Question: Mod. 1900 grip shape at magazine release button

[Empereur]

Dear all,

This is my first post on the forum, because I can 't find (or I do not seem to find) an existing post which contains the answer for a question that I have.

As it is my first post, a small introduction would be an appropriate sign of my respect, I suppose. So, I'm Tim, a 23-year old who's been interested in guns and other militaria (of largely all periods before 1945) since childhood. The Luger has always been the pistol that I liked the most, together with the 1911 and the GP-35. Unfortunately I live in a country (which is still) named Belgium, which has quite strict gun-laws (compared to some of the states in the USA and also compared to Switzerland). I don't yet have a license to shoot with anything (first, I had to get my diploma and a job), but in 2012, I shall start with that. However, in Belgium, there is a list of guns for which you do not need a license (you can have them in your house without ammo), which is nice, but which also makes the guns on that list very expensive. The Swiss Lugers are on it.

Now, the question I have is this one: if I look at the left grip panels near the magazine release button, I see that some of them are nicely cut into a half-circle which "embraces" the release button, but others are cut into a more rectangular shape. Is that normal, did they come out of the factory like that or are the grips with the rectangular cut-out damaged?

As an illustration of what I'm trying to say: here are two links to Simpson ltd. The first link shows a Luger with the half-circle, the second one has the rectangular cut-out:
1) http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...f516c4eced40d0
2) http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...f516c4eced40d0

Those are both of the 5th variation, but I also noticed the differences among the other variations.

An other question, on which I have already read some answers on the forum, but I want to know whether there's some evolution in what is known about it, is this: what was/is the use/purpose of the wide trigger? Some books say it was for better trigger control, others say it was not loved and it was seen as a failure (Horst Rutsch). What do you experts think?

One more thing: I've already learnt a lot by reading on this forum and I'm stunned by some of the pieces you, collectors, have.

Thanks in advance,

Best regards,

P.S. I mentioned earlier on that I want to get my shooting license, but of course I'm not going to use a Mod. 1900 as an every day shooter (if I can ever lay my hands on one (i.e.: pay one)).

P.S. 2: If there are horrible mistakes in English, I do apologise for it, but it is not my native language.

[DavidJayUden]

Tim:
Welcome to the forum! It is always especially interesting to hear from Luger Enthusiasts from other parts of the world, and your English is very good.
I see the differences in the grips where they are cut out for the mag release on the 2 guns you have referenced from Simpson's, LTD. Is this common or could it just be a small damage chip unique to one, or very few, guns?
I am not up on Swiss models so let's see what those specialists have to say.
dju

[pisto]

Tim, the difference in the wood grips at the place of the mag. release button is because of the left grip has to be fixed into the frame - please check other Lugers as well for example this 1914 Erfurt:
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...f39d15ef65a4f5

The wide trigger question is a good one - never got a real answer - I guess it was designed for comfortable feeling while pulling the trigger but did not allow fast handling and draw out of the holster ?

[Lugerdoc]

Tim, All models of lugers original had the semi-circular wood surrounding the mag catch. As grips were changed, this area sometimes had to be opened up to accomodate differences in the frame. Also on PO8s where the mag safety was added, this area will be modified. The one shown in your photo is chipped. TH Ps: the inside of the M1900 right grip, will be different from all other luger grips, due to the flat recoil spring.

[Empereur]

@ DJU: Thank you for the nice comment!

@ Ben M & TH: So it can be classified as "damage"... that's what I initially thought, but I wanted to be sure of it. It's something like the "million dollar chip" under the safety lever then.

Thank you all for the answer!

@ Pisto: let's hope there's an answer on the wide trigger-question.

Best regards,

[Sergio Natali]

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

Tim, All models of lugers original had the semi-circular wood surrounding the mag catch. As grips were changed, this area sometimes had to be opened up to accomodate differences in the frame. Also on PO8s where the mag safety was added, this area will be modified. The one shown in your photo is chipped. TH Ps: the inside of the M1900 right grip, will be different from all other luger grips, due to the flat recoil spring.

I agree, I've already met more than one P.08 with the same damage, so it is really something very similar to the "million dollar chip" under the safety lever .