New and Overwhelmed

[PEB]

Hi All
I just happened to come across this forum and am very excited to learn all I can about the German Luger. I have admired and wanted one for some time but am just know getting to where I am ready to do what is necessary to commit to this purchase.

I would like to purchase a WW2 era Mauser Rig. From the little bit of reading I have done, it sounds like I will be purchasing more than one. I enjoy spending time at the range with a couple of friends and my father, so I definitely would like my first one to be a shooter. I would like this gun to still be a nice looking firearm. I actually would not mind learning and getting into a restoration project as I like that clean look with the white markings, etc. I would like it to be all matching but am unsure if this is a waste being that it will be being fired on a fairly regular basis.

I know that there are quite a few things that make these fine pistols unique and I would like to gain the knowledge to make an educated purchase on my first and the subsequent collector grade purchases that I am hoping will follow.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Paul

[Neil Young]

Welcome aboard Paul. It is a fascinating hobby. Do all of the reading that you can squeeze in. Buy books. Read the Frequently Asked questions and stickies on this forum and learn before you buy. Knowledge is power when it comes to Lugers and that knowledge will minimize costly mistakes. You can't learn it all in the time that you are willing to spend before your first purchase, so seek the advice of experts on the forum. They are good people and don't mind helping a willing learner. However, arrogant, know-it-all people don't do well here (nothing implied here, just an observation).

[PEB]

Thanks for the reply Neil. I'm excited but terrified at the same time! I never realized how clueless I was until it came time to actually spend my hard earned money.

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forum Paul you came to the right place.

Do a search of the forum for previous posts of new collectors being pointed in the right direction.

You will find hours of good reading.

Good luck.

[Edward Tinker]

Decide if you want it for shooting, if yes, then don't buy a really nice rig, a shame to break a breechblock and destroy the value

[Neil Young]

Postino:
You know, I don't think that I would have come up with the "amusing" aspect on my own. However, I will admit that I did look forward to reading those verbal duels. I never missed a post.

[lugerholsterrepair]

Neil, Interesting and fascinating debates can be a joy if the personal insults and attacks are left out.

Paul, Welcome as well..Ed'd advice and the other is good..Might take a little bit of study but any information you can put into the old noggin will save you money. It took me 10 years of study to buy my first Imperial Navy shoulder stock. But now I know them inside and out! Took me several years of study for a Krieghoff loading tool too but it would be hard to fool me on one today. Never be in too big a hurry to throw away hard earned after tax money.

[PEB]

Thanks everyone for welcoming me aboard!

I realize that this is going to take some time and be a never ending process as i'm sure there will be something new to learn everyday. I imagine the best way to gain knowledge is the old fashioned way from hands on experience.

Are the pistols that are for sale in the classified section discussed here on the forum? It seems there are a few that would fit the bill as a starter for a newbie like me to use as a shooter and learn to disassemble, clean, study, etc.

[BAT340]

Like me...You'll learn quite a bit from this forum.

[Lugerdoc]

I purchased my first luger in 1959 and still learn something new with every luger book that has been written since then. Just remember, that the German factories did have a system and directives for making & marking their pistols, but mistake were made and these were tools to be used, not museum pieces, as some consider them to be today. TH

[MikeP]

Don't let it ruin your enthusiasm-just relax and do some reading and research.

There is a lot of ongoing and archived info on this site.

It is a broad subject surrounding a central issue.

The golden days of kicking up vet souveniers is about over, but you nevr know what you might find.

Ask questions, but "fly on the wall" is not bad, either.

Some of us are incurable and compulsive wize azzes-pay no attention to that.

[PEB]

Thanks everyone! I'm finding that there is a lot of great reference material here as well as many friendly members willing to share their knowledge.

[Geo99]

Paul,

Welcome to the Luger addiction (oops - I meant hobby). I too started out to buy a shooter Luger and all I seem to get are guns that are too nice to shoot (maybe I'm just lucky!)

IMO, buying a numbers matching shooter with a poor or reblued finish is not a waste of money, as these guns were all hand-fitted to extremely close tolerances. So in theory a numbers matching gun is less likely to give you performance issues when shooting - but then again, sometimes any Luger can be a pain to feed and shoot.

The white markings you referred to are just white lacquer stick. You can put it on any stamping or engraving on any gun, to make the stamps stand out better. The only thing that was ever painted white on a Luger was the 'GESICHERT' safety stamping, but on the guns I have seen it is usually faded (gray or yellowish) if still original.

If you want a restoration project, then get a gun that has no finish or has already been reblued - you will not be destroying or diminishing a valuable gun - unless you go crazy on the buffing wheel!

For books, you can spend a lot or a little. I have seen some of Jan Still's books advertised for $800 new. The "Standard Catalog of Luger" is only $17 at Barnes and Noble. Yes, it may contain some errors, but it is a good place to start and it won't break the bank.

I don't own or shoot any gun that is not numbers matching (that's just me),
Geo



And now for some shameless self-promotion:
Standby - I may soon have a very nice Mauser shooter rig for sale - reblued but very nice.

[Ben M.]

while you study you can keep an eye on this dealer site to wet-your-whistle

www.simpsonltd.com