My first German P08 Luger

[jsfricks]

Interesting that it was found in a pawnshop in Elberton, Ga. My sister has been living there for about 15 years. I'll have to have my Bro-in-law check maybe there are a few more hanging around there!
Lots of Granite quarries there it's billed as the "Granite Capital of the World". It's a pretty, little Southern Town
Steve W

It was found at the pawn shop in 1955.

 

[CptCurl]

I'm a fan of Lugers and have been since childhood. Still have a modest collection.

Several years ago I bought one of the Russian captured Lugers that came on the market. It mostly matches but has one or two small parts that are forced matched. It shoots flawlessly. I have no qualms about shooting it. That's the fun of a 'shooter grade' Luger. Meanwhile, my beauty queens stay in the safe.

I posted several of my Lugers here over the years. Have a look:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...r-variety-dwm-1900-american-eagle-7-65mm.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/378941-luger-dwm-1906-commercial-9mm.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...er-1941-mauser-banner-police-eagle-l-9mm.html

Curl

 

[DepOne]

very nice

Beautiful gun but I would not load the magazines and put it away. The springs will weaken after a long period of time and have to be replaced.

 

[29aholic]

Beautiful gun but I would not load the magazines and put it away. The springs will weaken after a long period of time and have to be replaced.

That is not exactly true. It has been discussed over and over and proven it is the compression/decompression of the springs that weaken them. We have seen examples of magazines that have been loaded 50+ years that still work just fine.




OP, Lugers are fairly resilient. Go shoot it and at least be able to say you did. Who knows what will happen to it after you're gone?

 

[jsfricks]

Beautiful gun but I would not load the magazines and put it away. The springs will weaken after a long period of time and have to be replaced.

This is what my wife's uncle did, not me. When it became mine I unloaded the (corroded) ammo from the mags, cleaned and oiled them. He didn't know any better. He also has a German 7.65 (possibly an Ortgies 7.65) that his dad brought back from WWII and it had a loaded mag and stored in holster. I told him that neither was wise.

 

[Texas Star]

I've had the pleasure of shooting a German friend's P08 Luger. It was his grandfather's pistol that he had used in WWI. It too was very accurate even though the bore didn't look good. It felt great in the hand, I would certainly like to have one given the opportunity.

Did he maybe fight in SW Africa, or under von Lettow-Vorbeck in German East Africa?


Germans in Germany were required to give up their guns after WWII, but if he stayed in Africa, maybe not. Many still remain in what is now Namibia. A German ship was trapped up the Zambezi in 1914 and the crew abandoned ship, taking what weapons they could. There are probably some Naval Lugers still in what is now Tanzania. And others probably captured by South Africans. Do you see many for sale there? Some may have been captured by your troops in North Africa and Italy, too, in WWII.

 

[Texas Star]

I finally found one a few years ago for a decent price ($795 OTD).

Its a plain jane 1920 commercial in .30 caliber, but everything matches and it hasn't been through Billy Bobs Bumper Chrome and Downhome Bar-B-Cue Emporium. The 9mms always seemed to be way too pricey.



.30 Luger ammo is still widely available, and I have a stash that will last me a while. This isn't really a daily driver type of gun.

I do shoot it, though. Its a joy.

I loved your witty post!


Have you shot any jackrabbits or coyotes with that? Can you buy JHP .30 Luger ammo? If available, it should be effective on bobcats and coyotes. Prob. okay for raccoons, too. Don't think I'd stretch it further.

 

[MCorps0311]

Very nice pistol,i've always liked the looks of them but never see them in the gun stores in go too.

 

[Art66]

What a great looking pistol! Very good condition for a military pistol that old and with holster and accessories too! The real pudding on the cake is your historical knowledge of how it was acquired, etc. I haven't a clue as to its value but it doesn't matter-Keep that one in the family forever!