What to do with 1938 Mauser P08 "Luger?"

Redcoat3340 · Nov 28, 2020

I've got a 1938 S/42 (Mauser manufacturing code) in good shape. All the numbers match except for the grips (Swiss) and the mags.

I bought it a few years ago from Simpsons when I "had" to have a Luger. I shot it a bit when I first got it, now it just sits in the safe.

I'm torn. I like the gun and it ain't getting any less valuable.

But I doubt I'll shoot it very often and I'm thinking of trading it or selling for something I'd shoot more often. (I'll need to check it's value on the Luger board, but I won't discourage anyone here from venturing a guess. See pics.)

I figure it's got to be worth $1200? $1400? $1500? More?

I don't have too many guns on my want list these days, but a Smith 1911 is one; so is a Walther P88 compact; P5 compact; and a Smith .357 Magnum (I have a shooter 28-2, Colt Trooper Mk III, and 66-2 so another magnum? and if I could ONLY find someone who wants a P08 more than a Registered Magnum!!)

Anyway, curious what folks here think. I asked here about a Model 10 and got a lot of good advice and it kept me from a silly transaction, so I figured I'd ask what people here would trade for a Luger. What of similar value (or two of something worth half as much??) would you consider?

jdlii · Nov 29, 2020

You may want to check with the kind folks on the Luger forum.

HOUSTON RICK · Nov 29, 2020

One good looking gun. If you sell it, will you get Luger fever again?

hoosierone · Nov 29, 2020

If I didn't need the money, I would keep it. Would any kids, grandkids be interested.

murphydog · Nov 29, 2020

I think the three dollar figures you mentioned are in the range of current values. Good luck in your decision.

PPS1980 · Nov 29, 2020

The last time I saw a group of Lugers in that condition they were selling for $2k+ from one of the big military surplus importers.

mauser9 · Nov 29, 2020

I would keep it. Looks like grips have been replaced but most military guns from the past have shot up in value like crazy. Good advice on the Luger Forum suggestion. Think you may be surprised on current values.

wetdog1911 · Nov 29, 2020

HOUSTON RICK said:
One good looking gun. If you sell it, will you get Luger fever again?

^^^^THAT'S^^^^ the real nitty gritty question.

They certainly won't be cheaper in the future.

Rob

Kurusu · Nov 29, 2020

I just would shoot the heck out of it.

that's what I do with my Mauser made Lugers.

Price wise I think you will sell it easily for 1400, not so easily for 1500. And for more maybe in a few years.

Absalom · Nov 29, 2020

Kurusu said:
I just would shoot the heck out of it. that's what I do with my Mauser made Lugers.
...

I’m only interested in the earlier Imperial and early Weimar guns and don’t know enough about the late Lugers. Since you’re familiar with the Mauser Lugers: Are the significant differences in coloration on this gun between barrel, frame, toggle train, and extractor normal on these?

Matching numbers are matching numbers, and since the gun came from Simpson I‘d expect it to be on the level, but it does look odd. The out-of-period looking grips don‘t help.

To the OP:
I‘d not think in terms of a trade. See that you get a good value maybe confirmed from the Luger forum, and sell, and then look what you want to buy instead with cash in hand. Trades rarely come out on top for those who go looking for them

M29since14 · Nov 29, 2020

Certainly not a Luger man here, but from what little I know your price estimation seems fair and reasonable to me. A retailer would likely try to get a bit more, of course.

To the other question, I’d have to beat around the bush and take Absalom’s approach. If you’re going to get rid of the Luger, just sell it and buy whatever you want. What he said about trades has always been true for me. In my own case, I’d keep the Luger.

Rudi · Nov 29, 2020

I'm still kicking myself for getting rid of mine(1916 Erfurt).

storyman · Nov 29, 2020

I took my S/42, 1938, Mauser Luger to a local auction the end of October. Considering that it was a live auction during the middle of a virus spike, 20 degrees, snow and blowing snow, I was OK when it hammered for $2700. The holster sold separately for $225. The numbers except for the grips all matched on the Luger including both magazines. Believe it or not, the firearms that did not do well was a Beretta and a Glock.

ISCS Yoda · Nov 29, 2020

There is an online gun seller selling Swiss Lugers for over 2000 dollars RIGHT NOW. So if you want to sell it bear that in mind.

Ματθιας · Nov 29, 2020

Don't sell it. Think of it as money in the bank, an investment.

Absalom · Nov 29, 2020

ISCS Yoda said:
There is an online gun seller selling Swiss Lugers for over 2000 dollars RIGHT NOW. So if you want to sell it bear that in mind.

The Luger market is pretty complex and if you don‘t want to either keep sitting on your gun or leave money on the table, research and comparison are important.

Simpson, not on the cheap side but realistic and fairly knowledgeable, currently has, just as an example, Swiss Lugers between 1,500 and 20,000 on offer. On Mausers, it‘s 1,600 to 10,800.

All dependent on specific series, originality, condition, numbering, accessories like matching magazines etc.

Reading the Luger forum, it can sometimes feel like you‘re clueless without a Ph.D. in Lugerology

Kurusu · Nov 29, 2020

Absalom said:
I’m only interested in the earlier Imperial and early Weimar guns and don’t know enough about the late Lugers. Since you’re familiar with the Mauser Lugers: Are the significant differences in coloration on this gun between barrel, frame, toggle train, and extractor normal on these?

Matching numbers are matching numbers, and since the gun came from Simpson I‘d expect it to be on the level, but it does look odd. The out-of-period looking grips don‘t help.

To the OP:
I‘d not think in terms of a trade. See that you get a good value maybe confirmed from the Luger forum, and sell, and then look what you want to buy instead with cash in hand. Trades rarely come out on top for those who go looking for them

First. As you already noticed, those are not the original grip panels(they look either Swiss or from a 1970s Mauser). Barrel frame and toggle train should be of the same colour. I noticed the barrel and the right side of the barrel extension of the OP pistol seem rather discoloured, but that could have happened for a number of reasons, the reddish hue on the extractor is absolutely normal(my 1938 S/42 has it too). Since the middle of 1937, Mauser started to finish the P.08 pistols with the hot salt blue process instead of the traditional rust blue, which gives a more glossy black look appearance, and sometimes a reddish hue appears when the dip was too hot(the OP pistol seems to have that in the toggle area). The small parts like the takedown lever, the safety lever, the magazine release, the trigger and the ejector are also blued instead of strawed like in the "Imperial Lugers" .

Just to illustrate the differences in finish.

From top to bottom. A 1915 Imperial P.08 by DWM, a 1938 S/42(Mauser) and a 1941 byf(also Mauser).

Side note, the letters and the logo on the side of the middle pistol were added by the previous owner. It's alright for me because this(along with the byf) are my competition pistols and not collectibles.

Reddish extractor on my 1938 S/42(very similar to the OP's).

Recently aquired and still not in my hands

Erfurt from 1912. Notice there is no lug in the grip for a shoulder stock, they only became a standard feature in 1914.

Kurusu · Nov 29, 2020

storyman said:
I took my S/42, 1938, Mauser Luger to a local auction the end of October. Considering that it was a live auction during the middle of a virus spike, 20 degrees, snow and blowing snow, I was OK when it hammered for $2700. The holster sold separately for $225. The numbers except for the grips all matched on the Luger including both magazines. Believe it or not, the firearms that did not do well was a Beretta and a Glock.

You got 2700 for it even with the East German grips? Wow!

Prices are climbing really fast on your side of the big pond.

sheepdawg · Nov 29, 2020

I'd say $1400-1500. I noticed the grips right away.

Golddollar · Nov 29, 2020

I had a 1937 s/42 Luger that unfortunately I had to sell in 2009 because of a job loss. Otherwise I never would have sold it. Since you seem to have gotten it to shoot my recommendation would be to keep it and take it out to enjoy it. They aren't making any more of them.

What to do with 1938 Mauser P08 "Luger?"

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