Party Leader

1940 Mauser Code 42
Senior Party Leader

This is a 1940 Chamber dated Mauser Code 42 built for the German military after the contract for the P-38 was in production. This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." The accompanying brown holster, belt and large gold buckle indicates it came from a senior officer. (1525)

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon. Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Please visit Legal (tabbed) for Conditions of Sale.


The bore is good with distinctive lands and groove. The thumb safety is new style, and blued. The thumb safety is marked 'Gesichert' and safe is down. These end of contract production Code 42 Lugers (the P38 was under production as the side arm) were mostly issued to the SS troops and occupying police, that had their own procurement system.

Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. This example has all matching numbers. It comes with two matching magazines, a loading tool and a Senior Officer Belt, Buckle and is in marvelous condition.

The Code 42 appears on the fist toggle link and the "V" cut rear sight and last two digits of the serial number appear on the rear toggle. Collectors refer to this model as 1934 to represent the year that Mauser created the machinery for their production run of the Luger. So this 1940 dated 1934 Model is an early Mauser variation and excellent example of craftsmanship.

Above Left the full serial number appears on the frame, under the barrel on the side of the frame and on the magazines. the last two digits of the serial number appear on the small parts. The barrel is gauge marked and serial numbered to the frame; the magazine is matching. The barrel is strong with distinctive lands and grooves. This Luger has been cared for over 76 years now and it is looking for a good home.


The Code 42 appears on the fist toggle link and the "V" cut rear sight and last two digits of the serial number appear on the rear toggle. Collectors refer to this model as 1934 to represent the year that Mauser created the machinery for their production run of the Luger. So this 1940 dated 1934 Model is an early Mauser variation and excellent example of craftsmanship before wartime production began.

Above Left: There are two matching magazines in rolled and crimped blued metal with a one pin aluminum bottom that is serial numbered to the gun. Above Right: The Luger in full recoil revealing the numbered rear mail axel pin, the sear stop (on safe) and one can see the Eagle with the Swastika, the Waffenamt, on the breach block.

The first toggle link is marked with the 42 Mauser code, this was third of four logos that Mauser used during the war; S/42, 42, byf and the Banner. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear.

This Luger has been cared for over 76 years now. It is looking for a good home. This full rig consists of the all matching 1940 Mauser Code 42, a 2nd matching magazine, a 1940 holster with a E655 loading tool plus a senior officer's belt and buckle. According to the nephew who brought us this rig it was taken from a prisoner on the outskirts of Paris by his uncle who was an MP and in charge of disarming prisoners. He stated his uncle took it because he liked the buckle and didn't know it was a senior officer's Luger.


Brown holsters are very hard to find since by 1937 the various military had ordered the leather be died black for uniformity. Here we can see the white stitching on the holser which tells us that this holster was not died and intended for a political leader who were the only ones still wearing the brown uniform and leather.

Holsters have a story of their own. In WWI and the Weimar Republic all the leather was brown. During the emergence of the SA and Hitler's rise to power the brown leather left over from the German loss of her colonies in Afrika for reparations, these leatherwear became surplus and was adopted by the military. The Army [Heer] converted in 1934 and many of the old holsters were died black making the brown holster a rarity.

The holster is strong and flexible with all the stitching intact and the stitching in the orginal white.

Officers holding the ranks of Generalmajor up to and including Generalfeldmarschall utilized the round two piece leaf-bordered matte gold belt buckle. On the reverse side are the RZM markings

The loading tool is stamped with the Eagle 655 proof, a very difficult to find proof which matches this 1940 Mauser. Above Right: The last two digits of the serial number appear on the 1st toggle, the 2nd toggle on the back and the thumb safety on top. All-matching is the criteria of any collector.

On the back of the holster is the date, the manufacturers cartouche and the P.08 (Pistole 1908 - year the Parabellum was adopted by the German military.


The grips are numbered to the gun and are in excellent condition. The right of the receiver has the two Eagle 655 proofs and the Waffenamt proof (Swastika) on the receiver and the barrel.

Above Left: An undershot of the trigger housing shows the serial number on the bottom of the barrel, the front of the frame, on the side of the receiver, the locking lever and side plate. Above Right: With the removal of the side plate reveals that the serial number is also numbered (50) to the gun.


On the barrel (A) is the Eagle 655 proof of firing, (B) the extractor show the GELADEN (Loaded) and on the breach block is the (C) Eagle holding the Swastika. (D) The sear is marked with the last two digits of the serial number as the locking lever and sideplate. At the rear of the recoil ramp is the 2mm (E) extension added by Mauser to the machinging of the frame to protect the rear main axel pin when firing.

Both the front grip strap and the rear are still in minty condition indicating the wear on the gun is simply honest holster wear, doubtful if this Parabellum was fired very much.


The serial number appears "exposed" on the locking lever and on the trigger. There are serial numbers on the rear main axel pin adhering to military orders after 1932 when the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear connecting pin be serial numbered. The matching small parts appear with the last two digits of the serial number including the sear bar. This is the 'new sear stop' with the short sear that enables the gun to be charged with the safety on.

This is a marvelously clean example a Mauser that is seldom found. It has approximately 99% deep blue with no import marks. While some people say that Mauser used a secret salt blue formula in their early production and others say it was the original rust blue. There is evidence that in 1937 Mauser changed from rust bluing to a salt blue process which was a heated chemical process. The minerals in the metal reacted in different tones to this bluing process giving some parts a rust blue look.

A close up of the right side shows the two Eagle 655 military proof and the military acceptance (Waffenamt). This Waffenamt straight wing eagle with a swastika also appears at the pressure test on the barrel and causes some to believe these are the real "Nazi" Lugers. Above Right: The extractor is up revealing "Geladen" which means loaded, telling the shooter both visually and tactilely that the gun is loaded.

It is entirely subjective to give any firearm a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few collectible weapons are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. Any questions or request for additional purchases email to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com This firearm is eligible for transfer to C&R permit holder, even in California. We are registered with CA DOJ for firearms shipment.

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

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We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

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