41 42 Code, S/N 489

[grap]

Gentlemen,

Recently, I have come into a 41 42 code with all matching serial numbers except the mags, neatly tucked in a bml/42 PO8 holster. It was carried back by Grandfather and left me by my Grandmother who recently passed. Everything I have learned about Lugers I have learned in the last 2 hours and mainly by browsing this site (quite excellent). What I am interested to know is, does the 3 digit serial number mean anything in terms of value vs. a 4 digit number, and does it mean that it was the 489th produced in that series? And also, should I even consider firing this gun (I am a bit curious to say the least) or should I just oogle over it from time to time and put it back in the safe? And if I can fire it is there a certain load I should (or shouldn't)use? Thanks in advance for time... (I have taken a picture of it and will try to forward it to somebody by email.)

Aaron

[Vlim]

Hi,

Im confident someone else will provide you with more info, but here are some basics

The serialnumber is combined with a letter underneath it, the numbers were cycled per 10,000 combined with a letter, after which the cycle was restarted again, as it was at the end of the year.
So a low serial number on a relatively late luger is not very special. Your gun was the 489th gun produced in one of those batches.

Before you shoot the gun, get it checked by a lisenced gunsmith, the guns are actually quite reliable and can be fired without much problems (I shoot a 1928 luger regulary). If the gun is in excellent condition and all-matching, it might have collector's value and shooting it often can and will lower it's value.

In the US, wallmart winchester 115gr FMJ 9mm is excellent, reliable and cheap. In europe, brands like S&B 115gr FMJ 9mm function without problems.

[Frank]

Hi Aaron, Gerben's post is correct. The script suffix is found on the front of the frame, below the barrel and just under the numbers.

If your Luger is all matching, both internally and externally AND in good physical condition, I would hesitate shooting it. First, most gunsmiths don't know that much about Lugers! Second, if you have a collectable pistol and break a numbered part, the value would be cut at least in half, if not more. That's assuming you can't find a replacement with the same number.

Your Luger is one of about 7000 produced in 1941 that is coded 42, so you can see they are relatively difficult to find when compared to other years when 120,000 were produced. There are fewer than that available for collectors due to attrition.

It's your pistol, so you can do with it as you like. BUT I WOULDN'T SHOOT IT!!!!!!!

[grap]

Frank and Gerben,

Yes, the suffix on the front of the frame is an "o". Does this suggest production toward the middle/end of 1941?

I am fascinated to learn that this Luger is one of only 7,000 made with the 41/42 markings and if anyone can offer more information about this gun's history I would welcome it.

Thank you for your responses,

Aaron

I have added a link for the picture I uploaded. There appears to be a spot of green wax on the left grip and bit of ware in the obvious places. I am interested in your opinions... Thanks again.

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_0895_low.jpg

[grap]

Forgotten,

I am also interested in understanding why the trigger take down lever might be straw in color. From what I have read here, the use of straw colored parts was done away with in previous years on military Lugers.

Upon closer inspection, the stamped numbers look like they were mis-struck and could read "00" or "69" and the proof stamp is very much like those in 45 on the proof 4 page (wings in a trapazoidal configuration). The stampings could be an 89 as well since they are mis-struck and hard to read, but beacasue the lever is straw in color, should I suspect it is anything but "89"? For your convenience, I have copied the proof markings and attached the link below.

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/proof4.jpg

Thank you again in advance and I am looking forward to learning more.

Aaron

[Dwight Gruber]

Aaron,

The takedown lever on your Luger is a replacement. It would be interesting to see a closeup picture of it to determine just what the markings on it are.

A replaced part such as this normally reduces the gun's value to a collector by some amount, depending on many variables. Considering your Luger's rarity and its otherwise very fine condition, it will have minimal impact.

--Dwight

[Frank]

Hello again Aaron. Thanks for the photo. Dwight is correct regarding the takedown lever. It should be blue and numbered "89". Your Luger was completed in about January 1941. The 1941 pistols started with the number about 2500n. In 1941 the Germans changed the Ordnance Code for Mauser from "42" to "byf". The 41, Code 42 Lugers were a combination of the new 41 receivers and the unused toggles from the 1940 production which were marked with the earlier Ordnance Code or "42". In the same number sequence, there is an overlap with the 41 byf Lugers.

Have you been able to field strip the pistol to determine if there are any other parts that do not match the basic serial number?

[grap]

Dwight,

I have taken a closer photo of the replacement takedown lever for your review. I cannot match the proof to the ones I see on the website. I am interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks for looking.

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_0905_low.jpg

Aaron

[Pete Ebbink]

Aaron,

Looks like an Eagle/6 proofed take-down lever from a Simpson luger...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Dwight Gruber]

Aaron,

I agree with Pete's identification.

The reason you didn't find your marking in the identification sheets is that it is not properly a "proof" mark. There are, broadly, two kinds of marks to be found on Lugers, Inspectors' stamps and Power Proof stamps. Lugers were inspected constantly during their manufacture, and Army regulations required most of the pistol's parts--some 30 of them--to be stamped with a prescribed figure to denote their approval for use. The Erfurt and Simson manufacturing plants followed these regulations to the letter, stamping with a Crown over a Fraktur letter (Erfrut) or an Eagle over 6 (Simson); DWM and Mauser pretty much ignored them.

After a Luger's completion it underwent power-proofing, firing of two overpressure rounds to ensure the gun's safety. Upon passing, it was stamped with Power Proof stamps on the right receiver, barrel, and left breechblock. These are the only markings which can properly be referred to a "proofs", although in discussion we all blur the distinction all the time.

The identificatin sheets in the information section of the Forum shows primarily Power Proofs (either alone or in combination with Inspector's Marks where found on the receiver) and Foreign Contract proof or acceptance marks, as well as some other miscellaneous marks. They do not include Inspectors' marks by themselves, which is why you did not find the Eagle6 Simson Inspector's Mark as stamped on your takedown lever.(This omission should probably be rectified at some time.)

--Dwight