Opinion on a 1939 42 code

lrb1200 · 11-01-2021, 01:40 PM

I'm a newbie to posting anything here.
but no newbie to all things firearms for decades.

Recently acquired, and looking for opinion and info on
a 1939 42 code.

pair of "63" eagle acceptance stamps and a two digit serial number
with what appears a "T" suffix.

It shows no indication of ever being in a holster, or carried.

The magazine is mismatched, but by the stampings on it,
I have it dated to 1936.

Your comments and opinions are appreciated.

Norme · 11-01-2021, 02:19 PM

Hello and welcome to the forum! Your photos have too much contrast to make out details, that's because your camera's "brain" is averaging out it's exposure. Try again with the gun set against a darker background.
Norm

mrerick · 11-01-2021, 02:56 PM

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your Luger.

You'll take the best photos in shaded natural sunlight without flash. That makes it easier to judge the finish too.

Be sure to download our forum FAQ PDF document for valuable reference information.

spangy · 11-01-2021, 09:18 PM

Hello lrb1200 and

back to the forums.

God I love luger's and yours looks to be a beauty ... to put this statement in perspective, I think what others consider train wrecks I consider pieces of art and yours is no train wreck.

Like the lads say it will be hard to nail an exact monetary appraisal without better pictures.
Also pics of the mag would be appreciated as well.

Irregardless love and enjoy your Luger brother.

Mac Cat · 11-02-2021, 11:59 AM

FYI: Lugers are notoriously difficult to photograph.
They are dark black, so you may have to manually over-expose the shot and/or use a flash.
The other trick that works pretty well is to photograph it outdoors.

Welcome.

lrb1200 · 11-02-2021, 02:13 PM

Thank you gentlemen for your replies.
Yeah, I "get" the photos were less than stellar.
I have a Light Box on the way to me,
no doubt it will solve the photos problem.

Doug G. · 12-14-2021, 04:05 PM

I at least an tell that the grips look original. they have the proper tone and fit well towards the safety lever which only Nill grips do.
That said for taking good pics of a Luger I prefer a white background. I have two florescent lights that I place almost level to the gun facing each other. I then have another light directly on top and adjust to get rid of any flare.
Comes out like this. 1937 S/42 S block

Patrick Sweeney · 12-20-2021, 03:20 PM

Also, go to your local hardware store, and find the "odds and ends" aisle. there will be drawers full of parts you never knew existed. Find the drawer with the bench leg ends/feet, the ones that slip onto the sheet metal legs of workbenches and such.

Get the white ones.

Then stand your Luger on top of the feet, so it is suspended above the white background by an inch or so. Properly lit, this eliminates the shadows you see in the above photo, behind the trigger. It allows the light to "get under" the Luger.

spripple33 · 12-26-2021, 09:51 PM

Doug and Patrick- thank you for those tips.
-Jason

11-01-2021, 01:40 PM	#1
lrb1200 User Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Opinion on a 1939 42 code I'm a newbie to posting anything here. but no newbie to all things firearms for decades. Recently acquired, and looking for opinion and info on a 1939 42 code. pair of "63" eagle acceptance stamps and a two digit serial number with what appears a "T" suffix. It shows no indication of ever being in a holster, or carried. The magazine is mismatched, but by the stampings on it, I have it dated to 1936. Your comments and opinions are appreciated. Attached Thumbnails

11-01-2021, 02:56 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your Luger. You'll take the best photos in shaded natural sunlight without flash. That makes it easier to judge the finish too. Be sure to download our forum FAQ PDF document for valuable reference information. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

11-01-2021, 09:18 PM	#4
spangy Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 617 Thanks: 3,065 Thanked 1,057 Times in 429 Posts	Hello lrb1200 and back to the forums. God I love luger's and yours looks to be a beauty ... to put this statement in perspective, I think what others consider train wrecks I consider pieces of art and yours is no train wreck. Like the lads say it will be hard to nail an exact monetary appraisal without better pictures. Also pics of the mag would be appreciated as well. Irregardless love and enjoy your Luger brother. __________________ Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.

12-14-2021, 04:05 PM	#7
Doug G. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 713 Thanks: 1 Thanked 53 Times in 17 Posts	I at least an tell that the grips look original. they have the proper tone and fit well towards the safety lever which only Nill grips do. That said for taking good pics of a Luger I prefer a white background. I have two florescent lights that I place almost level to the gun facing each other. I then have another light directly on top and adjust to get rid of any flare. Comes out like this. 1937 S/42 S block __________________ Suppose you were an idiot.....and suppose you were a member of Congress.....But I repeat myself" ~~ Mark Twain

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11-01-2021, 02:19 PM	#2
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hello and welcome to the forum! Your photos have too much contrast to make out details, that's because your camera's "brain" is averaging out it's exposure. Try again with the gun set against a darker background. Norm

11-02-2021, 11:59 AM	#5
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 733 Thanks: 2,100 Thanked 610 Times in 329 Posts	FYI: Lugers are notoriously difficult to photograph. They are dark black, so you may have to manually over-expose the shot and/or use a flash. The other trick that works pretty well is to photograph it outdoors. Welcome.

11-02-2021, 02:13 PM	#6
lrb1200 User Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Thank you gentlemen for your replies. Yeah, I "get" the photos were less than stellar. I have a Light Box on the way to me, no doubt it will solve the photos problem.

12-20-2021, 03:20 PM	#8
Patrick Sweeney User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 50 Times in 25 Posts	Also, go to your local hardware store, and find the "odds and ends" aisle. there will be drawers full of parts you never knew existed. Find the drawer with the bench leg ends/feet, the ones that slip onto the sheet metal legs of workbenches and such. Get the white ones. Then stand your Luger on top of the feet, so it is suspended above the white background by an inch or so. Properly lit, this eliminates the shadows you see in the above photo, behind the trigger. It allows the light to "get under" the Luger.

12-26-2021, 09:51 PM	#9
spripple33 User Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Gettysburg, PA Posts: 85 Thanks: 137 Thanked 167 Times in 54 Posts	Doug and Patrick- thank you for those tips. -Jason