to learn as much as I can about these guns

December 20, 2016, 05:57 PM	#11
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Well, as 44 AMP said, the smaller parts on early S/42s originally would be straw colored, not blue. This is a fragile "bluing" and can fade away so when the pistol is reblued the small parts also are blued. I think around 1938 the S/42 small parts weren't strawed any longer. Still it looks really good for $900!

December 23, 2016, 11:26 AM	#14
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	Mauser Original Parabellum Pistols made and imported 40 some years ago. I had a few but didn't shoot them often.

December 23, 2016, 05:12 PM	#15
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I shoot my Luger once a year, in an IDPA grudge match with a buddy who also has one. Two parts broke while I was shooting on Saturday; luckily, neither is a fitted or numbered part, so it's just a matter of finding a place that has them in stock at something less than highway-robbery prices. Any time you shoot an old gun, you're risking the originality that is so important to the value. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

December 23, 2016, 10:54 PM	#17
tynman Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 361	I too would like to add one of those to my collection but dont know enough to pay that kind of money. But to find one for 900 I think I would even jump on that. Very Nice pistol good luck with it and have fun..