Luger search

[diyj98]

I think Simpson's is very high on their pricing, but they know Lugers and have a reputation about describing things honestly. Not so with a lot of other sellers. Some because they're dishonest, others because they just don't know. I went to look at a several "vet bring back" P38's several years ago at a local gunshop. The shop owner had purchased them from the vet's family. I had an odd feeling about the guns and asked the owner if he'd remove the grips or allow me to. He removed the grips and sure enough they all had the FGS import markings under the grips. It seems the vet brought them back from a gun shop and not overseas

 

[GypsmJim]

The pistol reliably shoots my home-brew 120 grain truncated cone bullet (cast from a 6-cavity Lee mold) ammo.

I had variable luck with different shapes, but the Lee TC was the best choice. It also fed well thru my P38.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I always wanted a Luger and my wife picked this one up for my first birthday we were together 31 years ago. It was a bring back and was being sold by a small dealer in a little town near where we live. The soldier that brought it back passed away and his son wanted to sell it. His son indicated it had spent its life in the US in his dad’s sock drawer.

It’s a BYF 41 with all correct Nazi markings, original correct and marked leather holster and the two original magazines with Bakelite bases. The black Bakelite grips are original to the gun as well. Also all numbers match. Unfortunately the takedown tool was missing from the holster. Checking reference material it appears this one was part of a small batch that went to the navy. The SN is a low alpha number and from the proof marks on the side I’d guess it was a late 41 production.

I understand it’s a black widow which is a pretty meaningless term and originated as a sales gimmick to drive up prices. I think my wife paid $700 for the rig whic at the time seemed a bit high but looking back and considering condition and what came with it plus condition I think she did really well.

 

[Warren Sear]

I had variable luck with different shapes, but the Lee TC was the best choice. It also fed well thru my P38.

That bullet works well in all my 9mm pistols, from Glock to Sig Sauer.

 

[Photog]

BARgunner nailed it...Simpson Ltd.

 

[long colt frazier]

Thanks guys, all great advice and beautiful lugers. I'm going to look at Simpsons and the forum. I am in no hurry, I haven't had one for the first 69 years of life so I should be fine;-) Maybe a pre-war lady smith will pop up and take care of my shopping fever;-)

 

[boykinlp]

Thanks guys, all great advice and beautiful lugers. I'm going to look at Simpsons and the forum. I am in no hurry, I haven't had one for the first 69 years of life so I should be fine;-) Maybe a pre-war lady smith will pop up and take care of my shopping fever;-)

I would definitely look here. Nice, knowledgeable folks and decent prices.
Larry

New Firearms: WW1, WW2, Civil War Military Collectibles | Legacy Collectibles

 

[long colt frazier]

Thank you, they do have some nice stuff priced reasonable.

I would definitely look here. Nice, knowledgeable folks and decent prices.
Larry

New Firearms: WW1, WW2, Civil War Military Collectibles | Legacy Collectibles

 

[Llance]

I strongly recommend against a WWII Luger. Why? Because some were manufactured by slave labor. The parts on 6 that I looked at only one was manufactured by all hired labor. The five had poor fit and finish and when I spoke to the owners, they all indicated they were poor shooters. Sometimes not functioning properly, etc.. If you have a choice get one from before WWI up to about 1935. After the Nazi's took over things went down hill and by "42" down really fast. ymmv

Llance

BTW: Mine is a 1916 Model and cost me about 150 hours of labor doing clean up work on several other guns including a total refinish on two walnut stocks which amounted to nearly 80 hours of applied and hand rubbed linseed oil.

 

[GypsmJim]

Thanks guys, all great advice and beautiful lugers. I'm going to look at Simpsons and the forum. I am in no hurry, I haven't had one for the first 69 years of life so I should be fine;-) Maybe a pre-war lady smith will pop up and take care of my shopping fever;-)

Well you and I are quite different...LOL.

When I make up my mind that a "need" something it usually finds my safe in a matter of weeks.

Regardless, good luck to you. The joy of the hunt is the best part.

 

[Doug G]

I strongly recommend against a WWII Luger. Why? Because some were manufactured by slave labor. The parts on 6 that I looked at only one was manufactured by all hired labor. The five had poor fit and finish and when I spoke to the owners, they all indicated they were poor shooters. Sometimes not functioning properly, etc.. If you have a choice get one from before WWI up to about 1935. After the Nazi's took over things went down hill and by "42" down really fast. ymmv

Llance

BTW: Mine is a 1916 Model and cost me about 150 hours of labor doing clean up work on several other guns including a total refinish on two walnut stocks which amounted to nearly 80 hours of applied and hand rubbed linseed oil.

Actually aside from a change from rust blue to hot salt blue the quality of the WWII guns are on par with the DWM and better than Erfurts. They did not use slave labor making the P.08 as it took skill to hand fit all parts. Luger production stopped for Mauser in 1942 when Germany was still doing ok in the war. Krieghoff still made them until 1945 and their quality was always top notch. The ones that malfunction were probably parts guns or bubba rebuilds. The biggest factor in a malfunctioning Luger pistol is a bad magazine. Now if you are talking about late war P-38's then yes quality did suffer towards the end of the war and mainly in the Spreewerk cyq guns.
The the OP realize that when you buy one Luger pistol you will want more and more. It's a sickness. But if you want one to shoot buy a functioning mismatch gun or better yet a 1970's Mauser.

 

[6string]

A good start is to read the books!
There are some classic Luger books out there that will teach you so much and are better organized than a bunch of online tidbits here and there.
Luger Variations, Lugers at Random, anything by Fred Datig…
Eventually you get an idea what suits your needs, tastes, and budget.

Personally, I think the parts guns slapped together by the Russians are the worst.
Pre-War DWMs, American Eagles are in the middle of the pack: collectible but not hair raisingly expensive.
If you are OK with 7,65 Lugers, vs 9mm, that can be to your advantage.
Swiss Lugers are a wealth of interesting variations, and the Swiss knew how to take care of their guns. You’re more apt to find one in very nice condition.
Plus, if you plan to shoot it, the Swiss ones tend to be amongst the best for accuracy and good triggers.
I would personally avoid the late 20th c commercial Mausers. They look nice, but have little collector value. And, there are many dimensional variations that make parts a huge problem.

Buy from a reputable dealer or established collector. You might pay more up front. But, that’s much better than getting burned or having to source a part or servicing to fix undisclosed issues, however minor they may be.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have owned three of the Mitchell Lugers. I would not buy another one unless it was REAL cheap and I could test fire it significantly before buying. I now have three "real" Lugers. All three run reliably.

 

[MelvinWalker]

While Lugers have always intrigued me I don't think I could ever bring myself to buy a Nazi era gun.

That would be the very reason I would buy one....History.

Just like the mummed and matching Type 99 Arisaka with monopod and capture papers I recently bought at auction...Two American bullet holes in the upper stock, splitting the forearm...One of the rounds hit the barrel on the way out.

 

[Andyd]

The Parabellums from the mid 1970 are the 29/70 and they are not built on the more common 08 pattern but the 06, just like the Swiss pistols.

Great shooters with much better metallurgy than the guns from the DWM era.

 

[bgrafsr]

I always wanted a Luger and my wife picked this one up for my first birthday we were together 31 years ago. It was a bring back and was being sold by a small dealer in a little town near where we live. The soldier that brought it back passed away and his son wanted to sell it. His son indicated it had spent its life in the US in his dad’s sock drawer.

It’s a BYF 41 with all correct Nazi markings, original correct and marked leather holster and the two original magazines with Bakelite bases. The black Bakelite grips are original to the gun as well. Also all numbers match. Unfortunately the takedown tool was missing from the holster. Checking reference material it appears this one was part of a small batch that went to the navy. The SN is a low alpha number and from the proof marks on the side I’d guess it was a late 41 production.

I understand it’s a black widow which is a pretty meaningless term and originated as a sales gimmick to drive up prices. I think my wife paid $700 for the rig whic at the time seemed a bit high but looking back and considering condition and what came with it plus condition I think she did really well.

I also have a BYF41 that is close to mint. I has 3 magazines, original wooden stocks and the black bakelite stocks, I purchased a P08 holster with a loading tool for it. I had Bill's Cases make a presentation box for it also. I believe I paid around $3,000.00 the gun.

 

[Doug G]

The Parabellums from the mid 1970 are the 29/70 and they are not built on the more common 08 pattern but the 06, just like the Swiss pistols.

Great shooters with much better metallurgy than the guns from the DWM era.

They were actually built using the old tooling purchased from the Swiss government. After Mauser concluded their production in the 1970's they destroyed the tooling. Any Original Mauser's in the standard P08 style were reworked WW2 guns.

 

[Randall_G]

I bought this one about a year ago for $1250 on Gunbroker. It is a byf 41. It was missing the bolt hold open, and the seller certainly had to know it was missing, but did not state that in the description. Nevertheless, it was exactly what I was looking for (personal reasons) so I kept it. The replacement part was $120, and now the pistol works as intended.

All parts numbers match except the magazine (of course) and the take-down lever, which is unnumbered and I believe is for a 1906 model pistol.

I was prepared to spend at least $2000, so I'm happy. I just wish the seller would have been honest, because I would have bought it anyway.

The magazine that came with it was absolute trash. I bought two Mec-Gar and one Stoeger aftermarket magazines. The Mec-Gar mags work reliably, but the Stoeger is not as good.

The pistol reliably shoots my home-brew 120 grain truncated cone bullet (cast from a 6-cavity Lee mold) ammo.

I think you did well at $1250.

The locking bolt (take down lever) is from a Swiss Model 1929 (or 06/29), as evidenced by the lack of knurling.

 

[Jim Watson]

AIM Surplus has had some Switzers. Today I see a 1929 with straight frontstrap and what looks like a P08 rebarrelled to .30.

 

[Randall_G]

Simpsons also has a good selection of Swiss Lugers right now, starting at $1600. Nice condition, subtle import stamp.