1940 Mauser Banner Police

This is an extraordinary Luger; for the devotee it is apparent that the frame was originally milled by DWM by the machine marks, by the lack of the drilled hole in the stock attachment and by the absence of the extended wings to cover the rear main axle pin. All the proof marks indicate assembly by Mauser while the barrel appears milled by Mauser.

The extractor is marked "GELADEN". The bore is good with distinctive lands and grooves. The thumb safety is new style, and blued. The thumb safety is marked 'Gesichert' and safe is down. Serial numbers match on all the parts, and magazines.

This Luger has been cared for over 75 years now. It is looking for a good home. Strong grips and matching serial numbers throughout. Just a very clean, early war example of the Mauser Banner Commercial Police.

The bottom of the gun shows only minimal honest holster wear around the trigger housing. (Below) you can see the craftsmanship present in the machined parts, all serial number, all matching.


This is an extraordinary lot of guns. In late 1937 Mauser adopted the salt blued finish with no strawed-blued parts. Mauser was under contract to build police guns which they did utilizing the Mauser Banner commercial style. In 1939 Mauser made 7400 Banner police guns from the V to the X suffix with a police Eagle K, F, C, or L on the receiver. These were undoubtedly standard contracted guns build and sold to German police units.

The front of the receiver has the full serial number that matches the magazine which is marked with the number of the magazine (2). The barrel is military proofed as the military models were.

The most distinctive feature of these pistols is undoubtedly the toggle-lock mechanism, which holds the breech closed by locking in a manner not unlike the human knee, which can sustain a heavy weight when straight, but once bent is quite easy to continue to bend. The toggle joint in its straight position resists the rearward force of the detonating cartridge, then "buckles" after enough time has passed. When a round is fired the entire breech, barrel and toggle move straight rearward (on rails) until the toggle begins to ride up on a pair of cams that "breaks" the toggle (makes it bend at the joint). Once the toggle joint is no longer straight, it bends freely, allowing the bolt to come rearward, and the striker to be cocked. The spent cartridge is extracted by a combination extractor/loaded chamber indicator on the top of the toggle, is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward Free Travel Info, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a spring.

Above we have the sear bar which is attached to the frame and floats over a pocket in the side plate and is held in place until the side plate is removed, at which point when the side plate is removed the pin drops into the sear to prevent the gun from firing. This was something that was mandated by the Berlin Polizei Ministerium. Also illustrated is the type of the thumb safety which also is serial numbered to the gun.


This minty 1939 S/42 Mauser police pistol, all matching with two matching magazines and a dated 1939 please holster with the manufacturer's cartouche and a loading tool, just like it was taken from the battlefield. This was a special order of less than 5000 guns that were marked in the military manner but had the sear safety installed and were dedicated to the police. The pride of most anyone's collection.

Here is the inside of the Luger and you can see it is clean and has been well cared for over the years. The trigger is serial numbered as well as the rear main axel pin. The action is tight and the barrel is excellent. There is honest holster wear on the muzzle, barrel and high points on the sides. The barrel is shiny and shows distinct lands and grooves.

Above Left: Here you can see the GELADEN on the extractor indicating the gun is loaded by both visual and tactile means in the dark. Above Right: With the toggle in full extension you can see the rear main axel pin numbered to the gun. In 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear connecting pin be serial numbered to the gun.

The grips are strong and the original walnut. Marked with the the last two digits of the serial number they show us these were the original grips issued with the gun.

This is a standard 1934 Model gun designated by collectors as the 1939 Mauser Police S/42 that was ordered from Mauser for Police use. This Luger has all matching numbers. The finish is very good and this model has a hold open latch and stock lug. The first toggle link is marked with the Mauser S/42 Code. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear.
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This is a beautiful example of the quality craftsmanship that was continuing on at the beginning of the war. Occupying large areas of land, states and countries the German Army had to assume everyday policing duties in the occupied areas. When the demand got huge for these guns the quality of the firearms did not diminish.

Above Left:Above Right: Both matching magazines are the old style wrapped and crimped sleeves with the coiled spring. The aluminum bottom is single pinned and shows the full four digit serial number of the gun.


The Open Holster showing the 2nd matching magazine and the loading tool is in the early color of the Landespolizei which was expanded into the Wehrmacht. This is a marvelously preserved original 1940 holster, it is one of the very hardest to find, for the Police or Banner collectors and great piece for the investor who wants the best.

The stitching is still 'white' [never stained] and strong throughout the holster with the leather in excellent condition. The pull strap is fully functional and the belt loops are strong. Police holsters are found in brown and black with the general assignment of black for the urban police and brown for the rural police. However, the fragmented nature of the German Federation that during the Weimar years there was no consistent standard. Military police holsters were found in the majority as black and rarely do you find the brown leather shown here.

This is a 1939 manufacturers cartouche, the date (matching the gun) and the police acceptance stamp. It doesn't get any better.



Inside you can see the leather pouch for the loading tool with a functional top and the extra magazine. The inside is unblemished and minty.


In 1936, Mauser made a slight design change in the rear of the frame to lengthen the "ears" covering the rear main axel pin to provide better protection. This became know as the Mauser 'hump' due to the 2mm projection. Some earlier Mausers' were built on DWM frames from the acquisition but these were mostly used up in the production of the G-Date Parabellums' however, a few still pop up. The seven stave Mauser Banner was their commercial designation as was the Eagle N commercial proof points this gun out as strictly a contract gun for the SS police.
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Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style; displayed on the left side of the receiver, the side plate, the locking bolt, the sear bar safety, the extractor, the forward toggle link, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger. Original grips are finely cut diamond shaped checkering made from walnut and serial numbered to the gun.

This Luger has the shortened sear, enabling the gun to be cocked while still in the safe position. This feature was adopted in 1916 and continued in the modifications in 1934. The barrel is 4" (100mm) and the rear sight is "V" cut fixed and front dovetailed sight with the frame having the stock lug.

This is a very clean gun with an excellent barrel and all matching including the magazines.




The magazine is blue sleeved with coil springs and aluminum Type II bottoms, matching serial number to the gun. The magazine is numbered 1 in the police manner.

Above Left: The right of the receiver is proofed with the "Eagle C" police proof. These were special contract guns for the SS Police that were increasingly tasked with providing security in the rear areas of captured territory. Above Right: The Eagle N proof mark was the commercial succession of the Crown N nitro proof of Germany on the breechblock.

On the front site instead of the usual Crown U (Oberndorf) is a Crown N in an inverted position. Only discernible when you turn the gun over and look at the sight can you recognize the 'Nitro" proof of the new commercial proof.

The Mauser Banner was a commercial model and represents that fine care and finish that went into the guns produced by the craftsman at Mauser. Very clean and nicely proofed. This Parabellum shows minor holster wear with slight shine on the high points of the frame and side plate where it contacted the holster.

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.