WWII German Mauser 42 P.08 Luger 9mm Parabellum Semi-Auto Pistol, 1940 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,525.00
LSB#: LSB250604CM064
Make: Mauser (42), imported by Interarms
Model: Parabellum-Pistole, Luger Model P.08
Serial#: 9114d
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 grip panels have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished. Numbered parts match, some may be force-matched.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 50% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The balance is mostly in scattered surface erosion and oxidation. There is handling wear in the grip areas. There are some light nicks and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, the pistol is in Good condition as refinished (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The sear assembly has excessive play to the barrel extension, leading to inconsistent sear engagement. Otherwise, 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 reproduction black leather flap-holster, a total of two 8-round magazines and six snap-caps. One magazine has a non-matching wood floorplate, the other is a more modern reproduction 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 (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, though the pistol has been refinished and may have some force-matched parts. Given its age and the surrounding destructive conflict in the era, the pistol is in decent condition, though its sear assembly needs a little work. If you are a fan of German military arms and WWII history, this is the handgun for you. Good luck on your bid!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
