Luger, Lahti or.......??

Redcoat3340

Redcoat3340

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I've got a few "classic" type 9mm pistols of the S&W (39s, 59s, and others, Beretta, Walther, HP, and Star varieties. (I also have a couple of plastic pistols for carry, including my primary one, a Shield., and an SD9VE and SW990L) Nothing of real collector status, just good ole old school pistols that are good shooters.

I'd like to explore a bit further afield in the "classic" (read: older, non plastic) direction.

I've ruled out Broomhandles, Sig 210s and a few others based on price, and am thinking in the direction of Lugers or Lahti or.....? (Gotta be 9mm as I reload for that.)

But I'm really leery of Lugers. First, I worry they are overpriced due to their raging popularity. True, they are iconic, but there's a premium to be paid for that, one I'm not sure I want to absorb. They also seem fiddly and complicated. I'm semi-at home inside most of my other pistols, I worry about the Luger. Finally, there is soooo many different flavors....how does one find something basic and decent without getting into stuff that hasn't been faked or pieced together out of old parts (which if they work is perfectly fine for me), how much study do I need to be sure I'm getting what I want?

Which brings me to the Lahti. I've got some Finn and Swede rifles and having a Nordic pistol would be kinda neat. Appreciate any advice folks might give me in that direction.

There are other possibilities including Radom or Astra 600. I'd be willing to sell something to help finance something better (I sold a couple to finance a Walther P5)....but I'm looking for a direction to go in. Any suggestions from the shooters/collectors out there? 
 
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Thank your for the response...had a CZ75 and hated it. I know, I'm the only guy in the world who doesn't like 'em, but I just couldn't warm up to it and could only shoot it so so....not as well as my FEG HP clone. Have an FN HP and P38/P1....so I'm still look'n.
 
As I read your post up to the last couple of lines I had Radom on the tip of my tongue then I saw you've considered one.

To keep it affordable how about some of the 9 MMs that flopped as commercial ventures? A civilian version of S. Korea's military pistol came and went. They were a double action first shot except the hammer could be lowered without taking the tension off the mainspring. They basically had Para-Ordence's LDA for the first shot only. There was the Browning double action that could be set for double action only or traditional double/single action. My FEG (P9S?) is an inexpensive but very accurate and reliable traditional double action pistol. Its draw backs are that it has a crappy double action and absolutely no prestige. Old Sig P220 9 MMs with the European magazine release sell for low prices but are reliable and accurate.
 
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Your answer is one of the guns that you mention, the Astra 600. The
600 was developed at the request of the Nazis. It's a scaled down
copy of the older 400 for the 9mm Luger ctg. Introduced in 1943 they
were for an original order by the Nazis but only a few ever made it to
their hands due to the allied advance. They are often seen on GB and
prices can vary somewhat depending how much they are hyped by the
sellers. The Nazis only received about 10,000 of an order for 25,000
and total production was somewhere around 65,000. The 600 is a very
simple and strong blowback 9mm. The history of the undelivered guns
varies and isn't often clear but many that show up on GB are in
excellent condition and sell for very reasonable prices. I have a very
nice one. I have a couple of Lugers also and have thought about
buying another but it has gotten to the point where rough pitted
mix-masters may go for $750 on up and I'm not buying at those prices.
I've seen excellent Astras go for under $400 and they are a true piece
of history.
 
I think Lugers are more expensive than Broomhandles.

These are old classic guns. I don't see what's to be leery about. They are all complicated for today's world. They are all old so in a sense they are all pieced together from old parts. Many have been rebuilt at one point. Or you're paying thousands. I had a Luger a few years ago that was reblued at some point and had a none original side plate. Great gun, great bore and cost me $375. It was a great piece of history but not a collectable.
 
Lahtis are fetching very high prices these days. There is a reason the Swedes called them "The Iron Stove" too, they weigh a ton.

Nothing can compare to a Luger, the way it sits in your hand, the looks, the toggle flying open when you pull the trigger. I don't think they are that complicated but they can be finicky. If a mixmaster will work for you I suggest finding one. They are the ultimate 9mm. to own.
 
While a Luger is the way to go, I haven't seen any nice ones at the shows lately. A nice one would be a common (1939 maybe) high-end shooter with all matching parts and serial numbers for $1200. All the ones I've seen as of late have been nickeled (what a shame), guns that won't even function as a gun, and mismatched and/or seriously damaged. These Lugers are all parts guns. Yet, they want close to $1K for all of them. Go figure. I should mention that the problem-free ones are setting out for around $2K. Not in my ballpark.
 
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As you noted, nice P08s are expensive but fairly plentiful (millions were produced). Like revolvers of a certain familiar company, parts were numbered to the gun and a little education and inspection can tell you if it has been refinished. I have no particular feelings for or against Lahtis, but I can say I don't see as many for sale - they look somewhat the same as a P08 but they are not the same gun :).

Good luck in your decision.
 
Lahtis are neat, but seldom seen, and costly. I had a Swedish version of the Lahti many years ago, another of the many I wish I had kept. I do not know how many variations exist of the Finnish and Swedish Lahtis. I do know that the action was purposely designed to allow reliable functioning in arctic conditions. If you have the budget for it, Lahtis would be great to collect.

You might consider U. S.-made .32 and .380 pocket pistols of the pre-WWII era. Lots of variety from numerous manufacturers (S&W, Colt, Remington, H&R, Davis-Warner, and Savage for the most part) and multiple variations. It's not impossible to find them in excellent condition at sub-Luger prices, and building a complete collection is challenging but not impossible. Also, you might consider P-38s, but they are getting costly also.
 
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They're out there. You just have to be diligent and patient.

Here's a Luger I recently picked up for $600. It is a S/42, all matching and, unfortunately, refinished. It has a nice barrel and will make a nice shooter.
LugerR.jpg


And here's a Lahti I found for under $600 (at Cabela's no less)
LahtiL.jpg


And it came with the following:
LahtiAcc.jpg
 
A shooter grade Walther P-38 is an excellent choice, I have one that dates to 1944, my father mail ordered it in 1961 ( I tried to talk him into getting a P-08 Luger, they cost $10.00 more and the old man said the P-38 was "better"), I have replaced the springs and now we go shooting regularly. It a nice shooter . Not as much collector interest in the P-38 and the aluminum framed version ( P-1 I think ) as the Luger , so can be had for a reasonable amount.
The Astra 600 are also a possibility , a high school buddy had one and we shot it and the P-38 a lot. Surplus 9mm ammo was cheap in the 1960's. I always thought the 600 was a cool looking gun and it shot well.
Gary
 
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Qball,
Sorry about that! (I get generically lazy at times.;))

Mine is a Husqvarna M/1940 and is a Danish Police contract piece.

(I would love to have Finn, but they are, and always have been, quite pricey.)
 
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deadin said:
Qball,
Sorry about that! (I get generically lazy at times.;))

Mine is a Husqvarna M/1940 and is a Danish Police contract piece.

(I would love to have Finn, but they are, and always have been, quite pricey.)
Click to expand...

Yes sir :D
No problem, i'm just joking :p

I remember your m40 i think we discussed it through email? :D
 
There are literally dozens of P-38 variations, and some collectors specialize in them, also P-38 Holsters. I have only one left, a Mauser from 1944, but it is in superb condition and has what I believe to be the original German military soft holster. I do not shoot it any more after seeing what these in similar condition sell for today. I'll date myself in saying that I remember when you could go out and buy a truckload of random P-38s for $25 each. Every pawnshop in America probably had many of them in stock at any given time.
 
If you aren't in a hurry and are willing to wait until the right deal comes along, you should be able to get a nice Swedish M40 with all the accessories for a decent price. Shooter grade Lugers are out there also as you can see from a previous post. I bought an M40 a few years ago and really enjoy shooting it. It is a heavy duty pistol and will give years of good service.

Husqvarna M40
 
I also like the older, metal 9's, and have picked up a few of what you seem to have (S&Ws, Star's, Beretta, and I happen to love my CZ!). If you're undecided but still want to "get something" for the meantime, you might look at the older Chinese T-54 Tokarev's in 9mm.
Don't scoff until you check a decent one out; I have a couple, and from what I can tell, these were older military Toks, with a new 9mm barrel in place (not the 213). They run dirt cheap when you find one, mine feed without a glitch with regular tok mags made for 7.62, and I still find them to be among the most accurate 9's I have. You should be able to get one under $200 still if you look. The shape is a little homely, but internally they have a lot in common with the 1911.

It's not a Luger, but you won't find a Luger around $150, and you might find a Norinco for that.
 
I've owned a bunch of 9MMs over the years, including a couple Lugers. Neither of my Lugers,a 1918 DWM and much later a 1938 Mauser, were very nice examples or very reliable. Never had one, but always thought a clean Astra 600 might be an interesting gun to own. Probably more reliable than either of my Lugers too;)
 
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