Help needed on luger p 08 .22 conversion kit.

[JoeW]

I find it very interesting that this .22 conversion unit has been serial numbered (on the lid of the wood box) to a particular P.08. Further, the box has been numbered to match its contents. IMO, these serial numbers were placed on the box by the end-user (i.e. a police unit).

The concept of a specific conversion unit being assigned to a specific pistol is new to me. Has anyone seen any other similarly marked SE08 units?

Alan, as I wrote above in #8, "... They were usually mated to a pistol for continued use. The box has the number of that pistol stamped on it, as well as the Einsteck. serial number..." In the police manuals, it is stated that the S.E.L. remains with the P08 with which it is used for training purposes. The earlier Heer marked S.E.L. kits were similarly mated and marked to specific P08s and were more extensive furnished than the police versions above. The larger cased Heer versions contained cleaning rod and tips, as well as a breach insert to protect the breech and frame during cleaning.

For training purposes, the police began with simple 4mm M20 cartridges used in barrel inserts, then graduated to the .22 S.E.L. In training with K98 system, they also used 4mm M20 cartridges in a cartridge insert, then graduated to the .22 conversion kit for the K98 system.

[Alan Smith]

Thanks, Joe.

Just wondering: have you ever encountered a police P.08 with the SEL08 (box numbered) that is matched to it? With all the police stuff floating around in collectors' hands, it would seem likely that at some point a few matches between P.08 and SEL08 boxes would show up.

[JoeW]

Never have Alan. Too good to have happened. The difficulty is that the boxes are only marked with the pistol serial number digits and not the suffix, so finding a match would be problematic.

[Gary Cain]

A 500 dollar estimate for one of these (either pre or wartime dated) sets would be accurate for 10 to 15 years ago(and what you are willing to pay is immaterial, what will the rest of the collecting world pay for it, that is what was being asked). Some items (and this one qualifies) don't care what the economy is doing so long as you are not in a full on depression. I saw a 1937 dated set sell at the last Tulsa show for 1500 which is higher than these guys have estimated. It was gone in the first 15 minutes of the show(dealer setup) so I think the sellor may have had it priced to low or the buyer had been looking for a very long time.


Gary

My evaluation is for wartime , but if he has the matching gun then yes ..what they said...but the difference in the premium for a 500.00 valueated or 1000 setup would be not much more premium wise to insure. Cheaper to put it all in a safe deposit box if it will fit. Like i said you can shop around on the net for other dealers who have these from time to time, but remember its a depressed economy right now. Some oogle and would pay more , but thats the luck of the draw if sold at an auction and only IF the "right " buyers show up, but then again remember the ripp off auction percentages they want now days wich can run 20, 25%, and even more. So if he got 1000. -250.(auction commission) net would be 750. before capitol gains.
I just saw over 700 guns of all periods sell recently, and the prices were better than any gun show, and dealers sites, but still under retail, except on the better rarer guns, and they went high, but were still hard to beat condition and pricewise as listed in fladermans guide, as believe me ..moneys tight right now, or are all you guys rich.

I do hope for you, when he dies, or plans to sell ,you get a shot at some of the stuff, but im betting youll still wind up paying top price,but it all sounds like unquestionable stuff.. so save your money for that rainy day. (tell him to not forget you)I still wouldnt pay over 500 for this set up , so some of you other guys would beat me out if there was an auction. I set my max im willing to pay, and try to live in reality ,and dont go over, as theres always another deal down the road. You might run the safe deposit box idea by him , and weigh out the best deal for the money. He could also buy a gun safe, but for sure dont tell anyone who he is or where he lives, you owe him the protection as a friend he trusts in confidence. You'd feel bad if you talked, and then he got burgularized , and lost it all , as lose lips still sink ships, not that you would , just a point to never forget, and dont ever let your guard down. Then again, he may not be trying to insure it at all, just trying to get a sense of value for future possible sale if things get tight.

[Gary Cain]

I agree with Joe on this. Also if you think about it, by the time the American and British armies(not to mention the Soviets) those training sets would have been relegated to the shelf in favor of the full power 9mm. Remember the Germans really never had enough pistols to go around and were taking the pistols from the commercial side to give to the military at the end.


Gary

Thanks, Joe.

Just wondering: have you ever encountered a police P.08 with the SEL08 (box numbered) that is matched to it? With all the police stuff floating around in collectors' hands, it would seem likely that at some point a few matches between P.08 and SEL08 boxes would show up.

[JoeW]

The police issue sets were all dated pre-war that coincided with the expansion of their military style training of new police troops. There was no war-time production.