POTD: Mauser Baby Luger Conversion – 1940 Pistol Cut to Pocket Size
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a 1940 Mauser Luger subsequently converted to “Baby Luger” configuration with 2-inch barrel. This represents a postwar conversion when surplus Lugers were modified for concealed carry. Baby Luger conversions became popular in the 1950s-1960s when war surplus P08 pistols were cheap and widely available. Gunsmiths cut barrels to 2-4 inches, creating compact 9mm pistols from military surplus. Some conversions were professionally executed; others were crude modifications.
The challenge with Baby Luger conversions is the toggle action wasn’t designed for short barrels. The Luger’s toggle mechanism relies on specific barrel length and recoil spring tension to cycle properly. Shortening the barrel to 2 inches often creates reliability issues – the gun may not cycle consistently or may require specific ammunition. Mauser manufactured Lugers from 1930-1942 at their Oberndorf factory. A 1940 manufacture date means this saw wartime service before its postwar modification. The “42” code marked Mauser Lugers during WWII, with earlier dates using different marking systems.
Original military Lugers in unmodified configuration are worth significantly more than conversions. Baby Luger conversions represent a distinct postwar phenomenon when military surplus was repurposed rather than preserved. Most serious collectors avoid conversions in favor of original configurations. The 2-inch barrel makes this extremely compact but sacrifices the Luger’s legendary accuracy. The modification destroyed whatever collector value the pistol had as an original 1940 Mauser military pistol, though it created an interesting example of postwar customization trends.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Custom Mauser ‘Baby’ Luger Conversion Semi-Automatic Pistol.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5030/509/custom-mauser-baby-luger-conversion-semiautomatic-pistol. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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