Quick Introduction

[Leather Neck]

Hello all,

I registered for these forums back in September, and I've been a lurker ever since. I've wanted a Luger for a while now, but I was initially put off by the high prices some of them command. Even so, I couldn't stop wanting one.

Fast forward half a year, and my wife just gave birth to our first child, a beautiful daughter. That means I'm now on paternity leave with a little extra time at home to search these forums and Gun Broker for a good deal. That deal materialized last night, and I am in the process of buying the Luger posted here:http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=36810. It suffices to say I am very anxious to receive it and head to the range!

Now that I will have a Luger to call my own, I anticipate being a more active participant here. I've already learned a good bit from y'all, and your knowledge is truly impressive. Your willingness to help educate others is even more impressive. I look forward to learning more and getting to know you further!

-Dustin

[Edward Tinker]

Welcome to the forum, I had talk to Duanne via email and on the phone about all of the Lukers that he selling and I thought this sounded like a nice one and it's even nicer in the photos then the quick photos he showed me so congratulations and welcome

[mrerick]

Ed, "Lukers"? Must be a new VoRec vocabulary word!

[wlyon]

Dustin
Welcome to the Forum and the luger addiction. Bill

[Eugen]

Dustin, congrats on your nice Luger acquisition and welcome to the forum. Post often regarding your ownership experience, particularly if you go to the range with it.

I am still in my rookie year of lugermania and am learning more each day and am really enjoying the journey. I recently had the opportunity to meet Ed Tinker, who is an expert on police lugers and has been very kind to share his knowledge on this forum. I purchased his book on police lugers to enhance my knowledge regarding my recent purchase of a police rework. The book is a great read and his associate, Dwight Gruber, did great photography job.

[Leather Neck]

Originally Posted by Eugen

Dustin, congrats on your nice Luger acquisition and welcome to the forum. Post often regarding your ownership experience, particularly if you go to the range with it.

I am still in my rookie year of lugermania and am learning more each day and am really enjoying the journey. I recently had the opportunity to meet Ed Tinker, who is an expert on police lugers and has been very kind to share his knowledge on this forum. I purchased his book on police lugers to enhance my knowledge regarding my recent purchase of a police rework. The book is a great read and his associate, Dwight Gruber, did great photography job.

Eugen,

I've definitely had Ed's book in mind since I purchased my (soon to be, anyway) Luger. I would love to learn more about the police models. The fact that I'm a police officer as well makes it even more interesting to me. I believe its purchase is in my very near future.

[rhuff]

Welcome to one of the best forums on the internet!!! A great group of folks here, and most are more then happy to share their knowledge and help. Be aware that one Luger frequently leads to two....three....four!!!

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forum.

[RShaw]

Looks like a very nice gun at a good price- well done! "Matching exterior numbers with original finish" sounds like a possible collectible (they say they didn't check the numbered interior parts.... surprising!)
A very nice first Luger!!

[DonVoigt]

"Surprising"- no, probably means:
1- they don't know how to take a luger apart or, and more likelly,
2- they did take it apart and it does not match- hence the lie.

One sees this frequently, and one of my favories:
"Bore is dirty, will probably clean up"! Yeah-right.

[RShaw]

Hi Don,
Yeeesss I thought about that, and then concluded, their statement isn't a "lie" if all the numbers on the fully assembled gun which are visible, in fact match (I'm sure they do- easy to check). But why do that for a shooter? I must be missing something. Sad that one has to be so careful....
I really don't want to become cynical but the tendency is there (

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by RShaw

Hi Don,
Yeeesss I thought about that, and then concluded, their statement isn't a "lie" if all the numbers on the fully assembled gun which are visible, in fact match (I'm sure they do- easy to check). But why do that for a shooter? I must be missing something. Sad that one has to be so careful....
I really don't want to become cynical but the tendency is there (

I wouldn't call it cynicism... What's required is skepticism and critical analysis. Skepticism requires following the available evidence, and the analysis is more complete and valid based on one's knowledge of the best info at the time.

Status of surviving serialization of an auction lot with the description "all visible numbers match" should be judged on that and only that. One should not bid on what one wishes to be the case (that the internal numbers also match), rather what is presented in the description and what is actually visible in any pics.

I've obtained several numbers-matching guns, albeit shooters, which were either described like that or made no mention of the status of the numbers. However, since I always bid on such examples as though they do not match--unless it is demonstrable that they do--I have had a handful of very satisfying purchases that turned out to be matching when they arrived home.

[RShaw]

Hi David,
This answer I like, Thank you.

Another question: How does one tell if a part stamped with the last two digits of the SN is in fact matching to the gun? Example, P08 with SN 3498 has a take down lever with 98. Looks like it matches, but that lever could go with any gun with a SN whose last two digits are 98. SN 3498, 2598, 4798.....
Thanks

[DavidJayUden]

Good question.
Sometimes one has to look at overall condition of that part vs. the overall condition of the rest of the gun. Is that takedown lever pristine with strong straw coloring while the rest of the gun shows more wear? Or does the bluing match?
Some parts may have a correct or incorrect WAa marking for the supposed period of mfg.
Also on side plates the later Mauser Lugers actually used the first 2 numbers, plus or minus "1" on the INSIDE of the plate, as well as the last 2 digits on the outside. Thereby making it statistically tough, if not impossible, to substitute a plate from another gun.
There may be other tricks that I have forgotten, but reasonable, detached judgement AND years of experience go a long ways in these situations.
Or you can post photos here and one of the gurus can get us back on track and keep us out of trouble...
dju

[RShaw]

Ahh thank you.

I think I'll take photos and post them here. My thanks in advance to the guru's here who devote their time to, as you say, keeping the rest of us out of trouble

But I am also very interested in learning more for myself... Here in NL we have less opportunity to see and handle a large number of Luger's and other C&R firearms... I would love to go to the gunshows in the US..... here very few and far between. My books and forums go a long way already!!

[DavidJayUden]

In my part of the US Lugers are pretty rare at gun shows. I suppose that the large shows like Las Vegas there are more opportunities to handle more pieces.
Why not plan a vacation to the US and time it around one of the major shows? It would be an interesting experience even if you can't take one home on the plane.
dju

[RShaw]

Great idea!
Do you know of any shows taking place between 7 April and 17 April? We will be in the Boston area at that time.

[DonVoigt]

Mass. is not exactly "gun friendly"!

[RShaw]

No, but the middle of our stay is open. Could go anywhere in New England or even farther south.... I have never actually been to a gun show. Never!

[ithacaartist]

Happening a few days after your trip: http://www.syracusegunshow.com/