Russian Capture Luger P08

[TJm15.38]

I have one Luger P08 in my collection. This one was a Russian-capture that I bought in the late 1990's when the Russkies were selling anything they didn't want anymore and Americans were scarfing them up at bargain prices. This pistol will never be a collector's item because the Russians ground all the Nazi markings off and refinished the weapons (sometimes not very well). On this pistol, they even removed the year of manufacture. It's an S42 (on the toggle), so I know it is Mauser manufactured, but don't know when. All the numbers are matching with the exception of the magazine. It has a perfect bore and likes the 124-grain FMJ ammo. Any lighter bullet will cause FTF or lack of complete toggle cycle. It's a good shooter, but I don't put a lot of rounds through it.

 

[GypsmJim]

I disagree. The provenance is that it was a Russian capture, and the S42 dates it to the 3rd Reich. THAT, to me, makes it a collector's item.

 

[alwslate]

Nice looking gun .A lot better looking than some of the Russia-captured and refinished 98 Mausers that I have seen. The Mausers were heavily buffed and had a weird coffee colored refinish. I have a couple of WW2 Lugers with markings intact. A somewhat rough vet bring back and an older import or bring back without import markings. I handle them gently and shoot a bit sparingly with mild ammo.

 

[TJm15.38]

I disagree. The provenance is that it was a Russian capture, and the S42 dates it to the 3rd Reich. THAT, to me, makes it a collector's item.

You have a point. The pistol has unique history merely due to the fact that it was involved in a world war and survives intact today.

 

[old tanker]

Some P-08s were reportedly refurbished by the DDR for use by the Volkspolizei. Refinished, forced matched with electro-penciled numbers and sporting plastic "bullseye" grips some, number of them turned up in West Germany a half dozen years before the Wall fell.

The "Waffengesetz" and the Status of Forces Agreement were more amenable to GIs looking for interesting souvenirs, like VoPo Lugers, then.

 

[GypsmJim]

Some P-08s were reportedly refurbished by the DDR for use by the Volkspolizei. Refinished, forced matched with electro-penciled numbers and sporting plastic "bullseye" grips some, number of them turned up in West Germany a half dozen years before the Wall fell.

The "Waffengesetz" and the Status of Forces Agreement were more amenable to GIs looking for interesting souvenirs, like VoPo Lugers, then.

Mine is a 1917 DMW WWI Artillery Luger. It's double dated (1920) and was re-barreled to the std. 4" bbl length for use in the Post War Police Dept. It has 2 police department unit numbers (one is Xed out).

When it was re-arsenaled in 1920 they did a crude polish and reblue. It's not really very pretty, but also it has NO import stamps, so my assumption was that it was brought back by a WWII GI.

At any rate, a good shooter and the centerpiece of my collection.

 

[Rudi]

RCs have a place in collecting. Yours looks nice. As you say, not a super high price collector piece. All the better to enjoy shooting it.

 

[Goony]

The video seems to be unavailable, but there are still photos embedded within this online article which will certainly elicit your attention -

Russians to pave military church with captured German WWII-era guns (VIDEO) :: Guns.com

 

[2152hq]

Mine is a 1917 DMW WWI Artillery Luger. It's double dated (1920)....... It's not really very pretty, but also it has NO import stamps, so my assumption was that it was brought back by a WWII GI.

.

Tons of Military Lugers and other War surplus arms were imported to the USA after WW1 and again after WW2.
No 'Import Markings' were required to be stamped on the guns.
It certainly could have been brought back by a WW2 GI.
It also could have been in one of the many post War2 import shipments to the US.

The 68GCA banned the importation of Military Surplus Arms to the USA. So the source of them was cut off at that time.
In 1986, the GCA68 was updated and MilSurp arms were once again allowed to be imported,,but with the addition of the now well known 'Importers Marking' applied before resale to the public.

Any Luger is a good one IMO. I just like them.
They don't all have to be perfect, not many left that are.
One that started life as an LP08 in WW1, then went on to be re-built Post WW1 for the Weimar Republic (1920 property marking) certainly has some history to tell.

 

[Golddollar]

I disagree. The provenance is that it was a Russian capture, and the S42 dates it to the 3rd Reich. THAT, to me, makes it a collector's item.

This is an interesting discussion. I guess provenance is where you find it. My Russian 1895 Nagant revolver was made at the Tula Arsenal in 1940, which put it right in the heart of the Winter War with Finland. The Finns captured it and put their SA in a box capture mark on it. That alone is good story to me because of my study of Finnish history. I bought it at a gun show in Gettsyburg a couple years ago. It has no import marks, so somehow it got to America before 1968. How and when it got from Finland to Gettysburg would be an interesting story.

 

[4T5GUY]

Not long ago I just hoped my VoPo P08 might be worth more than what I paid for it in the early ‘90’s. It was $229.00 to me. (I had a FFL.) I did request hand picked/select which cost more. It turned out to originally be a K date. All parts were/are forced number matching.

I haven’t paid attention but it seems now that even the captured/reworked Russian P08’s are collectible. I had time today to check and was surprised. They are of interest to Luger collectors and actually a niche of their own. Who would have thought?

I know it’s not a K date Mauser but it’s still a cool VoPo that has always functioned perfectly. It’s had an interesting life so far.

The last image is obviously of a closed auction that I found tonight just for reference.

Jim