Silent Rifleman
Member
My Grandfather was a 25 year old Company commander for the 88'th Division(Blue Devils), Company B, 349'th infantry brigade, when he was redeployed from North Africa to Southern Italy in '44. Supposedly, it was part of a program to get the newer CO's more combat experience, and boy did they get all they wanted.
In the days leading up to the Battle of Monte Cassino, his company was clearing a number of farm houses in the area. He sent two scouts forward to check the house before sending everyone else in, while being somewhat close behind himself. He came up on foxhole containing a German officer who was in the process of lining up a shot on one of his scouts. Not really knowing any German, he drew his Thompson down on him and yelled "Stick 'em up!". He said the German didn't have a clue what he said, but knew damn well what a Thompson pointed at him meant. From this officer, he took and kept his side arm, a luger.
The rest of the story goes, they stormed a German warehouse later on containing boxes of Luger pistols, in which the entire company took one, but when asked by another soldier if he wanted a newer one, he opted to keep the one he captured. On a side note, he didn't care for his 1911(for whatever reason) and never used it again after obtaining this pistol.
It's a standard 1940 production P.08 Luger produced at the Mauser Oberndorf a/N plant. The "42" on the toggle indicates this. Yes, it is the same Mauser plant that put out all those nifty bolt guns that we know and love. From a collector's/monetary standpoint, it has two mismatched parts, the side plate and the takedown lever. It's not in pristine condition by any means, but considering it was never re-blued and what it went through, it's not too bad. Needless to say it's a priceless family heirloom to me.
The holster is in the condition, less a little wear and tear, that he obtained it in. The twine repair on the clasp was supposedly done by the original owner.
Left side of the receiver
The manufacture date, 1940 stamped on the receiver
Part of the grip and the safety mechanism
Full Top View
Stampings on the bolt
Stampings on the magazine
And another set of Nazi Markings on the right side of the receiver
I know there's a couple of rust spots on it, but I am afraid to go too crazy with the steel wool on a firearm this age. They most likely appeared during the course of years of storage in a closet of a house VERY near the beach. This thing, to this day, is one of the smoothest shooting pistols I have ever put my hands on.
In the days leading up to the Battle of Monte Cassino, his company was clearing a number of farm houses in the area. He sent two scouts forward to check the house before sending everyone else in, while being somewhat close behind himself. He came up on foxhole containing a German officer who was in the process of lining up a shot on one of his scouts. Not really knowing any German, he drew his Thompson down on him and yelled "Stick 'em up!". He said the German didn't have a clue what he said, but knew damn well what a Thompson pointed at him meant. From this officer, he took and kept his side arm, a luger.
The rest of the story goes, they stormed a German warehouse later on containing boxes of Luger pistols, in which the entire company took one, but when asked by another soldier if he wanted a newer one, he opted to keep the one he captured. On a side note, he didn't care for his 1911(for whatever reason) and never used it again after obtaining this pistol.
It's a standard 1940 production P.08 Luger produced at the Mauser Oberndorf a/N plant. The "42" on the toggle indicates this. Yes, it is the same Mauser plant that put out all those nifty bolt guns that we know and love. From a collector's/monetary standpoint, it has two mismatched parts, the side plate and the takedown lever. It's not in pristine condition by any means, but considering it was never re-blued and what it went through, it's not too bad. Needless to say it's a priceless family heirloom to me.
The holster is in the condition, less a little wear and tear, that he obtained it in. The twine repair on the clasp was supposedly done by the original owner.
Left side of the receiver
The manufacture date, 1940 stamped on the receiver
Part of the grip and the safety mechanism
Full Top View
Stampings on the bolt
Stampings on the magazine
And another set of Nazi Markings on the right side of the receiver
I know there's a couple of rust spots on it, but I am afraid to go too crazy with the steel wool on a firearm this age. They most likely appeared during the course of years of storage in a closet of a house VERY near the beach. This thing, to this day, is one of the smoothest shooting pistols I have ever put my hands on.
