1937 Mauser S/42

1937 Mauser S/42 SOLD

This is a 1937 dated model 1934 Pistole 08 military Parabellum manufactured by Mauser. As a pre-war Parrabellm this is among the first military contract Lugers produced by Mauser. This Luger is a 4 inch (100mm) 9mm Parabellum. To conceal production a series of alphabetical dates were assigned in addition to the code on the toggle S/42 (Mauser). (1474)

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 Hitler Youth (German: Hitlerjugend, often abbreviated as HJ in German) was the youth organisation of the Nazi Party in Germany. Its origins dated back to 1922 and it received the name Hitler-Jugend, Bund deutscher Arbeiterjugend ("Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth") in July 1926.

Adolf Hitler believed that the support of the youth was vital to the future of the third Reich and aimed, through the Hitler Youth programme, to produce a generation of loyal supporters of Nazi views. Posters were used to attract more members and membership rose from 5,000 in 1925 to 25,000 in 1930. When the Nazis came to power in 1933 other youth groups were forcibly merged into the Hitler Youth and by the end of 1933 membership stood at just over 2 million. In December 1936, membership of the Hitler Youth became virtually compulsory for all boys and girls aged over 10 years – membership could only be avoided by not paying subscription fees, but this ‘loophole’ was relaxed in 1939 and membership increased to 8 million members by 1940.


On the thumb safety [Gesichert] is the new style, and blued the overall finish being 98% Blued and no straw bluing. Starting in mid-1937 the guns underwent salt bluing instead of straw bluing to give the gun an all blue look. This Luger has all matching numbers including the magazine. The gun has a numbered hold-open and the stock lug.

This is a standard 1934 Model gun designated by collectors as the "1937" S/42 Dated Mauser. The first toggle link is marked with the S/42 Mauser code. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear. This Luger has all matching numbers.

The bottom of the P-08 show the minimal wear this pre-war Parabellum undertook. The finish is nicely blued with honest holster wear on the end of the barrel and side plate. This Luger has a hold open latch and stock lug.

This is a complete rig with the all matching 1937 Parabellum, a proofed loading tool and second matching magazine in the dated 1937 holster with a period belt and a proofed Hitler Youth belt buckle. Plus the chest strap and two belt loops; this accessory is really rare as most GI's seized the Luger as a souvenir and sometimes the holster. Taking the belt is a bonus for this rig and then the chest strap.

This is an all matching gun with the serial number and gauge markings (8.82) on the barrel and the "a" suffix on the receiver. The "a" suffix tells us this was toward the beginning of the production of the 1937 year which was pre-war and the quality and finish reflects the craftsmanship of Mauser who absorbed many of the DWM machinists.

In the early 1920s, the Nazi party had established a youth movement led by Kurt Gruber, with the aim of attracting young men who could be trained to become members of the SA (Storm troopers). On 4th July 1926 the group was renamed the Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth and became attached to and run by the SA.

The Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) wore uniforms and attended meetings and rallies where they were indoctrinated with Nazi views. On September 1st, 1939, Hitler's armies invaded Poland. Six years of war would follow with the full participation of the Hitler Youth eventually down to the youngest child.

Adolph Hitler said of his Youth : "The weak must be chiseled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel."


Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the side of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, the left side of the receiver, the safety bar, the sear bar, the rear connecting pin, and on the extractor. We can see from this frame the extension of the "ears" at the rear of frame by a 2mm addition to the Mauser frames. This was their recognition that the current bullets being furnished for the 9mm hand and submachine guns pushed the full recoil to the farthest extend of travel and sometimes minutely exposed the flange of the rear main axel pin.

Above Left: Luger in full recoil, the rear main axel pin you can see the last two digits of the serial number of the gun. In 1933 by order of the Reichsministerium to guarantee the safety of the rear main axel pin. Mauser also increased the sized of the rear "ears" on the receiver by 2mm which is known as the Mauser hump. Above Right: With the side plate removed you can see the last two digits of the serial number on both the trigger and the locking lever.

These were proofed with the early drooped wing Eagle 36 attributed to Mauser which appears extensively throughout the gun. The extractor is marked "GELADEN". 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.

A close up of the EXTRACTOR (with the last two digits of the serial number). This was a unique feature of the Parabellum because it told the shooter when it was loaded both visually and tactilely. Also to note the matching serial number on the top of the thumb safety.

Here is the front and rear of this 81 year old battlefield survivor. Made pre-war to the exacting standard of the German craftsman this weapons is as ready today as it was then to provide for the defense of the Fatherland.

The CP of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 (12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") at the Ardenne Abbey/Normandy, late June 1944. On the left regimental commander SS-Obersturmbannführer Heinz Milius, in the center (with binoculars) Hubert Meyer, the HJ-Division's first staff officer.



Original belt buckle from the Hitlerjugend with the motto Blut und Ehre, (Blood & Honor) over the Eagle clutching the diamond with the swastika. Above Right: On the back you can see the Assmann proof of the maker.

Over the years we have attempted multiple ways to photograph the inside the barrel and this is the best of our attempts. The barrel is shiny with distinctive lands and grooves. At the very throat there is some light freckling from the primers used in those days.

Above Left: The loading tool is proofed with the E63 straight wing. To use the tool is inverted and slipped over the magazine follower button and by depressing the angled part of the tool you push the follower down and load the magazine. Above Right: These were blued steel wrapped magazine with a crimp and circular spring. Soon after (February 1939) the military adopted a solid body manazine with an improved zig-zag spring.

By the spring of 1944, training was complete. The HJ Panzer Division, now fully trained and equipped, conducted divisional maneuvers observed by General Heinz Guderian and Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, both of whom admired the enthusiasm and expressed their high approval of the proficiency achieved by the young troops in such a short time. In Northern Belgium early 1944 - Members of the SS Division Hitlerjugend stand in front of their Panzer IV tanks ready for the arrival of Field Marshal Rundstedt. The division was then transferred to Hasselt, Belgium, in anticipation of D-Day, the Allied invasion of northern France.		A few days before the invasion, SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler visited the division. On D-Day, June 6th, 1944, the HJ Division was one of three Panzer divisions held in reserve by Hitler as the Allies stormed the beaches at Normandy beginning at dawn. At 2:30 in the afternoon, the HJ Division was released and sent to Caen, located not far inland from The division's advance to the areas near the British Canadian landing beaches of Sword and Juno.
At the onset of war, the Hitler Youth totaled 8.8 million. But the war brought immediate, drastic changes as over a million Hitler Youth leaders of draft age and regional adult leaders were immediately called up into the army. This resulted in a severe shortage of local and district leaders. The problem was resolved by lowering the age of local Hitler Youth leaders to 16 and 17. The average age had been 24. These 16 and 17-year-olds would now be responsible for as many as 500 or more boys. Another big change was the elimination of the strict division between the Jungvolk (boys 10 to 14) and the actual HJ (Hitler Youth 14 to 18).


The inside of the gun is minty clean with no signs of deterioration for its age and exhibits that craftsmanship of the early Mauser production. In 1933 the Reichsministerium ordered that the rear main toggle axel be numbered to the gun. We can see from this frame the addition of 2mm to the back of Mauser frames to protect the rear main axel pin during recoil.

Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the side of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, the left side of the receiver, the safety bar, the sear bar, the rear connecting pin, and on the extractor.

Above Left: In what appears to be a hand print with a minor blood stains over acceptance proof this might be the telling detail of the origin of this batterfield bring back. The beautifully detailed and struck Eagle 63 on the receiver and all the matching serial numbers. Above Right: 1937 was still a good year for Mauser, pre-war and uninterrupted production by the craftsman from DWM. Note the serial number and last two digits of the serial number on all the small parts.
Here is a closeup of the blemish on the front of the frame. Upon closeup it shows very minor pitting right at the drooped wing eagle Waffenamt mark. Over the years we have determined in 99% of these stains were blood stains and this resembles that conclusion. We would never pretend to know who bled on the gun but in the vast majority of circumstances it is rarely the victor who is bleeding in most combat situations. For anyone want actual battlefield certification is it.

Matching the date of the gun the holser is dated 1937, has the original white stitching and all the components are firmly attached and functional. Below: We can see the holster was made in Berlin, it was accepted with the Waffenamt proof and dated 1937.


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.

Above: Marching in Potsdamn in 1932 Below: Commanders of the 12 SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend

Allies first came in contact with the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend ("Hitler Youth" was a German Waffen SS armored division) on June 7th during operation Overlord. II. The HJ, along with the 21.Panzer-Division, was the closest armored unit to the landing beaches. Due to Hitler's authorization being required to release the panzer units, the HJ was not ordered to the front until 1430 on 6 June. The 12th SS Panzer-Division in particular established a reputation for ruthlessness in the first days it saw combat in Normandy. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth established in 1926, while the NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern Front.

This 1937 Mauser S/42 is in good - very good condition. This Parabellum show honest holster wear and a strong shiny barrel. This gun may be sold before being posted as such on the internet. Just minty and offered complete with and all matching Mauser S/42, two matching magazines, proofed loading tool, a Hitlerjugend original belt buckle period belt and chest strap.

We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearm that does not have a physical deposit. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. Call for availability. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. Questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com

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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