Help identifying Luger P08 and value

[fluffypanda]

Mag doesn't match serial number and appears to be a shooter with condition. Possibly buying from a friend.

 

[rkwhyte2]

Paging @Leadeye

 

[rkwhyte2]

FYI Leadeye is one the best historians on the board.

 

[Bluedragon]

BYF is Mauser and 41 is the year. This looks to be one of the "Black Widow" guns made with wood grips. The mag is incorrect and should be an extruded FXO magazine with either an aluminum or black plastic base.

The mag in it seems to be an early WW1 type from DWM or Erfurt.

I would say value if finish is original and not import marked to be $1000-1500. 1500 being on the high end if it has additional mags, loading tool, and the period correct holster.

This video is also really good for a reference on the different variations of Mauser made Lugers.

 

[fluffypanda]

Does have a correct holster but not sure if accurate for the period.

 

[fluffypanda]

BYF is Mauser and 41 is the year. This looks to be one of the "Black Widow" guns made with wood grips. The mag is incorrect and should be an extruded FXO magazine with either an aluminum or black plastic base.

The mag in it seems to be an early WW1 type from DWM or Erfurt.

I would say value if finish is original and not import marked to be $1000-1500. 1500 being on the high end if it has additional mags, loading tool, and the period correct holster.

This video is also really good for a reference on the different variations of Mauser made Lugers.

Also does appear to be wood grips! Just thought they were a worn synthetic.

 

[Bluedragon]

Does have a correct holster but not sure if accurate for the period.

Brown holsters were issued during WW1 and throughout the early Weimar period. By the rise of the Nazi period into WWII.... holsters were all made in black or had earlier brown leather holsters dyed black. I can tell your holster is also WW1 by placement of the maker's mark.

Funny enough I have a WW1 Navy rework that came with a WWII holster in black that is the same type issued to your Luger.

 

[Bluedragon]

Also does appear to be wood grips! Just thought they were a worn synthetic.

Also don't let someone tell you that BYF guns only came with black plastic grips. Mauser used both at what was available at the time during manufacturing.

 

[Leadeye]

While they have a lot of variety and history Lugers just never were an item I did much with. Only thing I can add to Bluedragon's good info would be to take his description and hit Gunbroker. People pay pretty big money for those things.

Mausers though, I do know something about.

 

[Bluedragon]

While they have a lot of variety and history Lugers just never were an item I did much with. Only thing I can add to Bluedragon's good info would be to take his description and hit Gunbroker. People pay pretty big money for those things.

Mausers though, I do know something about.

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I want a red nine so bad to go along with my P08 and P38. Thank you also for the kind words, your Mausers are beautiful.

 

[fluffypanda]

Thank you all for the helpful information and clarity surrounding this piece!

 

[Bluedragon]

Thank you all for the helpful information and clarity surrounding this piece!

Hello again, i snapped a pic of one of my fxo mags with the extruded base so you know what to look for a period correct mag. Both types of mags with black plastic or aluminum can be found with unumbered bases in case you're worried about having a non matching mag to a matching pistol. Your gun having wood grips would be correct with the aluminum base like this and if you check the back of the grips you should be able to tell if they're original to the gun as they will be numbered.

 

[fluffypanda]

Hello again, i snapped a pic of one of my fxo mags with the extruded base so you know what to look for a period correct mag. Both types of mags with black plastic or aluminum can be found with unumbered bases in case you're worried about having a non matching mag to a matching pistol. Your gun having wood grips would be correct with the aluminum base like this and if you check the back of the grips you should be able to tell if they're original to the gun as they will be numbered.

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I just had it apart to clean. Will check the grips!

 

[Bluedragon]

I just had it apart to clean. Will check the grips!

Be careful when removing the left grip panel from the frame. I like to remove it while the safety is off. If you don't carefully remove the grip....it's corner on the upper left grip could chip off to what collectors know as "the million dollar chip"

 

[fluffypanda]

Question for everyone - before buying I went to try and shoot it. It strikers but doesn't fire. I took it apart cleaned and re oiled before taking it. Ideas? Or a good local to Indy gunsmith? The trigger action does feel odd.

 

[Bluedragon]

Question for everyone - before buying I went to try and shoot it. It strikers but doesn't fire. I took it apart cleaned and re oiled before taking it. Ideas? Or a good local to Indy gunsmith? The trigger action does feel odd.

Sounds like an issue with the sideplate. There is a little piece of metal that is actuated within the plate by pulling the trigger and it releases the firing pin by that piece of metal engaging against the sear that you can see on the side of the gun behind the safety.

Problems with this part could also account for the odd feeling trigger pull. The spring behind the trigger might also need to be replaced.

I would also check the firing pin to make sure that it's fluted. It's advisable not to shoot with a non fluted pin as it can cause damage to the gun from excessive pressure. Being a 1941 it should have the fluted pin.