WWII German Mauser 42 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1940 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,750.00
LSB#: LSB250623JP002
Make: Mauser, imported by Interarms
Model: Parabellum-Pistole, Luger Model P.08
Serial#: 1827c
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle-Action Semi-Automatic Striker-Fired Pistol fed by Detachable Magazines
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is serrated blade dovetailed to a banded base integral 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 inside of the left panel is serial-matching with correct waffenamt, the right is non-matching with an Imperial inspection mark. The grips have even light wear with a patch of more notable wear on the right panel at the front. There are a few scattered light marks. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition as partially not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished. The firing pin is non-matching. Other serialized parts match, some may have been force-matched. The import mark is struck through the finish.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 94% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered light nicks and small scratches. The action shows light operational wear. There are a few spots of minor erosion under the finish. There is scattered stubborn, dried grease. The markings are generally clear, some inspection marks were applied before final polish or were poorly struck. The screw heads are sharp. Overall, the pistol is in Very Good-plus condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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 total of two force-matched 8-round magazines with alloy floorplates and an Interarms instruction pamphlet. One magazine is unmarked except for the serial on the floorplate. The other is a Haenel 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, 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. During the war, the Germans used codes to disguise the manufacturer of their weapons, and the toggle links changed from DWM to S/42, 42 and finally byf. The byf marked Lugers were the last made by Mauser before they were forced to abandon the Luger in favor of the P38.
This particular Luger was manufactured in 1940, a year into the Second World War. It would prove to be the most successful year of the war for Germany with France defeated in less than two months and several major victories for the Wehrmacht across Europe primarily at the expense of the British Expeditionary Force (known as the BEF, a common joke in Britain at the time was to refer to the BEF as the “Back Every Friday” force due to their repeated defeats). The pistol has been refinished, so it looks great for its age. It is even likely that this was an arsenal refurbishment prior to import by Interarms. The appearance is consistent with Russian-capture pistols, but there is no “X” marking as typically found. It is not impossible that the pistol remained in German inventory before being brought to America by Interarms. If you are a fan of German military arms and WWII history, this is the handgun for you. Good luck on your bid!
-Bud
