Pre-WWII Mauser S/42 S42 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1938 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1825
LSB#: 210717KG13
Make: Mauser
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial Number: 1604b
Year of Manufacture: 1938
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle Type Striker-Fired Semi-Auto, Removable Magazine
Markings: The barrel extension is marked “1938” on the chamber ring, the left is marked “1604”. The extractor is marked “04”, found again on the takedown lever, trigger, sideplate, safety, the left of the firing pin, breech-block, top of the front toggle link, rear of the back toggle link, the sear, and the bolt stop. The toggle pin is marked “34”. The top of the front link is also marked “S/42” (Mauser production code). The left of the extractor is marked “GELADEN”. The front face of the frame is marked “1604 / b”. The left of the breech-block has a faint eagle inspection mark. The right of the barrel extension has two eagle over “63” waffenamts and an eagle inspection mark. The right-rear of the barrel has an eagle inspection mark, the left has an eagle over “63” waffenamt. The bottom of the barrel is marked “1604 / 8,82”. The magazine body is marked “fxo”, eagle over “37” and “P.08”.
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade dovetailed to a base at the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the rear toggle link.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut. The grips have some scattered light nicks and scuffs. The left panel has a more notable ding in the bottom half and some smoothed checkers around the mounting screw. The checkering is otherwise generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished. Some parts appear force-matched to the frame.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout with minor operational wear. There are some scattered minor nicks and scratches under the finish. There is infrequent minor erosion under the finish, most on the barrel. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are generally clear, some have been re-marked or force-matched, some of the inspection markings are worn and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is barely perceptible play between the barrel assembly and frame. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine.
Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir Hiram Maxim in the world’s first practical machine gun. The Luger was so reliable and well liked that it was still being made and issued to German troops well after the P38 was adopted by the army. The largest percentage of Lugers were made by DWM, which became Mauser in 1930. Before and during the war, the Germans used codes to disguise the manufacturer of their weapons as well as the quantity produced, and the toggle links changed from DWM to S/42, 42 and finally byf. This S/42 example was made in 1938, prior to Germany’s violation of the Munich Agreement or invasion of Poland, leading to the outbreak of WWII. The pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition as refinished. There is little wear in the new finish with some parts re-marked and evidence of light wear and minor erosion before the pistol was refinished. This pistol will be great for those wanting a piece of German history and for those collectors with an interest in German weaponry and 20th Century small arms. Please see our photos and good luck!