Finally found something to fit this old holster!
- Thread starter storyman
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Alk8944
US Veteran
It is for a 4" Luger, just like you show with it. Could be military or police issue. Look on the back, between the loops, it should have a maker and date stamped there. There is supposed to be "lifting" strap that is either missing, broken, or jammed in the bottom of the holster. It is to lift the gun up in the holster so it can be grasped and drawn. That is what the small slot in the outside of the holster is for.
Toter
Member
Holster
I remember my dad having one similar to yours, but it was black in color. The Luger was pretty cool to shoot. I think I remember my older brother sanding the grips smooth and refinishing them. Very stupid move, as he ruined the historic value. But he was young at the time. Nice hipfull you have there. Don't be afraid to shoot it. They were cool. Really well made, finely machined toggle action. I think if I had been given a choice back in 1943..........i would have gone 1911, just because I like 45 acp.
Ed
I remember my dad having one similar to yours, but it was black in color. The Luger was pretty cool to shoot. I think I remember my older brother sanding the grips smooth and refinishing them. Very stupid move, as he ruined the historic value. But he was young at the time. Nice hipfull you have there. Don't be afraid to shoot it. They were cool. Really well made, finely machined toggle action. I think if I had been given a choice back in 1943..........i would have gone 1911, just because I like 45 acp.
Ed
Last edited:
Sistema1927
US Veteran
So, did you buy the Luger just because you had a holster for one?
Don't feel bad, I have been known to buy a gun simply because I had a 1/2 box of ammo on the shelf.
Don't feel bad, I have been known to buy a gun simply because I had a 1/2 box of ammo on the shelf.
Sounds good enough for me.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Is the gun marked 41 on the chamber and byf (Mauser Werke) on the toggle? Usually, those black plastic grips mean one of the final year's production. Called a Black Widow by some collectors. But the circles on your grips suggest postwar East German issue. Do all numbered parts match? They don't on many Russian captured re-builds. But the guns may work okay. They wouldn't issue weapons that'd likely jam!
Is that dried mud on the grip? Old toothbrush and a little water needed. Don't get water under the grips where it'll cause rust.
By the safety lever, does it read, "Gesichert" (Made safe.) Or does it read "Rust" (Dutch order) or in Portuguese? I think the 1943 Port. order was filled from assembling parts on hand.
Only the last Dutch order or two were basic P-08's; earlier ones had a grip safety. The black grips may not be original. I think all Dutch guns had wood grips. Don't know about the 1943 Portuguese order.
WW I military holsters were usually brown. Ditto on early WW II, but some brown remained in service after black became standard.
If no date and maker, you may have a repro holster. If so, it needs shoe dye and polish. Collectors usually want original holsters as-is.
Get suitable books and learn the Luger. Beware of pressing the sear bar with a loaded chamber. I think it may fire, even if the toggle assembly is off the receiver.
Lugers are sensitive to ammo loaded to the ideal length and power.
Is that dried mud on the grip? Old toothbrush and a little water needed. Don't get water under the grips where it'll cause rust.
By the safety lever, does it read, "Gesichert" (Made safe.) Or does it read "Rust" (Dutch order) or in Portuguese? I think the 1943 Port. order was filled from assembling parts on hand.
Only the last Dutch order or two were basic P-08's; earlier ones had a grip safety. The black grips may not be original. I think all Dutch guns had wood grips. Don't know about the 1943 Portuguese order.
WW I military holsters were usually brown. Ditto on early WW II, but some brown remained in service after black became standard.
If no date and maker, you may have a repro holster. If so, it needs shoe dye and polish. Collectors usually want original holsters as-is.
Get suitable books and learn the Luger. Beware of pressing the sear bar with a loaded chamber. I think it may fire, even if the toggle assembly is off the receiver.
Lugers are sensitive to ammo loaded to the ideal length and power.
Last edited:
DO NOT DRY FIRE A LOT !
the firing pin tip will break off.
the firing pin tip will break off.
Thanks for the interest in my pistol and holster. It is stamped Gesichert by the safety. The grips are plastic and mottled similar to colt wood. I have a set of wood grips but they seem kind'a delicate for use. The numbers all match. It is stamped S/42. The holster is brown with some oil and use staining.
This is 1 of the firearms that I have received from my brother-in-laws accumulation. He had several military arms and I didn't. I like them but have no knowledge of them. Where our collections were similar was Smith and Wessons!
This is 1 of the firearms that I have received from my brother-in-laws accumulation. He had several military arms and I didn't. I like them but have no knowledge of them. Where our collections were similar was Smith and Wessons!
Attachments
Really cool looking old rig!
And yes, I've been known to buy holsters that I liked, and then buy a gun to fit into it.
And yes, I've been known to buy holsters that I liked, and then buy a gun to fit into it.
Texas Star
US Veteran
A Luger marked S/42 is still a Mauser-made one, before they began using the byf code. I think it dates from about 1936-38. Someone can narrow that down. Member Paladin 84050 (John Marshall) has posted his that has the S/42 code and I think he said it's a 1936 gun, the last year (?) they "strawed" some small parts a gold color.The grips make me think the gun was captured by Russia and re-issued to Volkspolizei (VoPo) forces after the war.
I've never seen mottled color grips on a Luger. Maybe I've just missed them or the color has been affected by age. I saw some TERRIFIC Luger grips on the Ahrend's site, some very ornate.
I've never understood those who understand only Smith & Wessons, even to some caring only about N-frames! You should be basically familiar with and able to operate most handguns and rifles from certainly the WW II period onward. That means both military and commercial arms. By the time I was a teen, I could recognize and use about all common firearms. My friends' dads often had bring-back guns from WW II and we fellows learned to use them. It's a very worthwhile bit of knowledge.
I URGENTLY implore you to get a copy of the late Geoffrey Boothroyd's, The Handgun. A magnificent study of such guns from earliest times until about 1970, when it was published. You will find most of what you really need to learn about Lugers in there, and for most other pistols. It is a big, heavy book, well worth seeking out. It was published by Crown and should be easy to locate on the Net. It's usually not very expensive either. Don't drop it on a bare toe: you'll feel it!
BTW, the author told me that after the S&W M-60 appeared in 1965, he felt it was the ultimate Bond gun, but Ian Fleming had died the previous year so nothing came of that idea.
Last edited:
Congrats on the holster and Luger rig. The wartime issue holster would have been black, however with your S42 Luger you have a valuable gun. Below pics are a genuine "Black Widow" P 08 Luger. Mine was a 41 byf (manufactured by Mauser Werks in Oberndorf Germany in November 1941),with the original black plastic grips which were further identified as being the "type 6" (refers to reinforcement ribs and hole locations on backside) by experts over on Jan Still's Axis Powers Forum.
I sold this gun for $2k + several years ago, and have indeed, suffered sellers remorse on occasion ever since!
As others have posted, especially if yours has all matching components, be careful, but don't hesitate to shoot it...they are just "natural pointers" it seems.
I can tell you that (just like Smith & Wesson) if you do jump into collecting (or accumulating) Lugers the slope is just as slippery as S&W, but a degree more expensive in my opinion for average "joe".
Now...if you already have a S&W Registered Magnum, and/or Elvis's TCB Model 19, then the Luger variations should be no problem.
I sold this gun for $2k + several years ago, and have indeed, suffered sellers remorse on occasion ever since!
As others have posted, especially if yours has all matching components, be careful, but don't hesitate to shoot it...they are just "natural pointers" it seems.
I can tell you that (just like Smith & Wesson) if you do jump into collecting (or accumulating) Lugers the slope is just as slippery as S&W, but a degree more expensive in my opinion for average "joe".
Now...if you already have a S&W Registered Magnum, and/or Elvis's TCB Model 19, then the Luger variations should be no problem.
Attachments
dpast32
Member
Nice P.08 !! If you are up to posting close ups of all it's mkgs, I'm sure we could narrow it down quite a bit. The smallest little stamp / mkg could mean soooooo much. The stamps I've noted on the left receiver / bbl. extension appear to be the std WaA proofs. With Luger's, every stamp means something specific.
Best, dpast32
Best, dpast32
gaschecked
Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2014
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 4
You have a late production Mauser. Markings on the chamber top & toggle will narrow it down a bit more & there may be a P08 on the left side. Final production Mausers are the only Lugers marked P08, they preceded the P38. Late production Mausers sported black plastic grips I believe the plastic grips here are replacements. Also your holster is brown in the late thirties Germany mandated all new leather should be black & went as far as to dye many existing Imperial brown holsters to comply. Nice rig, be sure to use low pressure 9mm, most that shoot these use the standard white box Winchester Ball.
I got cha beat. A friend gave me ONE round of .45-70. A year or so later I went out and bought a Marlin 1895.
Ole PM
Member
That is a very good looking Luger, congrats, I'm envious. My first "handgun" of any kind was a Marksman bb/pellet pistol. My first real handgun was a Luger. It was a mixed numbers shooter but very accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I bought it in '66 for $65. Can't do that anymore, for any Luger!
Similar threads
