This is a 1938 Chamber dated Mauser Code S/42 Nord See Nazi Navy complete rig. Truly a collector's find!  A minty all matching 1938 dated 9mm Parabellum produced before the war began with walnut grips and the last two digits of the serial number appear on all the small parts including the thumb safety. It comes with a pair of matching Navy Nord See numbered magazines that match to the gun with a Nazi Navy proofed holster, proofed loading tool, a period black belt and a dress golden Navy Belt Buckle. This is a Pre-War Parabellum  and the finish and craftsmanship was outstanding.   This is a very rare rig due to the small number of capital ships and U-Boats that survived sufficiently to have the crew captured.  (1997)

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.

These Lugers were manufactured by Mauser-Werke in Oberndorf.  The S/42 code was instituted in 1934. The military acceptance was still the dropped wing German Adler (Eagle). In  April 1939 the new style Eagle over the Swastika replaced the former droop-winged eagle army acceptance stamp.  The 1940 was the first full year of the 42 code and the Eagle/Swastika acceptance stamp. So the S/42 code went from 1934 until 1939 (late). This is a premium rig, all correct and all matching.

The  "N" on  the back  strap signifies Nord See (North Sea)  The four digits are match the magazine. The Right Pictures shows the extractor exposed showing the "GELADEN" (loaded) which can be both seen by the shooter or felt at night.

Included in this offering is the 1938 dated all matching Nazi Navy (Kriegsmarine) with a 2nd matching magazine, a 1938 Navy Proofed holster and proofed loading tool, with both magazine matching the North Sea unit marking on the grip.  This is as good as it gets for a minty Navy Rig.   

 Schlachtschiff  Gneisenau   

The Swistka w/the M (Marinen) is the mark of the Kriegsmarine in WWII.  It appears on both the holster and on the belt.

The leather is still strong and subtle with the original white stitching.  All parts are intact and functional including the pull strap.

The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945, superseding the Reich Marine, and the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht. The Navy was based from the Northern ports Wilhelmshaven and the Baltic (Ost-East) Sea from Kiel.  The Baltic Sea was used for extensive internal transport and the sea lanes required protection from the Soviet Bolsheviks.

1938 was a wonderful year of Luger production, before the shooting war had begun and when the guns had the polish an splendor of the craftsman.  Serial number position was throughout the gun as seen above.

Schlachtschiff Graff Spee

The rear axel pin has been numbered in accordance with the 1933 order to prevent the armorers from interchanging the pins.  Some times in full recoil with the hot loads the Luger fired the pin would extend beyond the frame and be chipped.  Mauser later solved this by putting a 2mm hump on the "ears" at the rear of the frame now referred to as the Mauser "hump".  

The grips are fine diamond walnut with the serial on the grips.  Both magazines are blued steel the aluminum bottoms serial numbered to the gun by Mauser with the suffix and proof while the Navy added the "N" (Nord See) and the matching unit gun number to each magazine

Note how all the detailed parts have the serial number or the last two digits of the serial number on this all matching Luger (above on the breach block). Beautifully detailed and struck, the Eagle 63 on the barrel and all the matching serial numbers.  1938 was still a pre-war year for Mauser. The newer "vented" firing pin that is serial numbered to the gun. The serial number also 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 is the matching frame with the Straight Wing Eagle 63 Proof; the barrel has matching numbers and gauge markings are seen above. It is entirely subjective to give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder.  

The Nazi Navy Belt Buckle was a gold wash and is proofed on one side with the manufacturers cartouche. These dress buckles are very hard to find and this was undoubtedly a ships guard or gangway sentry that was in a dress uniform capacity.

This extraordinary rig has a 1938, S/42 code Parabellum with two matching (Type 2) magazines, it has a proofed loading tool, 1938 Marinen proofed holster, period belt with the Nazi Navy dress belt buckle. The 1938 S/42 code Mauser was the predecessor of the "42" code begun in 1939 which included a directive that wood grips would be used until they were not available.

Schlachtschiff Bismark