Pre-WWII Mauser S/42 S42 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Parabellum Semi-Auto Pistol C&R
SOLD FOR: $2426.99
LSB#: 220406JR002
Make: Mauser
Model: Luger Model P.08, Parabellum-Pistole
Serial#: 1393
Year of Manufacture: 1937, C&R
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle-Action Semi-Automatic Striker-Fired Pistol fed by a Detachable Magazine
Markings: The bottom of the barrel is marked “1393 / 8,83”. The bottom of the chamber ring is marked with faded letters. The right side of the barrel is marked with a Weimar eagle (Weimar proof marks were still in use during the early years of the NSDAP-era) which was an army test proof. The left side of the barrel is marked with a Weimar-era waffenamt, an eagle above 63 which indicates the gun was made by Mauser. The top of the chamber ring is marked “1937” which was the date of manufacture. The right side of the receiver is marked with two Eagle over “63” Weimar-style waffenamts which indicate the pistol was made by Mauser and a plain Weimar style eagle (army test proof). The top of the extractor situated on the breechblock is marked “93”, the left side of the breechblock is marked “93” (the breechblock serial number is only visible when the pistol is taken down). The top of the front toggle link is marked “S/42” which was a Mauser production code and “93”. The rear end of the rear toggle link is marked “93”. The Trigger side-plate is marked “93”. The trigger bar is marked “93”. The locking bolt is marked “93”. The safety bar is marked “93”. The left side of the trigger, concealed by the slide, is marked “93”. The receiver axle is marked “93”. The firing pin is marked “93”. The left grip-strap is marked “N” above the mainspring. The right grip-strap has a few faded marks. The front of the receiver is marked “1393” above “u”. The bottom of the magazine is marked “S/42”, “1393” above “u” and a NSDAP-style Eagle above “63” waffenamt which indicates it was manufactured by Mauser.
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is serrated blade fixed to a banded base fixed to the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the rear toggle link.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece checkered wood. The grip panels have only a few light handling marks, nicks and scuffs.. The checkering remains sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly-bright with sharp rifling. There is some very light erosion concentrated in the grooves.
Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. There are some light-moderate handling marks, nicks and scuffs. Notably, there is finish loss around the muzzle, finish loss along the leading edges and some light surface oxidation visible where the finish has worn off (this is particularly noticeable on the grip straps. The markings remain clear. The screwheads have light tool-marks but they remain serviceable. Overall, the pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is barely palpable 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 requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: The pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine. The magazine has light-moderate handling wear. Overall, the magazine is in Very Good condition.
Our Assessment:
The Parabellum-Pistole 1908, commonly referred to as the Luger, was designed by Georg Johann Luger. Luger was an unlikely gun designer, born in 1849 he was the son of a surgeon, Bartholomaeus von Luger, and while attending university he served as a One-Year Volunteer with the 78th Infantry Regiment (Infanterieregiment 78 ein) of the Austro-Hungarian Army. While in the military Luger proved himself a skilled marksman and he began to develop an interest in the small arms technology. Following four years of service Luger worked a number of jobs in Vienna. Finally, in the 1870s Luger met Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher who recruited him as a sales representative for Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabrik AG (DWM). One of the company’s weapons that Luger marketed was the Borchardt C93 (named after its designer Hugo Borchardt) which was criticized for being too heavy and poorly balanced. Luger decided to rework the design and eventually secured a contract for his new pistol with the Swiss Army which dubbed it the model 1900 which was chambered for 7.65mm Parabellum cartridges. After some minor reworking Luger introduced the Pistole 1904, chambered for 9mm cartridges, which was adopted by the Imperial German Navy, the pistol was henceforth referred to as the Luger. A slightly altered version of the pistol with a smaller barrel was adopted for service by the Prussian Army in 1908, hence the designation P08. The P08 would become one of the most iconic weapons of the 20th century. Following the end of WWI Luger was bankrupted, he had invested in War Bonds which had become worthless following Imperial Germany’s defeat and worse yet he was forced out of his job by his employer DWM which sought to appropriate his patents. The ensuing legal dispute between Luger and DWM would be decided in his favor in 1922, but he was financially ruined by that time and passed away the following year at the age of 74. His pistol would continue to serve the German military during WWII (although the P38 was the Wehrmacht’s standard issue sidearm) and saw service in a number military and police forces after the war.
This particular Luger was manufactured in 1937 four years after the NSDAP came to power in Germany and two years before WWII broke out. The pistol’s Waffenamts are consistent with army issued small arms from 1937 and the parts all appear to be original. The S/42 marking would remain in use by Mauser until 1939 when it was replaced by a plain “42” which was used until the “byf” marking was introduced in 1941 that remained in use until the end of WWII. The gun remains an aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic pistol, and while it has some handling light wear it is still an impressive handgun. If you are a fan of German military arms and WWII history then this is the handgun for you. Good luck on your bid!