.45 luger

TONY · 09-05-2001, 10:37 PM

a freinds father took a luger from a german soldier in ww2, he says it is a .45 cal. was such a gun made?

Johnny Peppers · 09-06-2001, 12:18 AM

The only .45 cal Lugers made by DWM were hand build under the direct supervision of Georg Luger. It is widely thought that only 3 or 4 of the pistols were ever built, and at least three of them were sent to the US. The odds of a German soldier having one of these pistols would be in the 1 in 1,000,000 range. I guess nothing is impossible, but if your friend has the pistol he can retire on the proceeds from the sale of the pistol.

Big Norm · 09-07-2001, 03:25 AM

Which brings to mind a good question. How many .45 pistols were actually built? I had heard someplace that there were five of them built by Georg Luger. One of them is in private hands now. Another was given to Teddy Roosevelt as a gift and is in the Smithsonian. And the final three were shot out during testing and sent to the Philipeans. How does this compare with what others have heard or know?

Big Norm

09-07-2001, 08:17 AM

in the story he told, that he got the luger.45 from a german soldier. how could he got the pistol??? i mean, that all .45 were delivered into the states. dieter

Johnny Peppers · 09-07-2001, 10:40 AM

There are no records of how many of the .45 Lugers were eventually built. According to records Springfield Armory received two and one of them is known today. It is a fact that two of the pistols including one of the Springfield pistols still exist, but only conjecture as to whether others exist also. There are rumors of others, but so far none have surfaced.

For those new to the forum, one of the pistols is on public display at the Norton Gallery in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Big Norm · 09-07-2001, 02:19 PM

Thanks Johnny. I have always wondered about those guns. I sure would like to see one just to see how big and heavy they are in comparison to a regular Luger. I always thought that a certian style and grace would be lost in accomodating the larger cartridges. But, what good is life without a few dreams and pleasant mysteries.

Big Norm

John Sabato · 09-07-2001, 03:20 PM

In the General Info section you will find a link on the .45 caliber Luger. It makes good reading. A member of this forum (Hugh I think) has been to the Shreveport museum and has confirmed that the Luger on display there is *INDEED* a .45 caliber Luger, he was unable to obtain the serial number but suspects it to be 3 or 5, and while I'm not sure about the Smithsonian story, two .45 Lugers can definitely be confirmed.

Dok

09-05-2001, 10:37 PM	#1
TONY New User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	.45 luger a freinds father took a luger from a german soldier in ww2, he says it is a .45 cal. was such a gun made?

09-06-2001, 12:18 AM	#2
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: .45 luger The only .45 cal Lugers made by DWM were hand build under the direct supervision of Georg Luger. It is widely thought that only 3 or 4 of the pistols were ever built, and at least three of them were sent to the US. The odds of a German soldier having one of these pistols would be in the 1 in 1,000,000 range. I guess nothing is impossible, but if your friend has the pistol he can retire on the proceeds from the sale of the pistol.

09-07-2001, 03:25 AM	#3
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: .45 luger Which brings to mind a good question. How many .45 pistols were actually built? I had heard someplace that there were five of them built by Georg Luger. One of them is in private hands now. Another was given to Teddy Roosevelt as a gift and is in the Smithsonian. And the final three were shot out during testing and sent to the Philipeans. How does this compare with what others have heard or know? Big Norm

09-07-2001, 08:17 AM	#4
Dieter Guest Posts: n/a	Re: .45 luger in the story he told, that he got the luger.45 from a german soldier. how could he got the pistol??? i mean, that all .45 were delivered into the states. dieter

09-07-2001, 10:40 AM	#5
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: .45 luger There are no records of how many of the .45 Lugers were eventually built. According to records Springfield Armory received two and one of them is known today. It is a fact that two of the pistols including one of the Springfield pistols still exist, but only conjecture as to whether others exist also. There are rumors of others, but so far none have surfaced. For those new to the forum, one of the pistols is on public display at the Norton Gallery in Shreveport, Louisiana.

09-07-2001, 02:19 PM	#6
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: .45 luger Thanks Johnny. I have always wondered about those guns. I sure would like to see one just to see how big and heavy they are in comparison to a regular Luger. I always thought that a certian style and grace would be lost in accomodating the larger cartridges. But, what good is life without a few dreams and pleasant mysteries. Big Norm

09-07-2001, 03:20 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	here's a good idea just how beautiful they are... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bermuda (Eat Your Heart Out) Posts: 1,626 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	*You guys REALLY* need to wander this site more...** In the General Info section you will find a link on the .45 caliber Luger. It makes good reading. A member of this forum (Hugh I think) has been to the Shreveport museum and has confirmed that the Luger on display there is INDEED a .45 caliber Luger, he was unable to obtain the serial number but suspects it to be 3 or 5, and while I'm not sure about the Smithsonian story, two .45 Lugers can definitely be confirmed. Dok