WWII Bring-Back German Mauser 42 P.08 Luger 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 1940 C&R

SOLD FOR: $2,225.00

LSB#: LSB251211TN056

Make: Mauser (42) 

Model: Parabellum-Pistole, Luger Model P.08 

Serial#: 2544c 

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 interior of each panel has a waffenamt. The grip panels have even handling wear and discoloration. There are some scattered nicks and scuffing. The checkering is generally well defined, smoothed at the bottom edges. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good-plus condition. 

Type of Finish: Blue 

Finish Originality: Original. Numbered parts match, the bolt stop is not serial-marked.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5 out of 10. 

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 20% of its metal finish. Remaining finish is scattered with most surfaces gone to a light-moderate patina. There is scattered surface erosion. There are a few scattered nicks. The action shows operational wear. 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 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 wood floorplate 8-round magazine that is not serial marked and a USFET Form 33 (bring-back) dated January 15, 1946 authorizing a Private George A Sulkers to return this luger, a holster and clip [sic] to America (no holster is included), signed by 1st Lieutenant James F. Bagley, Ordnance Department, of the 81st Field Artillery Battalion.  

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. 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’s markings are consistent with army issued small arms manufactured in 1940, retaining serial-matching parts. Given its age and the surrounding destructive conflict in the era, the pistol is in decent condition. It comes with a USFET Form 33 indicating it was authorized to be sent back to America by a Private in early 1946. If you are a fan of German military arms and WWII history, this is the handgun for you. Good luck on your bid! 

-Bud