Let’s see your Luger(s) and share what we know about them

[.38SuperMan]

One of my favorite firearms is my 1941 Luger. They’re unique mechanically and esthetically. They’re one of the most recognizable handgun ever produced.

I’m not close to being an expert and really don’t know much about Lugers in general but have been investigating the one I own. I’d love to see your collection even if it’s one single pistol like I have and hear the history of that particular example(s) and share information on other members pistols. If you have information on any that you see in this post please share it.

Ok, here’s the one I own. My wife gave it to me almost 30 years ago as a birthday gift. I saw it in a little gun shop in a small town here in East TN. Like many examples it was a bring back from WWII and had been stored in a sock drawer since 1945. The owner passed away and the son decided to sell it. I saw it in the shop and my wife purchased it as a birthday gift.

From searching info it appears to be a 1941 Mauser manufacture with an a serial number code, 3227a. I have had it apart several times for a thorough cleaning and lube and all serial numbers match. I’ve fired it several times with moderate loads and it functions perfectly. On the right side of the frame it has the 135 code.

The grips are original black Bakelite and I have the two original magazines with Bakelite buttons and marked xfo 37. The holster I believe is original as well and stitching is solid and the leather is in fine shape with a nice patina and marked with the eagle, PO8 1941 and something I can’t read above the 1941. Unfortunately I don’t have the takedown tool or cleaning rod.

Please share your images, stories and information that could enlighten us about our jewels.

 

[.38SuperMan]

A couple more images.

 

[boykinlp]

I have one Luger and did the research on it, as follows:

This is a near-mint example of a DWM Luger sold in the commercial market in the 1920's and chambered in .30 Luger or 7.65mm Luger. It is all matching, has the proper "Crown N" commercial proofs, and has a "Germany" export marking on the right side of the slide, indicating it was intended for sale in the international market, likely the US. It has a 3 3/4 inch barrel. The end of the muzzle is in the white as a 1920's commercial pistol should be. All the correct small parts are "strawed", and it has fire-blued grip screws and front sight. The serial number and letter suffix on the barrel, and on the rear of the toggle, has the proper halo effect, and raised edges, showing it was done after the gun was originally rust blued. The matching serial number and suffix on the fame doesn't have those characteristics because it was done before the rust bluing. The gun has retained nearly all of its original bluing with areas of very minor wear on some of the high edges and around the muzzle. The bore has strong rifling with very minor pin-pricking throughout.

The gun comes as a rig with a properly un-numbered commercial magazine with nickel body and wooden base, and an excellent "Germany" marked tan leather holster. The holster has a leather pull to lift the pistol out of the holster. It is generally in minty condition, but unfortunately the closure strap was broken in two pieces when I got it. I have had that strap replaced. Since the holster doesn't have a horizontal row of stitching below the belt loops, it is a WW1 era holster. It has minty walnut wood grips.

When I was looking for one, I wanting one with the straw colored small parts just because I liked the looks of it. Here are some pictures showing the complete rig, the holster before being fixed, and after being fixed.
Larry

 

[.38SuperMan]

What a gorgeous example. You never want to turn loose of that one because you’ll never find another that nice.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[dsf]

Swiss model in 30 Luger -



Stoeger branded stainless in 9mm, their copy of a Navy Luger -



The Stoeger is quite a nice little shooter with the 6" barrel. I bought it and the Swiss from Krausewerks in San Mateo, CA. Mike Krause is (still around) one of the outstanding Luger guys. He makes them from scratch in 45 ACP and 380 and helped "lugerman" bring his version to market. Mike's sell for a tad more, in the $25K and up range. But you'd never know they weren't originals. All hand made, except for the front sight.

 

[4T5GUY]

I’ll again post in another P08 thread with the same example.

This time it’s different in that it “seems” that the VOPO ones are slowly gaining acceptance. There was a recent one sold for just over $1,200, but on GB and it wasn’t that special.

I ordered mine from a large available, generic offered group in 1993. Get what VOPO you get for $395.00. The one I got was originally a K date which was great cause I was collecting Mauser semi-auto pistols.

I still occasionally shoot it and with hard ball it has never missed a beat.

Jim

 

[.38SuperMan]

I occasionally shoot mine but shoot mild home loads and have never had a failure.

Beautiful guns here.

 

[Rodan]

Mine is a fairly unremarkable wartime production Mauser in 9mm. What's most important to me is that my father brought it home from WWII, along with a British M&P in .38 S&W. He traded a carton of cigarettes to a British NCO for both guns during the war. They were the first handguns I ever fired, and are a reminder of his service and what was accomplished, at great cost, by his generation.

 

[bgrafsr]

I've posted this in other threads, so it is sort of redundant. It's a BYF 41 P-08 with 3 FXO magazines, a loading tool, and the holster. It also has the original wood grips along with the black bakelight ones. I had Bill's Cases make the case for it.

 

[Walter Rego]

I only have one, a "G" date (1935) example made by Mauser and bears the S/42 manufacturer's code. It is all matching except for the magazine which is from a 1936 or 1937 gun. I don't have any history on it prior to my purchase but I assume it was one of the thousands that came back to the US after the war. I like that it features the straw colored small parts which were gone by 1937 if I recall.

Being that it dates to 1935 I have to assume that it was issued and carried during the most turbulent period in world history. If it could talk I don't know that I'd like to know what it had witnessed.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Being that it dates to 1935 I have to assume that it was issued and carried during the most turbulent period in world history. If it could talk I don't know that I'd like to know what it had witnessed.

My wife won’t shoot mine for that reason and it crosses my mind too regarding what it might have been used for. There’s just no way to know and I tell her you have no idea whether it was used in training or combat. There’s always the possibility any military arm might have taken a life. It’s just that we have bad associations with certain weapons. But still they’re a part of history and we should remember that history so it never happens again, hopefully.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Luger

My wife's 1937 luger. All numbers match except clip.

My 1941 piece meal Luger.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Thanks for posting always wanted a Luger, but always wanted the money more. Read several Luger books. Enjoy the pictures and posts - thanks all who contributed. That minty 9mm Luger with Wehrmacht and Imperial markings still evades me.;-)

 

[Rick Sanborn]

I’ve built up a bit of a Luger collection over the years.

(Sorry I still don’t know how to post a full size pic)

 

[dsf]

I’ve built up a bit of a Luger collection over the years.

(Sorry I still don’t know how to post a full size pic)

I take it you know your way to the Kittery Trading Post, what with Rileys being gone. And are likely single .....

 

[.38SuperMan]

Thanks for posting always wanted a Luger, but always wanted the money more. Read several Luger books. Enjoy the pictures and posts - thanks all who contributed. That minty 9mm Luger with Wehrmacht and Imperial markings still evades me.;-)

I always wanted an artillery Luger but likely will never get one.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I’ve built up a bit of a Luger collection over the years.

(Sorry I still don’t know how to post a full size pic)

Very nice collection!

You collect like I collect. I never set out to get one of every model of any one thing. I just bought things that interested me and wound up with a lot of cool guns from the Indian wars to WWII US, Russian, British and German and relics in between. I collected flags, banners, badges, bayoneted and war posters and even currency. I decorated my office with period furniture that wound up looking like a US field office from WWII.

The fun was finding things and when I moved I sold it all. No serious regrets although I wish I’d kept a Mauser C96 and P38. But I had a ton of fun with them and made a bunch of money when I sold everything and then moved on to collecting other things.

 

[cruiserdan]

1920 DWM police 9mm. All matching numbers except for the magazine, which is not stamped. I acquired this about 40 years ago.

 

[jsfricks]

1916 DWM P08 Luger
I purchased this Luger 12/24/16 from my wife's uncle Dale. He would stop by a pawn shop on the way home from school several times during the week in Elberton, Ga. and one day in 1955 he found this 1916 Luger and a long barreled Artilley Luger. He asked his dad to go with him to purchase it and he left with the Luger, 1917 dated holster, tool, and two magazines and $25 less in his account. He shot it a few times after that, and in 1970 he and his wife took a firearms course in Cobb County, Ga and used this Luger. The instructor told him it was the most accurate gun in the class. After that he stored it away in the holster, with both magazines loaded, never to be shot again. Around 1996 he put it in his banks safety deposit box, again stored in the holster with the tool and two mags loaded with 8 rounds. He emailed me about 3-4 weeks before Christmas 2016 saying he knew I collected Guns and would I be interested in this one. I collect old S&W revolvers but have been wanting a nice Luger for awhile. I, of course, said I would be interested. He nor I knew much about them. He asked me to post some pics on some forums and see what the value was. I also sent him pages of completed auctions on Gunbrokers. Some Luger forum members were able to help me with a ballpark figure and and I passed on their stated value and input to him. We met on Christmas Eve at a family get together and after looking it over I made him an offer that I felt was fair, and an offer that he apparently felt was fair, as he was a little shocked. He said he was more than happy with the price and I was too. After my research I've found that it is a 1916 DWM Luger, with what appears to be the correct markings on the right side of receiver. Numbers are all matching (per chart showing which parts are marked), including grips (but not magazines), several of the numbers appear to have the correct "halos" that go along with an original finish, and all edges and lettering appear to be sharp. The serial number is 4691 M, and it has unit markings on the front grip frame as follows- 2.M.C. R.158.
2nd Machine Gun Company, Regiment No. 158. This was a Prussian regiment, originally, “7.Lothringisches Infanterie=Regiment, established on 31 March 1897 in Paderborn, Germany. At the outbreak of the Great War, the 158th was assigned to the 13thInfantry Division, VII Corps, 2nd Army. In March, 1915 the 158th was transferred to the 50th Division and remained with them until the end of the war.

The combat record of the 158th is very interesting. It was part of the Imperial German element that invaded Belgium fighting in both Champagne and Artois prior to its transfer to the 50th Infantry Division. After joining the 50th, the 158th fought in Verdun-Vaux, Argonne, Aisne, St. Quentin, Aisne, Rheims, Meuse and was in the Meuse area at the Armistice.

Allied Intelligence rated the 50th Infantry Division as “first class”. Immediately after the battle of the Aisne, it commander, Maj. Fritsch was awarded the Pour le Mérite.

 

[boykinlp]

jsfricks, I like it a lot!!
Larry