Pre-WWII Mauser S/42 S42 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1938 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1526.75
LSB#: 210506MW92
Make: Mauser
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial Number: 8590k
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 “8590”. The extractor is marked “90”, found again on the trigger, safety, the left of the firing pin, breech-block, top of the front toggle link, toggle pin, rear of the back toggle link, the sear, the bolt stop and the inside of each grip panel. The takedown lever is marked “35”, the sideplate is marked “59”. 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 “8590 / k”. 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 bottom of the barrel is marked “8590 / 8,82”. The alloy magazine floorplate is marked “368”. The magazine with a black plastic floorplate is marked “P.08”, “fxo” and eagle over “37” waffenamt on the left (Haenel), the right is marked “57486401” in electropencil.
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, scratches and scuffs, most notable on the right panel are a few horizontal scratches. There is a chip-loss at the top-rear of the right panel at the safety lever. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no cracks. The grips are generally proud to the metal and have some minor play, likely they are replacements and force-matched. Overall, the grips are in about Good-Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its current metal finish. There are a few scattered minor nicks and scuffs. The action shows minor operational wear. There is some scattered minor erosion under the finish. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition as refinished.
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 brown 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, having a mottled, yellow-gray color, operational wear, intact feed lips, and a strong spring, in Good-plus condition. The black plastic floorplate magazine has light operational wear, some light surface oxidation around the floorplate, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Very Good condition. The holster has scattered wear, some fraying on the strap and toward the bottom, and intact stitching, in about Good condition.
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 1938, prior to Germany’s violation of the Munich Agreement or invasion of Poland, leading to the outbreak of WWII. The pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition as refinished, showing little wear in its new blued finish, most 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!