Pre-WWII Mauser S/42 S42 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1938 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2550.01
LSB#: 220115DS008
Make: Mauser
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial Number: 5267l
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 “5267”. The extractor is marked “67”, 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 toggle pin, the sear, and the bolt stop. 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 “5267 / l”. 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-rear of the barrel has an eagle inspection mark, the left has an eagle over “63” waffenamt. The bottom of the barrel is marked “5267 / 8,84”. The inside of each grip panel is marked “67”.
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 left panel has a small chip-loss at the top-rear below the safety, this area has been sanded smooth, indicating that the grips have been refinished. Otherwise, the grips show ligt handling wear with a couple of dings in the left panel behind the magazine release and a few other scattered light marks. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Most remaining finish appears original, worn areas show treatment with cold blue.
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is some scattered light erosion and minor pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered wear, most notable on the frame rails, the sideplate and the left frame flat with lighter wear on the barrel and in the grip areas. These worn areas show treatment with cold blue and have some light oxidation with infrequent spots of erosion. There are some light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The markings are generally clear, some inspection marks are poorly struck. The screw heads are very lightly tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this pistol is in Good-Very Good condition as partially 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 in a brown leather holster with a single 8-round magazines. The holster shows scattered wear and discoloration with broken stitches at one of the belt loops. The magazine has an alloy floorplate marked “6278 / k” and with eagle over “63” waffenamt. The magazine has operational wear and some minor oxidation with intact feed lips and a strong spring.
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 Good-Very Good condition as partially refinished. The pistol shows wear treated with cold blue, but retains serial matching parts, strong mechanics and a pretty good bore. This pistol will be nice 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!