WWII German Mauser 42 P.08 Luger 9mm Parabellum Semi-Auto Pistol, 1940 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,835.00
WOA#: WY240529FS045
Make: Mauser (42)
Model: Parabellum-Pistole, Luger Model P.08
Serial#: 5068b
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle-Action Semi-Automatic Striker-Fired Pistol fed by Detachable Magazines
Markings: The bottom of the barrel is marked “5068 / 8,81”. The right side of the barrel is marked with an eagle clutching globe, the top-left has an eagle/655 waffenamt. The top of the chamber ring is marked “1940”, the right side of the barrel extension is marked with two eagle/655 waffenamts and an eagle clutching globe. The left side of the barrel extension is marked “5068”. The left side of the bolt has an eagle clutching globe. The top of the front toggle link is marked “42”. The front of the frame is marked “5068 / b”. The inside of each grip panel has an eagle/655 waffenamt. The takedown lever, trigger, safety bar, bolt-stop, sideplate, toggle pin, extractor, bolt, firing pin, each toggle and the sear-bar are each marked “68”. The magazine floorplate is marked “5068 / b” with eagle/37 waffenamt, the left of the body is marked “122” and with eagle/37 waffenamts.
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 even light wear with a few minor marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, several markings have been paint-filled.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. Most of the balance is in scattered minor surface oxidation and infrequent minor erosion. There are a few minor nicks and tiny scratches. There is scattered stubborn, dried grease. 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 Very Good-plus 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 matching 8-round 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 and even a serial-matching magazine. Given its age and the surrounding destructive conflict in the era, the pistol is in remarkable condition, though its grips have had a new finish applied. 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
