New luger
- Thread starter Chiroman114
- Start date
mapsjanhere
New member
You got a Mauser manufactured pre-war gun, are the numbers matching? Proofmarks look right for the period, but aren't very deep what has me wonder if the gun was refinished. If the numbers are matching and the finish is real, probably worth over $2000, if mismatched and refinished half that.
Chiroman114
Inactive
Hello. Yes all the numbers match. I'm unsure if it's been refinished though. Payed 900 for it so either way I think I did ok
Jim Watson
New member
Hey, I had one just like that. Really, a 1936 S/42. Sold it to a collector when I could no longer get the Canadian surplus 9mm it shot reliably.
The extractor looks purple in the picture. Is it really or is it just the lighting?
Do the trigger, takedown, safety, mag catch and ejector retain the "straw" color?
The extractor looks purple in the picture. Is it really or is it just the lighting?
Do the trigger, takedown, safety, mag catch and ejector retain the "straw" color?
PolarFBear
New member
Mitchell Arms Luger
Why does the Mitchell Arms "Luger" not get any love? Mine seems to be identical to any "authentic" Luger. It shoots well and the stainless finish is terrific. Seems that these would be sought after but not case. Never even mentioned.
Why does the Mitchell Arms "Luger" not get any love? Mine seems to be identical to any "authentic" Luger. It shoots well and the stainless finish is terrific. Seems that these would be sought after but not case. Never even mentioned.
Chiroman114
Inactive
the extractor is not purple, I think its the light but there is a color difference. Ill try taking another photo when I get home
S/42 is the code for Mauser manufacture, under military contract.
I have a 1936 S/42 though it is not matching and has been reblued. The 1936 s/42 is considered a "common" Luger, and approximately 89,500 were made.
Original finish is salt blue, with the extractor, mag catch, takedown lever, safety lever, and trigger straw colored.
Original magazines should have the aluminum base, and be serial #'d to the gun.
The full serial number is found on the bottom of the barrel, front of the frame, and left side of the receiver. The last 2 digits of the ser # are on the breechblock (lower left side), extractor, front toggle link (bottom), rear toggle link (back), Sear (left side), sear bar safety lever, side plate, takedown lever (bottom), thumb safety lever (top), trigger (top left), and grips (inside)
Book value (matching gun) "good" finish was $1000, in 2006 (the date of my book
)
I'd say you got a good deal for $900.
Stick with standard velocity 115gr (or 124gr) stuff. NO +P!!!!!
Now, you need a holster, and the loading tool!
I have a 1936 S/42 though it is not matching and has been reblued. The 1936 s/42 is considered a "common" Luger, and approximately 89,500 were made.
Original finish is salt blue, with the extractor, mag catch, takedown lever, safety lever, and trigger straw colored.
Original magazines should have the aluminum base, and be serial #'d to the gun.
The full serial number is found on the bottom of the barrel, front of the frame, and left side of the receiver. The last 2 digits of the ser # are on the breechblock (lower left side), extractor, front toggle link (bottom), rear toggle link (back), Sear (left side), sear bar safety lever, side plate, takedown lever (bottom), thumb safety lever (top), trigger (top left), and grips (inside)
Book value (matching gun) "good" finish was $1000, in 2006 (the date of my book
)I'd say you got a good deal for $900.
Stick with standard velocity 115gr (or 124gr) stuff. NO +P!!!!!
Now, you need a holster, and the loading tool!
Bill DeShivs
New member
The gun has been refinished.
Chiroman114
Inactive
What makes you say it was refinished? Trying to learn as much as I can about these guns
Well, as 44 AMP said, the smaller parts on early S/42s originally would be straw colored, not blue. This is a fragile "bluing" and can fade away so when the pistol is reblued the small parts also are blued. I think around 1938 the S/42 small parts weren't strawed any longer.
Still it looks really good for $900!
Still it looks really good for $900!
Mauser S/42 1937 Date Late Finish
All parts finished in salt blue. No straw color parts.
Mauser dropped the straw color finish on the small parts during the 1937 production run. Early 1937s have straw colors, late ones don't.
All Mauser Lugers after this were also done the same way.
I have data that says Krieghoff guns kept the straw colors until the end of production (300 pistols in 1943, 100 in 1944)
Mass production of the P.08 ended in 1942.
All parts finished in salt blue. No straw color parts.
Mauser dropped the straw color finish on the small parts during the 1937 production run. Early 1937s have straw colors, late ones don't.
All Mauser Lugers after this were also done the same way.
I have data that says Krieghoff guns kept the straw colors until the end of production (300 pistols in 1943, 100 in 1944)
Mass production of the P.08 ended in 1942.
I had an opportunity to handle a NIB Mitchel a couple weeks ago and the fit around the toggle was not as close as German made Lugers. I mostly felt the use of stainless did not look right. Really the "look" was wrong. it seems a shame for what must have been a significant effort, to miss the mark with stainless. It is similar to the Henry lever actions. Just missed the mark. In blue steel I might have taken it home for the short money involved.
I shoot my Luger once a year, in an IDPA grudge match with a buddy who also has one.
Two parts broke while I was shooting on Saturday; luckily, neither is a fitted or numbered part, so it's just a matter of finding a place that has them in stock at something less than highway-robbery prices.
Any time you shoot an old gun, you're risking the originality that is so important to the value.
Two parts broke while I was shooting on Saturday; luckily, neither is a fitted or numbered part, so it's just a matter of finding a place that has them in stock at something less than highway-robbery prices.
Any time you shoot an old gun, you're risking the originality that is so important to the value.
Everyone has their own opinion, of course. I rather like the look of the stainless Luger I have. I do not know the Mitchell, mine is a Stoeger.
Stainless steel, mine is an excellent copy of the P.08, even has an American Eagle on the chamber and magazine bottoms. Made in TEXAS..
Mine is not a PERFECT copy of a Luger, its very slightly "off" in dimensions, actual P.08 mags will not work. Deliberate, I think. Still a really neat piece, I got it unfired, but it didn't stay that way.