1934 K Date Mauser Rig

1934 K Date Mauser Rig

This is a 1934 Pistole 08 military gun manufactured by Mauser. This piece is a 4 inch (100 mm) barreled 9mm Parabellum. To conceal production a series of alphabetical dates were assigned in addition to the code on the toggle S/42 (Mauser). ''K" dates are representative of the Luger produced in 1934. This Luger is offered with the entire rig (below). (2089)

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.


This is a standard 1908 Model gun designated by collectors as the "K" Date Mauser. The finish show standard holster wear and a stock lug. The first toggle link is marked with the S/42 Mauser code in Scriptic Style. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear. This is a much sought after collector grade gun.


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, and the thumb safey. The thumb safety, locking lever and trigger are straw blued. This Luger has all matching numbers.


This photograph demonstrates the mixture of Scriptic "S" on all the various parts. This gun represents true battlefield pickup condition. Captured with the original holster. The frame is a Mauser manufacture with the 2mm "hump" Mauser added behind the rear main axel pin.

In early 1930 production was begun by Mauser in Oberndorf with the transfer of the tooling and equipment from BKIW (DWM) factory in Berlin to Mauser-Werke. The first order was for the Dutch in November 1930 and then the American Eagle orders for A.F. Stoeger. From 1930 until 1934 Mauser assembled many thousands of Lugers from DWM parts and stocks, plus reworked other for the paramilitary groups and the police. Mauser proof marks left a trail across many Lugers.


The frame is a Mauser manufacture with the 2mm "hump" Mauser added behind the rear main axel pin. Below Left you can see the "37" on the thumb safety. Below Right is the loading tool with the match B][90 proof.


The Barrel (above) is matched to the gun with the caliber 8.82mm stamped. On the barrel is the B][90 proof from change of inspector from O][37. All the proofs are strong and clean.

The grips are walnut and display the customary fine checkering. On the inside of the grip is the serial number (last two digits) and the Scriptic "S".

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, returning, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a spring.

"K" Dates were marked with multiple proof marks much like Erfurts. There are four subvariations of the "K" Dates based on the placement and type of the "S". Early "K" Dates below serial number 2000 were marked with the Scriptic S through out, the second series 2000-5000 have mixed Gothic and Scriptic letters after 5200 fewer parts were marked in Gothic and the "S" in S/42 became Scriptic. The S/42 is taken to mean that 1942 was the end of the contract; known when Mauser began to produce the P38 as the combat arm of the Wehrmacht.



The inside of this Luger is very clean inside. The inside of the gun is clean with no evidence or pitting or rust. It has been cared for many years. The bore is good with some very minor frosting. This gun is an exceptional Luger being in such fine shape and bearing all the correct proofs and markings to make it a text book "K" date. See Kenyon *Lugers at Random* Page 262.



The cleaning rod was only found on the en masse on the K-Date Parabellum. It appears to have been locally procured on some WWI holsters but there is no pattern to it's appearance.

In 1934 Mauser got it's first Military P-08 contract from the German Government. So was born the first military Mauser Luger, the "K" date of which it was estimated 10,900 were made. These were the 1934 production designation "K". There were approximately 3200 of this variation of the rare "K" Date Mauser Luger. This 70 year old Luger has survived a World War and remains a fine example of the craftsmanship of it's makers

This is a full Rig. There is a 2nd Magazine, a take-down tool, the holster and buckled belt. When your are talking about a "bring back" this Luger was captured intact with the everything.

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 barrel is clean and in excellent shape. This rarely found Luger is in excellent shape in original condition. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.

Note how all the small parts of marked, much like the Erfurts had every part stamped. By the end of 1934 the marking of all the small parts was abandoned. When found with the Eagle 63 proof you rarely see an "S" on the small part except for left over parts from other assembly.

Other than the "K" Date Mauser did not proof guns with so many proof marks on their Lugers. This was the first production year of the military contract and by this time Mauser was producing the Luger with all new parts. Even the blue has a deeper, darker tone from that extra effort. This gun is a bit of a time capsule, pre-war production at it's best.