1937 Mauser S/42

1937 Mauser S/42

This is a 1937 dated model 1934 Pistole 08 military Parabellum manufactured by Mauser. As a pre-war Parrabellm this is among yhtfirst 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)

1937 Mauser Luger

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 Wehrmacht was the unified armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air-force).The term Wehrmacht is in Article 47 of the 1919 Weimar Constitution, establishing that: Der Reichspräsident hat den Oberbefehl über die gesamte Wehrmacht des Reiches (“The Reich's President holds supreme command of all armed forces of the Reich”). From 1919, Germany’s national defence force was known as the Reichswehr, which name was dropped in favor of Wehrmacht on 16 March 1935. The name Wehrmacht even in Germany is generally considered a proper noun of the 1935-45 armed forces, being replaced by Streitkräfte in its original meaning; however, this was not so even some decades after 1945. In English writing Wehrmacht is often used to refer specifically to the land forces (army); the correct German for this is Heer.


On the thumb safety [Gesichert] is the new style, and blued. The finish is 98% Blued and 98% Beginning in 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 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.


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 sideplate 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.

Adolf Hitler reviewing the SS (Schutzstaffel) along with Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (right with lapel open) who was a German Waffen-SS general, an SS-Oberstgruppenführer, and one of the men closest to Adolf Hitler. For his wartime services, he was one of only 27 men to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Note in this picture he is wearing a round belt buckle with the leather belt.


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 is that they were blood stains. 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.

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.

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This 1937 Mauser S/42 is in good - very good condition and offered for $0,000.00 over the counter. This Parabellum show honest holster wear and a strong shiny barrel. This gun may be sold before being posted as such on the internet.

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. Just minty and offered for $3,695.00 over the counter with the reservation that the gun may be sold before being posted as such on the internet.

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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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