Pre-WWII Mauser S/42 S42 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1939 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1935
LSB#: 210616KB04
Make: Mauser
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial Number: 6521n
Year of Manufacture: 1939
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle Type Striker-Fired Semi-Auto, Removable Magazine
Markings: The barrel extension is marked “1939” on the chamber ring, the left is marked “6521”. The extractor is marked “21”, found again on the trigger, safety, takedown lever, sideplate, bolt stop, the left of the firing pin, breech-block, top of the front toggle link, toggle pin, rear of the back toggle link, the sear, and the inside of each grip panel. 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 “6521 / n”. The left of the breech-block has an eagle inspection mark. The right of the barrel extension has two eagle over “63” waffenamts and an eagle inspection mark. The right of the barrel has an eagle inspection mark, the left has eagle over “63”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “6521 / 8,83”.
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 with a few patches of compressed checkers, most on the right panel. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore, mostly toward the muzzle-end.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is light finish wear along the left of the barrel. The grip areas show handling wear. The barrel extension has scattered thinning finish and the finish has a slight plum hue. There are some scattered minor nicks and scratches. There is some minor surface oxidation, mostly in the grip areas. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is no 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 black leather flap-holster, a takedown tool and a total of two 8-round magazines. The alloy floorplate magazine shows treatment with cold blue in the body, operational wear, intact feed lips, and a strong spring, in Good-plus condition. The alloy floorplate has been force-matched to the pistol with a matching number, but non-matching letter suffix. The black plastic floorplate Haenel production magazine has light operational wear, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Fine condition. The holster has scattered wear, there are holes as from stitched pieces that have been moved on the front, flap and back, looking as though it had a cleaning-rod pouch which was replaced with the additional magazine pouch. The holster has some fraying on the strap and toward the bottom and a short tear at the top edge. Overall, the holster is in Fair-Good condition as possibly converted from a different holster type.
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. This S/42 example was made in early 1939, just before the outbreak of WWII. The change from S/42 to the 42 code took place early in 1939, so the 1939 dated S/42 code guns were only produced for a few months. The pistol is in Very Good condition, showing normal wear in its blued finish, serialized parts matching, and a decent bore. 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!