OT Luger info request

[edwardyoung]

I sort-of traded into this Luger today. I can untrade if I want to. I'm going to do some research to see exactly what I have, but thought there might be some Luger experts here who could tell me right off if I have a dud or something worth the $500 I have in this Luger. I know it has been nickeled and is not a gun for a collector, but I was interested in it as a neat old shooter and conversation piece. I'm guessing it was made in 1940 and its serial number is 3674. All the subassemmblies have the last two digits of the serial number stamped on them. The magazine has a matching serial number. I ran a couple magazines of 9mm NATO through it. It ran fine and is minute-of-corn-can accurate at 15 yards. I appreciate any and all comments and info.

[Ysabel Kid]

I don't recall P-08's having a nickel finish from any of the factories. Even if this is aftermarket, it would be hard to believe it wouldn't be worth at least the 5 bills you have into it for a functioning Luger. Congrats!

[Hobie]

Shoot, enjoy!

[edwardyoung]

Thanks. I'm starting to bond. I have managed to figure out that the code 42 on the toggle means it was made by Mauser. Don't worry, I won't share every detail of my journey of discovery. The toggle is sort-of a lever, right?

[cubrock]

I'm offended you didn't just email me for info. (sniff)

Bring it to the show Saturday. I'd like a look-see. You aren't hurt at $500, although you might not get much more out of it than that. Looks to be a decent refinish, anyway.

[edwardyoung]

I'll bring it. I didn't realize you were a Luger man, too. Thanks

[Booger Bill]

Years ago I worked with a guy that was in the canadian army durring world war two. I cant vouch for his story as I wasnt there, but here it is. He said he and his buddys had taken cover in a house and he was standing watch out of a window at night. He said a kraut lobbed a grenade through the window and he caught it right in the mouth, knocking out a bunch of his teeth. He threw it back. In the morning they found a dead german officer and he claimed the officer had a NICKLE lugar in his holster still wrapped in wax paper in the holster evidently right from the factory or possibly from where it was plated? He said he brought it home and gave it to a brother in law. I never had a reason to doubt ken and knew and worked with him many years that we worked security together. He has been dead for about 25 years now.

[edwardyoung]

Years ago I worked with a guy that was in the canadian army durring world war two. I cant vouch for his story as I wasnt there, but here it is. He said he and his buddys had taken cover in a house and he was standing watch out of a window at night. He said a kraut lobbed a grenade through the window and he caught it right in the mouth, knocking out a bunch of his teeth. He threw it back. In the morning they found a dead german officer and he claimed the officer had a NICKLE lugar in his holster still wrapped in wax paper in the holster evidently right from the factory or possibly from where it was plated? He said he brought it home and gave it to a brother in law. I never had a reason to doubt ken and knew and worked with him many years that we worked security together. He has been dead for about 25 years now.

I should add that story to my Luger - I'm sure it's the same gun. It has to be. I'm sure of it. Thanks. That should make it worth 10 times what I thought it was worth. I'd appreciate it if you would forward his complete name and address to me. It would make my story much more believable, if I had that. I'll add a big smiley so everyone knows I'm just kidding

[Booger Bill]

His name was Ken Paradee, pairade (spelling?) We were guards for lockheed at palmdale california. I belive he originaly was from around Vancover B.C. I retired in 2000 and left the area. He died at work back in about 1983?

[the telegraphist]

Gday edwardyoung, congratulations you have a good find there, but unsure about the nickel finish, matching numbers including the clip is great. Think you got a good deal. Now about the toggle system, the idea did come from the toggle link actions of the early Winchester/Henry rifles. Another gun the Vickers machine gun also used a toggle system. So I suppose both can be traced back to the early levers. Enjoy your Luger.

[Borregos]

Looks like a keeper to me and not a bad price

[junkbug]

You already know its been nickled and is almost certainly not original. Also, these days I see precious few Luger for under $1000 dollars, so the price seems fair.

I myself would have been tempted to buy one like that if I saw one for sale, nickel and all, especially if it was mostly matching, for $500.

If it were me, I would buy some dark gray Gun-Coat and make it look more original, just for my own use. But if yu like shiney guns, ENJOY.

[kimwcook]

Cool. I'd of bought it for that price, after market nickel and all. Matching numbers to include the mag is a great catch.

[Pete44ru]

Your P08 is what's known as a "CODE 42 Dated Chamber" Mauser Parabellum, with "42" stamped on the toggle link, a stock lug, and the chamber area dated 1939 or 1940.

There were at least 50,000 mfg with 1-to-5 digit SN's, and some SN's have letter suffixes.

.

[Booger Bill]

This is also a "42". My uncle was a glider guy in the 82nd AB and brought this back and gave it to me just before he died.

[edwardyoung]

Your P08 is what's known as a "CODE 42 Dated Chamber" Mauser Parabellum, with "42" stamped on the toggle link, a stock lug, and the chamber area dated 1939 or 1940.

There were at least 50,000 mfg with 1-to-5 digit SN's, and some SN's have letter suffixes.

.

Mine has a cursive 'L' below the serial number on the front of the frame.


Thanks for all the replies

[MrMurphy]

I've seen a 1906 American-Eagle prewar Luger that was nickeled, appeared a factory job.

[cubrock]

I have little doubt there are factory nickeled commercial Lugers. I have yet to see a bona fide nickel military Luger, depsite gun show dealer stories.

[edwardyoung]

I have little doubt there are factory nickeled commercial Lugers. I have yet to see a bona fide nickel military Luger, depsite gun show dealer stories.

So you're saying you DON'T think mine is authentic. Didn't you see the 'AH' initials inscribed inside the left grip panel? I'm sure it's him.

[cubrock]

I have little doubt there are factory nickeled commercial Lugers. I have yet to see a bona fide nickel military Luger, depsite gun show dealer stories.

So you're saying you DON'T think mine is authentic. Didn't you see the 'AH' initials inscribed inside the left grip panel? I'm sure it's him.

I have to say, Edward, you are the most entertaining person with whom I've shared a table.

Did you see any baby porcupines at the show today?

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

This is also a "42". My uncle was a glider guy in the 82nd AB and brought this back and gave it to me just before he died.

Hi Bill,
Was he with the 125th liaison squadron? The 125th had pilots that towed or were in charge of the gliders. I have a neighbor that was a LT for the 125th. He was with tech supply engineering section. He brought this one back.



What was was your uncles name. I have part of the roster. They may have know each other.

On a side note, the Nazis did have nickel plated bayonets ( had one once) and mauser rifles for parades. They may well have had P-08's, too.

[edwardyoung]

I have little doubt there are factory nickeled commercial Lugers. I have yet to see a bona fide nickel military Luger, depsite gun show dealer stories.

So you're saying you DON'T think mine is authentic. Didn't you see the 'AH' initials inscribed inside the left grip panel? I'm sure it's him.

I have to say, Edward, you are the most entertaining person with whom I've shared a table.

Did you see any baby porcupines at the show today?

Thanks, Steve. No more porcupines, but plenty of equally amusing oddities.

[Pete44ru]

AFAIK, any Nazi gun would have the Nazi swastika acceptance stamps all over it.

.

[cubrock]

AFAIK, any Nazi gun would have the Nazi swastika acceptance stamps all over it.

.

I saw the gun Saturday. The nickel finish is definitely not original. It had Waffenamts on it, although they were buffed over. Still a nifty little gun.

[Booger Bill]

Steve, I do have all his paperwork and will have to dig it up. He never married, ran a junk yard and with him I was the end of the line. He was my mothers only brother, however I had many in the war on dads side of the family. Without pulling everything out, as memory serves, he was in field artillery with the 82nd, always went in by glider. I know he told me he was already in the all american before they all were deemed airborne.
I know he had two purple hearts, a handfull of bronze and somewhere in a old newspaper article featureing him I read he also got the silver star. I couldnt find that one and if true assume a aunt got it as I knew she took a lot of his medals when he died. (actualy, he committed suicide in 1973).
I know on one landing just he and one other guy out of 14 lived. He was very supersticous. A officer wanted him to load a bunch of collapsable cross,s on the glider. He didnt want to, but of course had to. He said the officer strapped himself in next to him, got his head blew off by GF in the air. The maps they had showed empty fields where in fact was now orchards. I think it was a night landing. He said he woke up with his face in the radiator of a jeep they were hauling. One other guy had a broken back, he said they crawled off and had to hide for a couple days and nights. He said the krauts killed all the others. He said a old farmer and probley his daughter helped them and hid them. He said they watched from a haystack as the germans killed the old man and daughter. Once they did hook up with allieys, he said the boat they were on that was takeing them back across the channel got shelled and they had to be rescued again!
The last time I seen him he gave me that luger. We were in his garage. He said your pa took all my guns. (Because he was continualy threating suicide). Heres one he doesnt have, here shes yours! With that, he pulled it and the holster out of a old tire, all wrapped up in rags.
The story has a poor ending. I went through a bad divorice and I belive my ex stold it and many more to finance her running off with another married man. To this day she denys it, however only her and I knew the combo to the safe. I never pushed it with the law as we had/have a young daughter.
She also took a .45 colt new frontier I had that audie murphy bought new.
By the way steve, his name is Eldon Bruhn from auroaville wisconsin.