Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number

03-23-2002, 12:44 PM

One of my favorite guns is my luger from 1937. It has a single digit serial number and is marked S/42. One of the magazines has a wooden bottom. It has the original holster with the officer's name engraved on the inside and his unit's initials (LAH - SS, yes I know what division that was!). It certainly looks like this holster has seen some considerable use, but the gun was well maintained.

All of the serial numbers match and the gun is in great condition. Can any of you tell me more about my gun and what it might be worth? Thank you very much.

03-23-2002, 01:18 PM

WOW!! A mint 1937 S/42 That belonged to a soldier in the LAH-SS(Not to mention the 1 diget serial #). Do you have pictures? I have a 1937 S/42 with a mismatched Magazine and it wouldn't go mint. Anyway if you have pictures post them!! Congratulations on owning a Luger!!! ,Brandon

03-23-2002, 08:00 PM

There are some technical details that would help to judge value. Actually, the serial number is a combination of number and letter but that is not so important if you can tell whether the trigger and safety lever are yellow (a "straw" colored yellow) or are blued like the rest of the pistol. The strawed parts pistols are worth some more than the all-blue pistols. The holster has a $150-250 value if it is not oiled, Pecard covered, saddle soaped, shoe polished, or has repairs (in other words, original condition). A small number of 1937's are exotic types but you probably don't have one of those. Value depends on degree of wear and originality of parts and finish.

If someone refinished it, value is around $400. If original finish and near new condition--$1400 for straw type, perhaps more with accessories.

03-23-2002, 08:01 PM

The wood bottom mag predates 1929--not original to the pistol.

03-23-2002, 08:08 PM

How can you tell if you have an "exotic" type?

Dwight Gruber · 03-23-2002, 09:06 PM

Thor has a list of later model Lugers which were salt-blued on the small parts, rather than strawed. It included the Mauser 42 and byf range, but was incomplete for later production. Is it posssible that this gun falls in the blued-parts category?

--Dwight

03-23-2002, 12:44 PM	#1
Scott Parkinson Guest Posts: n/a	Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number One of my favorite guns is my luger from 1937. It has a single digit serial number and is marked S/42. One of the magazines has a wooden bottom. It has the original holster with the officer's name engraved on the inside and his unit's initials (LAH - SS, yes I know what division that was!). It certainly looks like this holster has seen some considerable use, but the gun was well maintained. All of the serial numbers match and the gun is in great condition. Can any of you tell me more about my gun and what it might be worth? Thank you very much.

03-23-2002, 01:18 PM	#2
Brandon Metcalf Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number WOW!! A mint 1937 S/42 That belonged to a soldier in the LAH-SS(Not to mention the 1 diget serial #). Do you have pictures? I have a 1937 S/42 with a mismatched Magazine and it wouldn't go mint. Anyway if you have pictures post them!! Congratulations on owning a Luger!!! ,Brandon

03-23-2002, 08:00 PM	#3
mlm Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number There are some technical details that would help to judge value. Actually, the serial number is a combination of number and letter but that is not so important if you can tell whether the trigger and safety lever are yellow (a "straw" colored yellow) or are blued like the rest of the pistol. The strawed parts pistols are worth some more than the all-blue pistols. The holster has a $150-250 value if it is not oiled, Pecard covered, saddle soaped, shoe polished, or has repairs (in other words, original condition). A small number of 1937's are exotic types but you probably don't have one of those. Value depends on degree of wear and originality of parts and finish. If someone refinished it, value is around $400. If original finish and near new condition--$1400 for straw type, perhaps more with accessories.

03-23-2002, 08:01 PM	#4
mlm Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number The wood bottom mag predates 1929--not original to the pistol.

03-23-2002, 08:08 PM	#5
Brandon Metcalf Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number How can you tell if you have an "exotic" type?

03-23-2002, 09:06 PM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Re: Mint 1937 S/42 Luger with a single digit serial number Thor has a list of later model Lugers which were salt-blued on the small parts, rather than strawed. It included the Mauser 42 and byf range, but was incomplete for later production. Is it posssible that this gun falls in the blued-parts category? --Dwight