1938 Mauser S/42 SS Rig


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. This is very nice battlefield bring back with a short sear, type II magazine and stock lug.

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. See Kenyon, *Lugers At Random*, Page 276

This Luger has been cared for over 78 years now. It is looking for a good home.It is very difficult to find an all matching serial numbered gun and a matching magazine. This is a premium 1938 for the serious collector who demands the best in collectable Lugers. This is a very clean gun with an excellent barrel and all matching magazine.

The serial number on the front of the frame and under the barrel with the "8.81" gauge marking. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, under the barrel and the last two digits on most small parts. The firing pin is original and serial numbered to the gun. All serial numbers match including the magazine The magazine is blue sleeved with aluminum pinned bottom and are proofed with the straight wing Eagle 63. Proof marks are well struck and clearly visible. On the right the bottom of the magazine with the complete matching serial numbers.

The gun is all matching with the serial number on the barrel, the frame and the magazines. Under the barrel serial number is the gauge markings 8.81 measuring the distance between the lands. This all matching Luger with the barrel serial number and gauge markings along with the suffix "c" on the frame and the matching serial number w/the suffix "c" on the late 1930's type wrapped steel magazine with an aluminum bottom.

SS Division The Waffen-SS, formed in 1940, was the true military formation of the larger SS, and as such, it is the main focus of this section. Formed from the SS-Verfungstruppe after the Campaign in France in 1940, the Waffen-SS would become an elite military formation of nearly 600,000 men by the time WWII was over. Its units would spearhead some of the most crucial battles of WWII while its men would shoulder some of the most difficult and daunting combat operations of all the units in the German military. The Waffen-SS is sometimes thought of as the 4th branch of the German Wehrmacht (Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine) as in the field it came under the direct tactical control of the OKW, although this notion is technically incorrect as strategic control remained within the hands of the SS. To this day the actions of the Waffen-SS and its former members are vilified for ultimately being a part of the larger structure of the political Allgemeine-SS, regardless of the fact that the Waffen-SS was a front line combat organization.

ter>


Mauser-Werke and Berliner-Karlsruhe Industrie-Werke (BKIW), [BKIW was the successor to DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken)] had common ownership. In 1930 the machinery, technicians and supplies were moved from Berlin-Wittenau to Oberndorf and BKIW's interest in the Parabellum ceased.

This 1938 rig as worn on the uniform with the chest strap and SS belt.

Here we can see the early Mauser Eagle 63 proofs with the Straight Wing and the early Waffenamt (Ordinance) drooped wing acceptance stamp on both the frame and the barrel. Sometimes there is an Eagle 83 but this inspector is very rare.
The SS motto was "*Meine Ehre heißt Treue"* ("My Honor is Loyalty.") The SS rank system was unique in that it did not copy the terms and ranks used by the Wehrmacht branches (army, air force, navy), but instead used the ranks established by the post-WWI Freikorps and taken over by the SA.

The SS was established in 1925 as a personal guard unit for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler ("Die Schutz-Staffel der NSDAP" [Shield Squadron of the NSDAP]). Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler between 1929 and 1945, the SS grew from a small paramilitary formation to become one of the largest and most powerful organizations in Nazi Germany. The Nazis regarded the SS as an elite unit, the party's "Praetorian Guard," with all SS personnel (originally) selected on the principles of racial purity and unconditional loyalty to the Nazi Party.

Above Left a Luger armed soldier being awarded the Iron Cross. Above Right: A recruiting poster for the Waffen-SS.

In contrast to the black-uniformed Allgemeine-SS, the political wing of the SS, the military wing, the Waffen-SS evolved into a second German army aside the regular one, the Wehrmacht, operating in tandem with them. The Waffen-SS were encouraged to use confiscated weapons and individual initiative was rewarded. These were committed troops with high loyalty and honor.


This is a splendid example of the 1938 Parabellum with a pre-war gun on the Mauser built frame, polished and salt blued. 1938 found Mauser in the late "c" suffix block and it proceeded to produce approximately 111,962 Parabellums. Below: These magazines were salt blued/black with crimped steel, aluminum bottoms. These magazines were supplied for mostly Mauser Lugers bearing the Code S/42 on the toggles.

Above Right: One can see the small 2mm "hump" distinctive of the Mauser frame to protect the rear main axel pin in full recoil. Note the last two digits of the serial number on the rear main axel pin. In 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear connecting pin be serial numbered to the gun which was required by order in 1933.

The front sight is a fixed blade set for a 50 yd zero while the rear sight is "v" cut.


The grips are the fine diamond walnut and show very moderate wear. This inside exhibit the last two digits of the serial number plus some factory codes to tell us these were the original grips issued with the gun.

Included with this offering is the all matching 1938 dated 9mm Mauser, two matching magazine, a 1938 dated holster, a proofed loading tool, a period belt, an enlisted SS belt buckle, two hangeres and a chest strap. Nothing better to be found.

Adolph 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 Adolph 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.


The inside of the holster is clean and all the stitching is white and still functional. Offered with this 1938 Mauser code S/42 an all matching Parabellum, that is furnished with a second matching magazine, and a proofed loading tool within an operable pouch..


The front and back of the holster is in very good condition with all the stitching intact and functional. The stitching is still white telling us that this was not a died holster but original issue. In the early days of the NSDAP Julius Schreck, the leader of the Stabswache (Adolf Hitler's bodyguard unit), resurrected the use of the Totenkopf as the unit's insignia. This unit grew into the Schutzstaffel (SS), which continued to use the Totenkopf as insignia throughout its history. According to a writing by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler the Totenkopf had the following meaning; "The skull is the reminder that you shall always be willing to put yourself at stake for the life of the whole community."

Above Left: Accompanying this rig is an early steel Schutz-Staffel SS enlisted belt buckle. Above Right: The loading tool with the straight-wing Eagle 63, the same proff as the gun, making this a marvelously complete rig.

The arrows indicate the manucfacturer by code along with the date of manufacture (1938). Between the belt loops is the Waffenamt proof, inspection by the government upon acceptance and above right is the SS Runes. The holster, without the P-08 proof required by the Wehrmacht shows that this came outside the standard procurement.


Wartime recruiting posters glorifying the Waffen SS.


The right side of the gun reveals the two-stage proofing of the Eagle 63 inspector and on the receiver and barrel is the Waffen Amt inspection emblem of the early German military acceptance.

This is a good clean example of the Mauser 1938 S/42. It shows a deep blue and displays minor holster wear. There appears to be no pitting or damage to the surface and represents a fine example of that period Luger. This Luger has been cared for over the years and shows well both inside and out. The barrel is strong, shiny with distinctive lands and grooves.

Above/Below the serial number appears on the underside of the barrel with the gauge markings and on the receiver. This is an all matching. 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.

The Extractor is marked "GELADEN" German for "loaded'. This gave the shooter the ability to both see that the gun was loaded for firing and tactilely. It has the short sear and a hold open after the last round us fired. Truly a remarkable gun.

Mauser-Werke and Berliner-Karlsruher Industrie-Werke (BKIW), [BKIW was the successor to DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken)] had common ownership. In 1930 the machinery, technicians and supplies were moved from Berlin-Wittenau to Oberndorf and BKIW's interest in the Parabellum ceased. DWM was in the "u" block and the guns shipped contained and Mauser continued with the "v" suffix in 1934.

This is a good clean example of the Mauser S/42 1937 Model. Note the last two digits of the serial number on the top of the thumb safety. It has shows the Mauser deep blue and displays minor holster wear. There appears to be no pitting or damage to the surface and represents a fine example of that period Luger.

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.