Jan C. Still Lugerforums banner

42 code luger variations

34K views 19 replies 7 participants last post by  jagdfreund 
#1 ·
VARIATIONS OF 1939, 1940, AND 41 DATED 42 CODE ARMY LUGERS IN WORD AND PICTURE
(Note: not detailed in this discussion are 42 Code Lugers procured by the Luftwaffe and Navy.)

Based on information supplied by the collectors of the German Lugers, Central Powers, and Axis Pistols Forum.
Copyright 2010 by Jan C Still

Mausers 42 manufacturing code replaced the S/42 code in early 1939. Its use continued until early 1941. All 42 code Lugers bear the late Test Proof (LTP) and have a bore gauge. The magazines bodies are crimped blued sheet metal or blued extruded center pinned.base.

1939 42 CODE VARIATIONS
Note: extruded blued center pinned magazines are not reported matched to1939 42 Code Lugers.
Acceptance Stamp Variations
The right receiver acceptance stamps determine the 1939 42 Code markings variations. They are as follows:
SE63 SE63 LTP reported serial range 2455q-3380w (estimated production 60,925)*
*Note: the sizes of the SE63 SE63 acceptance stamps vary in the 2455q-6461q serial range. These size variations not detailed in this analysis.
SE63 SE655
LTP reported serial range 4540w-6269w (estimated production 2,000)
SE655 SE655 LTP reported serial range 7352w-5394z (estimated production 28,049)
*
Figure 1. Right side of 1939 42 Code Lugers. Top to bottom:
1939 42 Code sn 2233r; SE/63 (large) SE/63 (large) LTP; wood grips,
1939 42 Code sn 4540w; SE/63 SE/655 LTP; wood grips.
1939 42 Code sn 3568z; SE/655 SE/655 LTP; wood grips.
Changes in acceptance stamps determine 1939 42 Code Variations.

Figure 2. Tops of 1939 42 Code Lugers. Top to bottom: sn 2233r, sn 4540w, and sn 3568z

Figure 3. Barrel and frame serial numbers of 1939 42 Code Lugers. There is no letter suffix on the barrel. All have a barrel gauge: 8,83; 8,82; and 8,81.

Figure 4a. Left slant 1939 42 Code, sn 2233r. The left barrel acceptance stamp is SE63.

Figure 4b.
Left side 1939 42 Code, sn 2233r with capture paper. Lt. John D. Gillis captured this pistol. He took binoculars off a dead German and another soldier removed this luger. At bivouac that night the other soldier traded the Luger for the binoculars. This is how Lt. John D. Gillis captured this pistol. The certificate for this pistol was signed over 70 years ago by Lt. John D. Gillis and his pistol is listed as Ger. Luger Ser. No. 2233 Model 1939. It was approved by Captain Infantry Lester V. Clinkenbeard of the 291Inf. Reg.
*
 

Attachments

See less See more
5
#2 ·
Figure 5a. Left slant 1939 42 Code, sn 4540w. The left barrel acceptance stamp is SE63.

Figure 5b. 1939 42 Code, sn 4540w, crimped blued matching magazine. It has a crimped blued case and its bottom is marked 4540 / w / + / SE63.

Figure 6a. Left slant 1939 42 Code, sn 3568z. The left barrel acceptance stamp is SE655.
Figure 6b. Left slant 1939 42 Code, sn 3568z. It has two crimped blued matching magazines. One is marked 3568 / z / SE655; the other is marked 3568 / z / + / SE655.
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Figure 7. 1939 42 Code, sn 2233r, details of SE/63 SE/63 right receiver acceptance stamps. In most cases the receiver was polished/blued after application of the acceptance stamps and proofs. These are often more washed out in comparison to the barrel acceptance stamps and proofs. (sorry at bottom)

Figure 8. 1939 42 Code, sn 4540w, details of SE/63 SE/655 right receiver acceptance stamps.

Figure 9. 1939 42 Code, sn 3368z, details of SE/655 SE/655 right receiver acceptance stamps.

Figure 10. Inside surface of Grips.
1939 42 Code, sn 2233r, SE/63 SE/63, wood grips with no markings.
1939 42 Code, sn 4540w, SE/63 SE/655, wood grips, tiny SE/655
1939 42 Code, sn 3368z, SE/655 SE/655, wood grips, no markings
*
Jan
 

Attachments

#4 ·
1940 AND 41 DATED 42 CODE VARIATIONS
The 42 manufacturing code continued to be used by Mauser on Army contract Lugers until early 1941. All have SE/655 SE/655 acceptance stamps and the late Test Proof (LTP) on their right receiver.

Those manufactured in 1940 bear the full date 1940 and have a serial range of 5932z – 82xxn. Approximately 138,000 were manufactured.

Those manufactured in early1941 have a two digit date 41 and a P.08 stamped with a round dot on the left frame panel. Their serial range is 2176n-4490o with a few scattered in the “p”, “q” and “r’ suffix serial range. Serial range overlap with 1940 42 and byf 41. Approximately 11,500 were manufactured.

There is considerable overlap in serial range between 1940 42 Code, 41 42 Code and 41byf Code.

Both blued crimped and blued extruded center pinned magazines reported. The 41 dated variation is mostly found with blued extruded center pinned magazines.

Bakelite grips and wood grips
Almost all 1940 42 Code and 41 42 Code Lugers have wood grips. A very few have black bakelite grips. While most likely the black grips were added at manufacture, some collectors contend that these were replacement grips.

Acceptance Stamps
The right receiver acceptance stamps for 1940 42 Code and 41 42 Code Lugers are SE655 SE655 LTP

Figure 1. Left side view of 1940 and 41 dated 42 Code Lugers. Top to bottom:
1940 42 Code, serial number 3369h with left barrel acceptance of SE655
41 42 Code, serial number 2977o with P.08 with round period on left frame. It has left barrel acceptance of SE655

Figure 2. Tops of 1940 and 41 dated 42 Code Lugers. Top to bottom: serial number 3369h and
serial number 2977o..

Figure 3. Barrel and front frame serial numbers of 1940 and 41 dated 42 Code Lugers. Left to right serial number 3369h and serial number 2977o. There is no letter suffix on the barrel. All have a barrel gauge: 8,81 and 8,82.

Figure 4a. Matching magazine bottoms 1940 42 Code, 3369 / h; and 41 42 Code 2977 / o
*
Figure 4b. Left side of matching extruded blued center pinned magazines. They are stamped with E/37 122 E/37 acceptance stamps.

Figure 5.
Right slant view 1940 42 code, sn 3369h. .

Figure 6. Right slant view 41 42 Code, sn 2977o.

Figure 7. 1940 42 Code, sn 3369h, details of SE/655 SE/655 right receiver acceptance stamps. In most cases the receiver was polished/blued after application of the acceptance stamps and proofs. These are often more washed out in comparison to the barrel acceptance stamps and proofs.

Figure 8. 41 42 Code, sn 2977o, details of SE/655 SE/655 right receiver acceptance stamps.

Figure 9.
Inside surface of Grips.
1940 42 Code, sn 3369h SE/655 SE/655 wood grips with no markings.
41 42 Code, sn 2977o, SE/655 SE/655, wood grips with O and W worker stamps

42 code Luger serial number data in links below:
1939 S/42 and 1939 42 DATA REQUEST (Multi-page thread 1 2)Jan C Still http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=11442

1940/1941 DATES MILITARY CODES 42 and byf DATA http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=3695

Note: comments, corrections, criticism, additions or updates greatly appreciated.
Jan
 

Attachments

Top