P-08 "Luger" proof marks

[Emri]

Anyone have a site where they are shown? Just got one in the shop, a Mauser, S/42 toggle, 1936 over the chamber. Doesn't have the swasticka eagle marks, but what one might call an eagle. Books say Navy guns are worth more. What designates a "Navy" pistol ??

TIA,

Emri

Information

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[lboos]

Ermi,
Try: pistole parbellum luger forum. best one on luger's.

[Jim K]

When the books refer to the Navy Luger, they usually mean the 1906/1908 Lugers made on a direct German navy contract. For other pistols, the only indication of navy use is an eagle over an "M" (for "Marine", German for Navy).

The gun should have the typical WaffenAmt inspection stamps on the barrel and breechblock, plus two other WaA stamps and an eagle/swastika proof mark/acceptance stamp on the right side of the receiver. The grips should be wood, the finish salt blued (not rust blued). The trigger, takedown lever, safety, and ejector will be blued, not straw color.

Almost every part of the pistol was numbered with the last two digits of the serial number and they should match on an original gun.

BTW, a note on Luger serial numbers. The Germans went from 1 to 9999, then to 1a -9999a, 1b to 9999b, etc. Further they went back to 1 at the start of each year, and each contractor ran its own series. So a proper identification of a Luger must inclued the number, the suffix letter (if present), the date, and the manufacturer. (S/42 is Mauser.) Failure to understand that system has resulted in confusion and problems where not all the information on a crime gun was recorded and innocent people have been subject to police scrutiny.

Jim

[Johnny Peppers]

An S/42 P.08 would be rust blued with strawed small parts if original. The change to hot salt blue was mid 1937.
The WWII German Navy obtained their pistols through the Army. They have all the normal acceptance and proof marks of the Army P.08, but are identified by their Navy property mark on either the frontstrap or rear strap. The property mark is preceded by an O for Ostee (Baltic Sea) or N for Nordsee (North Sea) fleets.
As to proofs, the pistol should have the small Eagle/Swastika on the right side of the receiver, the right side of the barrel just ahead of the receiver, and on the left side of the breeckblock right at the pivot point.
In WWII the serial numbers did not start over each year with n/s, a, b, and so on letter suffix. Wherever the suffix was at the beginning of the new year, it was continued on from there. The 1936 pistols started with letter suffix f and went through p suffix. The 1937 pistols started in the left over p suffix block and went through the n/s and into the a letter suffix block.

[Dave]

On German rifles the use of the Nazi Eagle w/swastika did not come into use until the 1938-39 time period. I believe this is also true for pistols. That is why he states "what one might call an eagle", it is a Wiemer eagle w/droped wings.

[Johnny Peppers]

On German rifles the use of the Nazi Eagle w/swastika did not come into use until the 1938-39 time period. I believe this is also true for pistols. That is why he states "what one might call an eagle", it is a Wiemer eagle w/droped wings.

You are correct. The Weimar style eagle was used for the proof mark until late 1939 on the P.08. Should have checked my information.

[Emri]

Thanks Guys!!

The pistol is not a great rarity, but way better than the usual P08 we get in to clean and repair. It is definitely rust blued with strawed parts, the eagles have no swastickas. They look more like stick figures. No Navy "M" mark so I guess it is a $1200 pistol instead of a $2500.
People constantly ask me what their "Luger" is worth and my standard reply is $350 up to $135000, depends on condition and rarity!
This one as stated is better than most. About 70-80% blue and 50-60% straw. Very little scattered light rust pitting. Definitely NOT re-finished.
I do quite well judging original finishes, it's just there are so many guns out there, I can't know all the details for each one.

Thanks again,

Emri

[Jim K]

Gotta get the eyes checked. Emri wrote 36, I read 38. Sorry for the misinformation.

Jim

[Hans-Ulrich Rudel]

Any idea what these markings are?

Thank you!

[Johnny Peppers]

Any idea what these markings are?

Thank you!

It would help to know what pistol the marking is on. Do you have a photograph of the left side of the pistol to help determine if it is police or not?