As a memento of my father, who recently passed away, I received the Luger he took from a German officer in 1945. It's the long-barrel version that was originally developed for use by German artillery units prior to WWI. This one was manufactured by the Imperial Arsenal in Erfurt.
I'm neither a collector nor a shooter, but the weapon is of great sentimental value to me. As far as I know it was last fired in the 1950s when one of his brothers put some .38 rounds through it. I've been advised by collectors not to fire it again so as not to risk damage that would reduce its value.
The gun is, as far as I know, original save for the clip, which is of later manufacture and bears a different serial number. Also. the holdopen spring is broken. I know, because I broke it sometime around 1970 while dismantling the gun to see how it worked. I was then, and remain now, fascinated by and very appreciative of the elegant design and fine machine work represented.
Dad acquired the gun in a holster. A collector has identified the holster as WWI-era pigskin, but designed for the short-barrel version. Whoever mated the gun with the holster cut off the end of the latter to accommodate the long barrel, so the collector value of the holster is reportedly very low.
A few pics:
That's awesome! My step grandfather too took one off of a German officer and brought it back. Somehow it ended up in my fathers hands and I also took it apart. All serial numbers match and you have to read German to see what the rest says.
However, unlike yours, ours WAS last fired on July 22, 1993. I know the day because I had turned 16 ten days before and went camping with my buddies. We shot it. I would have gotten away with it, but, wanting to be like my dad, and knowing he really didn't care about this weapon, I put it under the seat of my truck and ran around with it. Fast forward to a crew truck getting wrecked, he needing mine, then having to shower down on the brakes once and the pistol hit his foot. He was some kind of mad when I got home about it. I lied about firing it then. I told him after I was married that I did indeed fire it and it cycled beautifully. 🙂
Great piece and brought back a ton of memories!
I've never seen one with a long barrel before. That's really nice, Jim.
Sorry for your loss. I'm sure that is a treasured memento.
My father-in-law has one the he inherited from his uncle that was in the war too. Along with the holster. In beautiful condition. Hang on to it. It is worth more than you think (sentimental and value wise).
It's a beautiful gun, btw it is a magazine not a clip, a clip is used to load a gun or magazine quickly. Usually 5 rounds on a strip of metal.
Scott Ellis, post: 409464, member: 7154 wrote: btw it is a magazine not a clip
I know I've heard that before, but never paid much attention. I'll try to be more careful about terms, just so I don't sound so wet behind the ears!
Jim Frame, post: 409470, member: 10 wrote: I know I've heard that before, but never paid much attention. I'll try to be more careful about terms, just so I don't sound so wet behind the ears!
It doesnt bother me so much, but some gun fans they flip out when you call a magazine a clip. If you really want to push them over the edge call it a banana clip.
Scott Ellis, post: 409471, member: 7154 wrote: It doesnt bother me so much, but some gun fans they flip out when you call a magazine a clip. If you really want to push them over the edge call it a banana clip.
try "munitionszeitschrift"....;)
My dad brought one home from WWII too! He and my mom were heading out for a weekend vacation and my dad wanted to hide it in case they were robbed. He put it in his bedroom trash can, and my mom through it out next trash day. She wondered why it was in the trash. She never liked guns in the house, so I think it was her way of getting rid of one? 🙂 Jp
If you want to know more about it as far as collector value goes, you may want to contact the folks at Simpson LTD.
https://www.simpsonltd.com/
I believe they have one of the largest Luger collections in the US. There is an interesting video on the lower right side of their home page titled "Peek Inside Simpson LTD" They probably have a vintage mag., as well as the spring that you need.
I have purchased several firearms from them and was very satisfied with their customer service.
They don't advise storing guns in leather holsters (especially sentimental/collectable guns).
Looking at that pistol and I believe it is a Ruger Huntsman you can certainly see where Ruger got there pattern
Bushwhacker, post: 409628, member: 10727 wrote: Looking at that pistol and I believe it is a Ruger Huntsman you can certainly see where Ruger got there pattern
The silhouette Definitely has a resemblance. More so if the lighter weight barrel is used.
The cosmetic design has some similarity, but the mechanical design appears to be completely different.
Someone but 38 rounds through it? I would think it would be a 9mm, I was thinking they also might have made something like a 32 luger round but I'm not sure.
Its worth quite a bit more than a standard Luger. Its a very elgant design and the sight is unique for that design. I'm not really up on Lugers so I don't know a lot about them but some of them also came with a stock that could be added. I would actually think it would be OK to shoot and not really hurt the value that much but I'd have a gun smith check it out first. Its a very nice piece.
David Livingstone, post: 409807, member: 431 wrote: Someone but 38 rounds through it? I would think it would be a 9mm, I was thinking they also might have made something like a 32 luger round but I'm not sure.
Its worth quite a bit more than a standard Luger. Its a very elgant design and the sight is unique for that design. I'm not really up on Lugers so I don't know a lot about them but some of them also came with a stock that could be added. I would actually think it would be OK to shoot and not really hurt the value that much but I'd have a gun smith check it out first. Its a very nice piece.
You're exactly right, except I can see how someone "might" confuse it as a .38 special is a 9mm with regard to the projectile. 🙂
Kris Morgan, post: 409830, member: 29 wrote: You're exactly right, except I can see how someone "might" confuse it as a .38 special is a 9mm with regard to the projectile. 🙂
Somewhere I remember reading the US Army was (back in the day) evaluating designs to adopt for side arms and a "Luger" inspired design was produced for .45ACP rounds. I don't think it ever made it to production but a .45 Luger would definitely be a collectible "unicorn" .
David Livingstone, post: 409807, member: 431 wrote: the sight is unique for that design.
From what I've been reading, all of the 1914-1916 Artillery (LP08) models came with the fine-tuned rear sight. After that it appears to have been optional and not very common.
