08 markings

[Alan Smith]

Really strange . . . . almost looks like most of the numbers and markings were obliterated when the gun was buffed/cleaned, so someone has attempted to recreate the markings with hand tools. The proof/acceptance markings on the right side of the receiver look like what you see on the 1930's-era Chinese hand-made copies of European pistols, where the Chinese attempted to duplicate the German factory logos, proofs, etc.

[Thälmannpionier]

Thanks for all the infos..

Could someone please sum all the infos up for me, so i can tell my friend whats up with this Luger?
One thing i cannot really imagine are the proof acceptance markings...if i want to copy those, i wouldnt leave some crap like this on the gun?! Looks nowhere near a acceptance mark..more like chinese letters made by a kid...wich craftsmen who would have fiddled with this gun, grinded, blued and stamps numbers in would leave those markings on it as such?

[Johnny Peppers]

It has so many things wrong it is hard to list all of them.

The serial number is not correct without a letter suffix. The G Date production serial numbers started where the K Date ended, which was early in the ( a ) letter suffix block. The serial number shown on the front of the frame has no letter suffix.

The G on the top of the chamber is not the correct font.

The S/42 code Mauser is not correct size and font. Hand stamped.

Fake acceptance and proof marks.

In general, it appears that most of the markings were removed and badly reapplied. It appears the pistol was very rusty at one time, and this may account for the markings being removed along with the rust.

The stocks don't look like Mauser, and have been filed down to fit (possibly from excessive metal being removed from grip.)

[1933 FORD NUT]

Thanks for all the infos..

Could someone please sum all the infos up for me, so i can tell my friend whats up with this Luger?
One thing i cannot really imagine are the proof acceptance markings...if i want to copy those, i wouldnt leave some crap like this on the gun?! Looks nowhere near a acceptance mark..more like chinese letters made by a kid...wich craftsmen who would have fiddled with this gun, grinded, blued and stamps numbers in would leave those markings on it as such?

It is what many call a " shooter " and on the lower side of that category . Been messed with long before he got it as the recent de-rusting work has nothing to do with many of it's flaws . Definitely re-finished , definitely has had attempts to alter - add markings , has at least a mis-matched extractor and condition is not good . All that said it is still a Luger and there is a market for ones like this . At a reduced price of course . Dave

[Johnny Peppers]

If it was simply a P.08 in bad condition it would be one thing, but someone has tried to fake what it is, so there would be no good reason for owning it. It's past has been obliterated.

[1933 FORD NUT]

If it was simply a P.08 in bad condition it would be one thing, but someone has tried to fake what it is, so there would be no good reason for owning it. It's past has been obliterated.

Totally agree but I have seen many messed up ones sell over the years and they do sell . Not to collectors usually but to folks that want to shoot them or just to have a " LUGER " and do not want to pay the high price of not messed up ones . Ever check the reaction of a non Luger person when showing them even a 95% honest one and giving a retail price estimate ? Not always of course but sometimes you almost hear the jaw hit the floor . Heck my first purchased Luger was a nicely done 1936 S/42 that I paid the going rate for and all was well UNTIL a collector pointed out to a starry eyed much younger [ 1973 ] me that a 1936 S/42 was not supposed to be ALL BLUE . Talk about a deflating experience !!!!! I had my uncles bringback 41byf rig [ and still do along with the helmet ] and it is very nice and all blue so I thought the 36 looked the same and really nice . Well the 36 got traded off on a 37 S/42 all blue type with one matching mag and about 95% blue left . Was not an even trade but the burnt fingers were well worth it as I have been CAUTIOUS since .

[Johnny Peppers]

While most newbies can't tell what is correct and what isn't on a Luger, most can spot a really bad condition pistol. The fakery was an attempt to increase the pistol's value, and with the information available on the internet anyone that paid collector price for that one just never bothered to look for information.

[Thälmannpionier]

Thank you very much, also in the name of my friend, for the effort and help on this

[Ronnie Fry]

Removed so as not to aid humpers.

Here and below, I had examples of what the proper pistol should look like. But thought better of it.

[Ronnie Fry]

Removed so as not to aid humpers

[Johnny Peppers]

The humpers have access to the same pistols we do, so not too much to worry about. The problem was with the humpers that were dealers who had multiple examples to copy, and had people that aided them in making their bogus merchandise.