^Lot 1457 SCARCE DUTCH CONTRACT MAUSER BANNER "1940" DATE

P.08 LUGER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 2695v. Bbl. 3 15/16". 1 of 600 P.08 Luger semi-automatic pistols (in the 2655v-3254v S# block) mfg. by Mauser in 1940 under contract for the Netherlands. While these pistols were intended for the Dutch, the German invasion of the Netherlands on May 10th of 1940 halted the delivery, with these 600 P.08s subsequently being taken and utilized by the Wehrmacht shortly thereafter, as noted on page 775 in Vol. II of "The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols" by Joachim Gortz and Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess. This example is marked "1940" over the chamber, with a double crowned "U" proof (repeated on left side of breechblock) on the left, and 2 Mauser Eagle/655 proofs marked on the right. The left side of the frame is marked with the Dutch safety marking "RUST" above a downward pointed feathered arrow. Metal components exhibit a blue finish overall, with some small parts including the takedown lever, trigger, safety lever, and ejector exhibiting a straw finish. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Standard dovetailed blade front sight and fixed V-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, takedown lever, sideplate, trigger, safety lever & bar, hold-open latch, bbl., bbl. extension, trigger bar, breechblock, firing pin, toggles, rear toggle pin, as well as the grips. MAGS: 1 non-matching plated 8-rd. with wood plug. CONDITION: metal components retain large amounts of their original factory blue finish, exhibiting areas of wear and thinning that are fading to gray patina, as well as scattered spots of light surface oxidation and pitting overall. Grip straps have faded to a mottled gray patina and exhibit consistent light surface oxidation and pitting. Strawed parts retain fair to good amounts of their original finish, exhibiting areas of wear fading to gray patina, as well as scattered spots of age related discoloration. Bore exhibits consistent mild pitting and some scattered spots of dark pitting, while retaining good rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Wood grips show areas of smoothing, as well as scattered superficial handling marks and impressions, but otherwise remain sound. (25-6558/MLW). CURIO. $1,000-1,500.