1937 Mauser, Discovered Non-matching

mauser · 01-02-2008, 12:51 PM

I have had a 1937 Mauser for a few years that I love. The gun is an honest 90% late year with a mint bore, and all matching except for the magazine, or so I thought.
It has mostly sat in my safe for the last 3-4 years, but recently I read on, I believe, another forum, that it is good for older guns to strip them down, and soak them in oil for a while. It sounded like a good idea, so I did, and I thought I had done it before, but this time I really looked, and all the little parts had a 60 on them, even the pin that holds the toggle to the upper receiver.
I all of a sudden notice that the small number on the hold open doesn't look like a 6-0, but a 6-something, and I get a flashlight and it is a 64!
I was understandibly upset, especially with the condition of the gun, that does not look like a weapon that has seen much use in its 70 years of existance.
Oh well, I used to brag to my friends about what a good deal I got on this luger, now it seems a little more in line.

Edward Tinker · 01-02-2008, 01:12 PM

Michael, I have done the same thing. In fact, had a really nice 1937 that I sold as matching a few years ago, got an email from the guy, "hey the firing pin is mismatched!". I of course sent him his money back. Oh well, thats life and now the story has a twist and you can tell it that way

Ed

Ron Smith · 01-02-2008, 01:17 PM

Michael,

What's the serial number?

Ron

383 magnum · 01-02-2008, 08:29 PM

The purists are likely to flame me for saying this but IMO, a non-matching internal part is not as big a deal as it's made out to be. I read somewhere that a mismatched firing pin would cut the value in half and I just don't buy that. If that is the case, where are all those half-priced Lugers with mismatched firing pins or hold opens? The last matched (except mag) P.08 I bought cost a grand. I would gladly pay $500 for one in similiar condition with a mismatched firing pin.

John Winter · 01-02-2008, 09:12 PM

I have a very early "P" block 1937 in excellent condition with an un-numbered, strawed hold open. It's tempting to replace it with an S/42 marked armourer's replacement that reposes in my parts box, but why tamper with the gun's history?

mauser · 01-03-2008, 06:36 PM

Ron,
My serial number is 860 and it looks like a lower case cursive L?
One of these days I want to take pictures of it, and figure out how to post them on here to share them with all of you.
thanks
Mike

Guntoter · 01-07-2008, 12:30 AM

Seems that the parts that usually end up mis-matched in Lugers tend to be the grips, firing pin and hold open. I am sure there are several reasons for this but I have learned to strip the pistol down (or have the seller do so for me) before buying the "all matched but magazine" Lugers. A mis matched hold open is not that bad overall.

Another thing to look for on Luger buying is check out the sear/firing pin contact points and make sure no one has been filing on them to make a better trigger pull or whatever. Have seen that a few times also and it is real easy to miss.

I love Lugers but so many of these have been screwed with that it gets to be a crap shoot buying these without handling them first.

01-02-2008, 12:51 PM	#1
mauser User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: buffalo Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1937 Mauser, Discovered Non-matching I have had a 1937 Mauser for a few years that I love. The gun is an honest 90% late year with a mint bore, and all matching except for the magazine, or so I thought. It has mostly sat in my safe for the last 3-4 years, but recently I read on, I believe, another forum, that it is good for older guns to strip them down, and soak them in oil for a while. It sounded like a good idea, so I did, and I thought I had done it before, but this time I really looked, and all the little parts had a 60 on them, even the pin that holds the toggle to the upper receiver. I all of a sudden notice that the small number on the hold open doesn't look like a 6-0, but a 6-something, and I get a flashlight and it is a 64! I was understandibly upset, especially with the condition of the gun, that does not look like a weapon that has seen much use in its 70 years of existance. Oh well, I used to brag to my friends about what a good deal I got on this luger, now it seems a little more in line.

01-02-2008, 01:12 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Michael, I have done the same thing. In fact, had a really nice 1937 that I sold as matching a few years ago, got an email from the guy, "hey the firing pin is mismatched!". I of course sent him his money back. Oh well, thats life and now the story has a twist and you can tell it that way Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-02-2008, 01:17 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Michael, What's the serial number? Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

01-02-2008, 09:12 PM	#5
John Winter User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 55 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have a very early "P" block 1937 in excellent condition with an un-numbered, strawed hold open. It's tempting to replace it with an S/42 marked armourer's replacement that reposes in my parts box, but why tamper with the gun's history? __________________ JRW

01-07-2008, 12:30 AM	#7
Guntoter User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Seems that the parts that usually end up mis-matched in Lugers tend to be the grips, firing pin and hold open. I am sure there are several reasons for this but I have learned to strip the pistol down (or have the seller do so for me) before buying the "all matched but magazine" Lugers. A mis matched hold open is not that bad overall. Another thing to look for on Luger buying is check out the sear/firing pin contact points and make sure no one has been filing on them to make a better trigger pull or whatever. Have seen that a few times also and it is real easy to miss. I love Lugers but so many of these have been screwed with that it gets to be a crap shoot buying these without handling them first. __________________ Trust me, I'm with the Government.

01-02-2008, 08:29 PM	#4
383 magnum User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 120 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The purists are likely to flame me for saying this but IMO, a non-matching internal part is not as big a deal as it's made out to be. I read somewhere that a mismatched firing pin would cut the value in half and I just don't buy that. If that is the case, where are all those half-priced Lugers with mismatched firing pins or hold opens? The last matched (except mag) P.08 I bought cost a grand. I would gladly pay $500 for one in similiar condition with a mismatched firing pin.

01-03-2008, 06:36 PM	#6
mauser User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: buffalo Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ron, My serial number is 860 and it looks like a lower case cursive L? One of these days I want to take pictures of it, and figure out how to post them on here to share them with all of you. thanks Mike