1937 Mauser Luger

[USMC0402]

I am a new to owning historic weapons, and this is my third weapon that I am posting. This pistol is a 1937 Mauser Luger. It came to me in the holster you see in the pictures. Can anyone give me advice on weather I should clean, restore, keep as is, sell together with the holster or separately? What do you think it is worth, or is it better to hang on to this one?

Information

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[matthanne1]

Well, you can tell it has 'been there'! Closer inspection may reveal markings and subtle variants that might have more value, but in its overall worn state it is, inspect it for safe operation and enjoy it for shooting. Just by the finish, I can tell it would be one to shoot and enjoy, refinishing would not add value as refinished are about the same value to many as worn. Original grips and some magazine variants have value on their own, you may consider replacing the grips with postwar and storing the originals away (esp if serial # matches). Not going to make a statement on the holster, that is beyond my safe knowledge.

[USMC0402]

Great info thank you!

[user1]

Very nice, thanks for sharing it

[browningautorifle]

I wouldn't do much to it really. If you don't have a big place for it, there's going to be a guy that can't live without it. I'd just do normal cleaning and even shooting it won't hurt anything for a couple mags every so often. The holster, just keep it clean and dry and let the next guy overhaul it.

[rcathey]

I wouldn't do much to it really.

Looks just about perfect to me. Been there, done that. It's the way it should look after a long, eventful life.

Folks don't pay up for this, including myself, but it's what I prefer.

[Bruce McAskill]

Love the screw and locking nut to hold the base of the magazine together. The holster may be worth a bit more then the pistol lol . Are the numbers matching on the pistol? If not the value is dropped quite a bit. What is the condition of the bore? If not good then its even less value. Value of the whole thing is minimal at best. A 1937 is one of the most common WW2 Lugers. If someone makes an offer you can't refuse then grab it.

[USMC0402]

I have learned a lot about Lugers this week. I didnt even notice how terrible this magazine was. HA! It is one of a kind, that is for sure. I have never seen a clear plastic home made floor plate with a lock washer holding it in place. The gun is completely disasembled and soaking in CLP right now. It has multiple serial numbers. Seems to be about 3 different ones. I plan to use this gun as a shooter. I might ever get it cerekoted to make it special. I hope it is a trusty shooter.

[browningautorifle]

I might ever get it cerekoted to make it special.

I don't think I would do that either. I might glass bead it and then paper polish it if I were going to refinish. You can always just glass bead and blue but that's a mat finish. The cerekoate is fine for some things but I wouldn't do a Luger.

[Bruce McAskill]

Be careful coating it. If it increases the thickness of the normal coating the gun may not work properly as specs for Lugers are tight. Lugers in general like being on the wet side. Lightly grease if the parts slide.