German Lugar

[Emperoreddy]

Hello,

I have a German Lugar that I was left by my grandfather that he got off what he said was a German Officer in WW2. It says 1937 on the top as well as S/42. It has a smooth yellow handle, which he said was white when he got it as is pearl. The number 51 is marked on its various parts and 1051 on its side..

It also has a proof mark that looks like what I think is a biplane with a 63 underneath it on the bottom and side. There was also a cursive mark thought it was an N at first, but research tells me it is a V.

Also came with what appears to be a cleaning kit called MEWA Reinigunsbesteck Fur Pistolen with it.

Any ideas on worth and what it is exactly?

[Emperoreddy]

Here is an overall pic http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8981/171pg.jpg

I'll try to post more with the markings and numbers.

[StoneChimney]

You have a Luger pistol made by Mauser-Werke in 1937. If there is no letter after the serial number it is a very early 1937 pistol.

Would need to see much clearer photos to determine condition and originality. Even the marking on the magazine matters with Lugers.

Value can go from $800/$1000 to over $3000, so there is a wide variation.

The grips are a whole 'nuther story.

[Emperoreddy]

OK I'm back with a bunch more pictures. They aren't the best since I only had my iPhone camera to take them with, but hopefully this will help. The proof marks aren't clear in the pictures, but the ones on the side from what I could gather seem to be an Eagle with a 63 under it, and then another one I can't really describe, I tried to draw it and put it with the pics below. Underneath the serial number there is a cursive letter, either a N or V.

It is also on the bottom of the clip, along with the eagle, and a cross, that is in the pictures as well. Finally the grip is odd as I've come to learn through my personal research. The story goes it was on there when my grandfather picked it off a German Officer back in the war, and it was originally white so I guess its Ivory or Bone. He never touched it expect for having it plugged after he brought it home, but he said the grips where there in Europe. Any idea on that?

Do these help get an idea of quality as well?

Thanks




http://img132.imageshack.us/f/004aps.jpg/

http://img820.imageshack.us/i/006az.jpg/

http://img138.imageshack.us/i/008wh.jpg/

http://img195.imageshack.us/i/010taw.jpg/

http://img510.imageshack.us/i/016pm.jpg/

http://img840.imageshack.us/i/018iz.jpg/

http://img697.imageshack.us/i/020yxw.jpg/

http://img522.imageshack.us/i/023tm.jpg/

http://img510.imageshack.us/i/026yq.jpg/

http://img593.imageshack.us/i/030ut.jpg/

http://img26.imageshack.us/i/031ftb.jpg/

http://img405.imageshack.us/i/035ea.jpg/

http://img3.imageshack.us/i/040qtr.jpg/

http://img155.imageshack.us/i/044do.jpg/

http://img89.imageshack.us/i/046ct.jpg/

http://img35.imageshack.us/i/048rd.jpg/

[RJay]

Whoa, what do you mean , " had it plugged" ? and sorry, it never left the factory with those grips and no German officer would carry it decked out with those grips.

[Emperoreddy]

Thats the story he brought back it already had these grips when he picked it off the German officer, only difference was that they were white originally, so from what I've been told on its history someone modified it in Europe for some reason.

For some reason when he had kids he had someone who apparently was a gun expert plug the gun, but placing a piece of metal into the muzzle. From what I can tell its not so snug that anything has been deformed, and the object is smooth and supposed to be able to be removed.

[davidh5000]

Well the Luger has a few problems. Those aren't standard issue grips for one. The door that goesbehind the takedown latch seems to be missing. But most important of all it sounds like the gun may have been demilled (plugged) Its a shame because it has a matching magazine to.
If the pkug is removable all the other problems are easily restorable. The eagle over 63 ( Waffenampt ) is the standard German acceptance mark for the Mauser factory at the time.
In top shape with correct grips the take down door replaced and shootable it would still bring over $1,000 mostly because the magazine matches. If this gun were all original you would be talking closer to $2000 on this one with matching magazine. The problem is you will probably be able to tell that the take down door was replaced I'd get one froma commercialLuger that has the number on the bottom where you don;t see it. The shape its in know its really only a parst gun and worth maybe $200-300. If it were mine i'd restore it

[Jim K]

The + on the magazine means it is the spare magazine, normally carried in the holster. Good, but not as good as the one that went with the gun.

Those huge pictures will take all day to download on my dialup line, so I won't check this thread again.

Jim