1937 S/42 Luger

[lvfd01]

I have a 1937 S/42 Luger that was left to me by my Uncle. He brought it back during WWII. It is complete with holster, takedown tool and two mags.
All matching serial numbers except for the mags. My question is there anyway to research the serial number to see what unit it may have been issued to. The gun is in near mint condition, 98% bluing, strawed trigger, perfect grips and a bright bore. My uncle told me that he never fired it, that means the last person to fire this gun was the German officer that he took it off of!!!
I will never fire it for this reason.
By the way my Uncle was awarded two bronze stars, silver star, and two purple hearts, he went in on D-Day plus 1 and served in Europe until 1946.
I also was left all of these medals, he was a great man who never talked about the war.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Take care of that. Doesnt sound like you would....but just in case......


DON'T SELL IT.

There will be guys here that know more than the guy working in the factory in WW2 knows......

 

[rcmodel]

My question is there anyway to research the serial number to see what unit it may have been issued to.

Not that I'm aware of.

Many if not most records like that were lost to the ravages of war during the final stages of WWII.

The S/42 code was used by the Mauser factorys in Oberndorf and they were bomded into rubble several times over.

Then, a gazillion B-17 bombing missions over Germany tended to leave unit level supply records in smoldering ashes & confetti.

rc

 

[dagger dog]

There was another heavy bomber in the US Army Airforce the 2nd Air Divison that flew
B 24 Liberators, they added to that rubble!

 

[Jim Watson]

There were WW I Lugers and other smallarms marked with the unit issued to but by WW II nobody bothered. It is difficult to impossible to trace an individual gun to the point or person of issue.

 

[lvfd01]

Thanks Guys for the info, I plan to never sell the gun or fire it.

 

[Jim Watson]

In my younger years, I had a 1936 S/42. Nothing sentimental, just Kewl Factor for the times, so I shot it regularly. I sold it when the supply of Canadian surplus 9mm was exhausted and I could not find anything else it was relible with.

 

[Jim K]

Actually, the Mauser Oberndorf factory did survive the war, although it was pretty well looted by U.S. troops. (Oops! I mean American soldiers purchased some souvenirs from the factory store.)

Jim

 

[Dr.Rob]

Unless it has capture papers that info may be lost to history.

 

[SleazyRider]

Just curious, Dr. Rob, do you know if capture papers were filed in duplicate, or was only an original issued? I'm wondering if government archives may contain a copy of the capture papers.