Two P.08 Lugers dated 1937 and 1938.

drm3m

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I consider myself very lucky two own two Lugers both with two matching magazines,
Matching serial numbered magazines are ‘often’ a Luger collectors’ quest.
I am not a serious Luger collector so I really don’t deserve to own these two pistols.
I guess that I was just lucky----which is so often part of this collecting hobby.









The 1937.



The 1938.



David
 
Gunexpert007,

I don't know about the 1938 dated Luger----but the 1937 dated P.08 comes with a story.
It was picked up by the Canadian vet that got it in Dunkirk on May10th 1945 following the German surrender.
The vet was the last Canadian pilot in the air calling artillery shots on Dunkirk before the German surrender.
He was an RCA artillery officer that flew with Squadron 665 (AOP) R.C.A.F.
I have put together a lot of his WWII history with the help of his daughter and Darrell Knight the author of the book shown below.



The Canadian Vet Capt. Bev Baily that brought back the 1937 dated Luger rig.



A comment from Darrell knight that wrote the book above.

"There was an article that came out in the Ottawa Citizen some years ago, about Ray Irwin having fired the last Canadian shot of the war in Europe. Technically this was incorrect, and I sought to correct the error in the book. The B Flight clerks logged the departure and return of each sortie flown (15 operational flights from ALG Wormhout to action-stations over Dunkirk on Monday, May 7, 1945...two days after all fighting had ended in Holland and Germany). In fact, Bev was the last combatant in the air over Dunkirk, when the cease-fire was called (there had also been a British Flight of Auster Vs in the air). I gave the accolade to the whole Flight (and a mention to the British Flight) but in the order they had participated, however, as it was a day-long action involving the Flight's five pilots and six of the observers, including my Dad, #K8712 Gunner Ray Knight."

The Canadians fighting at Dunkirk - with their British AOP counterparts - appear to have been the last Canadian combatants up to the cease-fire at 1530 British double summer time...no report of another RCAF aerial battle (that I know of) exists, and the Canadian Army called a cease-fire on the ground across Holland and Europe on Saturday, 5 May 1945. Bev was the last to range his guns at Dunkirk, and was interrupted by the cease fire declaration on the HF.

From Darrell Knight's book---where the Luger pistol came from.

 
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Thanks jbmauser.

Barrel serial number on the 1937 S/42. (3271x)



1937 dated holster.



The 1937 S/42.



On the right side of the receiver two Droop eagles over 63 as well as a Mid Test Proof.



The back strap on the 1937 Luger.




Barrel serial number on the 1938 S/42. (7289i)



David
 
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Thanks Rylan and mikerock.

It is interesting to see that in 1938 the acceptance markings changed from a 'droop eagle' over 63 as seen on the 1937 dated pistol to a 'stick eagle' over 63 on the 1938 pistol.



David
 
Hey David,

The stick wing eagle mark was even seen on some '37 dated S/42's. I think it was a bit of a transitional period. I was curious and started reading a thread on the Luger forum about them. Even one 1938 example had the droop wing eagle mark! But yes, by that time it seems they were almost all the stick eagle.
 
Nice pieces you have there. I'm surprised the "droop" Weimar eagles lasted even that long. Hitler added the title of President to Chancellor shortly after the death of Hindenburg in 1934. The Weimar Republic was long since dead in just about everything but name.

Mine is a 1939, so I guess that continues your straight flush of S/42 Lugers LOL
 
Ok Show and Tell
This is my all matching 1937 S/42 with one matching mag. It came with a very rare 1939 Navy marked holster.

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image_zps82e71335.jpg

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Chilidawg

Thanks for the photos of the 1939 dated KM marked P.08 holster.
The markings are pretty clear.
KM marked holsters are not easy to find ----and rather expensive when found.

I could use a better KM marked holster for a Mauser M1934 and they are difficult to find.
 
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