1945, End-of-War, Put-Together "PX Gun" Luger

Description

7/3/25 - At the end of WW2, there was a large demand for souvenir Lugers. It wasn't just the wartime GI's on their way out who wanted them, but also the new replacements coming in to keep the peace. Each American base had a PX, or Postal Exchange. These stores offered Lugers (likely other guns as well) to the GIs as war souvenirs. Some of these were surplus Mauser and Krieghoff Lugers put together from leftover parts. Some can even be seen with DWM parts. These are often referred to as "PX Guns" or "PX Lugers". They are often observed with the following characteristics: no serial number, low serial numbers, serial numbers with different fonts and sizes, various maker marks (often Krieghoff-proofed on at least some of the parts), about half have HK toggles and half do not, often the toggles and chambers are blank, most have black bakelite grips, often have straw-colored small parts, and many parts are not numbered or marked at all. If you'd like more information on this variation, it is discussed in more detail in our "Third Reich Lugers" book. This particular example we have here has a low "14" serial number, blued small parts, a blank toggle and chamber, fitted with black bakelite grips, and comes with a black bakelite "black widow" magazine. There is an etching on the left side of the frame that reads, "William F. Barnes, Suhl-Germany, 1945" - likely a custom order by the American GI who bought it. The gun's finish rates about 95% with general high edge wear with some thinning and tiny pits along the barrel. The rifling in the bore is fairly worn with minor pitting throughout.