ID help on artillery Luger with really long barrel

[amp]

I'm new to Lugers and would appreciate if anyone could tell me more about what I have.

Picked up this artillery Luger during an estate sale a while back because it looked odd and I have a soft spot for WWI stuff. However, just like gym class back in the day, after looking at everyone else's, mine has a barrel that seems to be on Viagra. Is this something like a super anti-aircraft Luger?

[Doubs]

Looks to be a post-WW1 creation with a 16 inch barrel, possibly from Stoeger but really no way to be certain. Stoeger offered barrels and barreled receivers in many lengths. The "GERMANY" stamp and C/N proof indicates that the receiver, at least, was made for export to the States. The rear toggle looks to me to have originally had a rear sight that has been removed but I could be wrong about that. The rear toggle link also looks to be an Erfurt part.

What caliber is it?

Bottom line: it's a parts Luger put together at some point after WW1. It's an interesting pistol and I'd own it if given the chance... and the price was right.

[reiver]

I'd be interested to know if that LL PO8 cycles when fired....lot of unsupported weight up front.

Both the barrel and frame are 'Germany' stamped so that appears to all have been done in Germany....interesting piece.

[Yakman]

Originally Posted by reiver

I'd be interested to know if that LL PO8 cycles when fired....lot of unsupported weight up front.

Both the barrel and frame are 'Germany' stamped so that appears to all have been done in Germany....interesting piece.

The German proof law required that to be proofed the pistol must be complete, assembled, and serial numbered. The 16" barrel does not appear to be proofed so was probably sold separately to Stoeger, hence the GERMANY country of origin stamped on it in accordance with our import law. Because the receiver is proofed the pistol would have had to have had a barrel installed at the time of proofing. Stoeger, or maybe Pacific Arms, probably removed the original barrel and installed the 16" barrel as a special order. The US has no proof law so no problem with the longer barrel having no proof. If the longer barrel had been installed when imported from Germany it would have been proofed and there would be no need for the GERMANY import stamp since the barrel is a component of the pistol as is the toggle, for example.

Jack

[Mac Cat]

Thanks for sharing!
Good photos, too.

That long barrel luger is pretty hard to ignore !
BTW, we measure the barrel from the muzzle to the breach ( about where the 4 1/2" mark is on your tape measure)

There are a lot of long barrel prototypes, particularly in the Swiss collections. I always wonder if they ever actually worked. They really stand out in the reference books.

That one is a post 1920 commercial luger, with exports stamps on the barrel and receiver.
It has a proper crown/N firing proof on the receiver.
I think the barrel was installed later and it might be a prototype.

Your luger is very interesting, but I personally have serious doubts that would even function correctly. That extra long barrel makes the entire receiver (upper) very heavy and slower to cycle, which means it may not cycle fully at all.

You also have a commercial stock. It is probably not marked.

It's a fascinating piece, but probably headed for your display case or mantle.

[amp]

Much appreciated to all that shared their insight into this gun. It's chambered in 9mm (I think) but I've never shot it, so I'm not sure if it functions properly. Honestly, I'm a little concerned about shooting something like this in case it has some sort of catastrophic failure. If I take it out to shoot, and it does cycle and fire OK, would that be indicative of anything more about the gun?

Were these long barrels an option for commercial Lugers in Germany? Or were they manufacturing over runs of prototypes?

Understood about the stock being the commercial type. You are correct that it doesn't have any markings. It does seem too new to be anything WWI.

The collector's estate that I purchased it from also had a very large collection of WWI and II transferrable belt-fed guns, so I was hoping the gentleman was also selective about the other small arms (like this Luger) he had.

[reiver]

Clean it and shoot it.... non cycling is simply failure to feed...common on these long barrel due to the barrel/extension weight.

Most of the imports were .30 Luger but it might be 9....

Most of the import long Barrels were due to the earlier carbine models...a less expensive deal.

[mrerick]

Welcome to the forum.

Pacific Arms sold long barrel Lugers in the 1920's. Catalogs list a variety with long barrels. I don't recall if they had the artillery type rear sight.

http://www.lugerlp08.com/the%20artil...%20article.htm

This variation may well be included on the ATF C&R SBR NFA exemption list:

Luger, DWM pistol-carbine, Model 1920, cal.’s 7.65mm or 9mm, with accompanying original commercial type shoulder stock, with or without forearm piece, having barrel lengths of 113/4" to less than 16"

https://www.atf.gov/file/128116/download

[reiver]

That advert above does show the Arty style of rear sight it looks like to me...and, you can be 8 riflemen!

I hope the owner shoots it.... those long barrels can be tricky....but that does have a thinner nice profile to the barrel so you never know until you try.

[DonVoigt]

The ruler next to the pistol shows the barrel to be about 16", if properly measured using a rod in the bore to get the exact measure and such is 16'' or slightly longer; any NFA rules don't apply.

Stocks are legal on pistols with a 16" + barrel.

It will likely fire and cycle using 124 gr ammo, IF the mainspring/recoil spring is of the correct and reduced strength. Just don't hold it or support the barrel as any extra drag will have a negative effect.

[reiver]

it will not 'blow up' .... the only issue that may arise is failure to feed/ recycle properly due to that massive barrel.
If it is the 7.65 cal. / 9mm it is easy to tell by placing a round in/at the muzzle to 'size' it.
Generally, the long barreled without the under-barrel spring assist have issues....but, one never knows until you try.

[aldo35]

The receiver doesn't have the artillery recess while the rear toggle looks like artillery type. There is a small mark this toggle could be an Erfurt, just a guess. A closeup photo? Nice gun for a collection. Thanks for sharing

[Sieger]

Hi,

I owned one like this about 30 years ago.
Is the front sight numbered to the pistol? Will a round easily fully chamber?

Sieger