What was your first Luger?/ What got you into collecting Lugers?

[rhuff]

I purchased my first Luger in 1972. I knew absolutely nothing about them, but had to own one. A local M.D. had this 1921 DWM Alphabet Luger in 7.65P. It was in better than average condition, and I purchased it. I have since figured out that I paid Waaaay to much for it, but we live and learn!! I still own that Luger and it makes it to the range quite often. The bore looks like a sewer pipe, but still shoots quite accurately when I do my part. I will just say that that Luger "started it all", and I now own a few more.

[cirelaw]

Like a pretty women they never grow old!

[Doubs]

While my father and I together bought a mismatched 1939 Mauser Luger, the first one I bought personally was an Alphabet commercial. All matching with an excellent bore, I paid $70 for it in 1966 in a pawn shop on First Street in Seattle. The stock lug had been partly ground off but it shot well and was reliable. I finally sold it some 30 years later.

In case someone on this forum might have it, the serial number is 6885n

[spripple33]

Originally Posted by STEINBVG

Is it steel case ammo on the picture? Was/is it used on Lugers?

I think it is steel cased ammo. The date on the one box is 44 and they may have been re-packed. My brother bought these for me at a gun show not long after I bought my Mauser P.08 because he insisted I needed some period WW2 ammo to go with my WW2 Luger.

I believe the steel cased ammo caused extraction/ functioning issues in the P.08, prompting the Wehrmacht to try to reserve brass cased ammo for them. Apparently the P.38 was less finicky. But I imagine in the heat of battle any ammo, even ammo that jammed, was better than nothing...

[gunbugs]

My older brother had 2 P-08's back about 1976 or so, after a year or 2, he got hard up for cash and sold them both, much to my dismay. My first one is the 1940 42 code Mauser that I have. Got it about 5 or 6 years ago, and haven't stopped since. Got a DWM on the way, and am lining up a couple more. It's an addiction. But I don't seek a cure, just control....

[spripple33]

Originally Posted by gunbugs

My older brother had 2 P-08's back about 1976 or so, after a year or 2, he got hard up for cash and sold them both, much to my dismay. My first one is the 1940 42 code Mauser that I have. Got it about 5 or 6 years ago, and haven't stopped since. Got a DWM on the way, and am lining up a couple more. It's an addiction. But I don't seek a cure, just control....

The only person trying to control it here is the missus...

I don't seek a cure OR control, just my next fix!

[Sergio Natali]

Eric,

The Italian gun Law is much more permissive than in other European countries. To own one or more weapons you need a Gun License, of which there are three versions, Personal Defense, Hunting, and for Sport. A maximun of nine guns, plus an indefinite number of "hunting" long guns can be held upon POLICE registration.
There is also the so called Collector's License under which only one specimen per type of weapon can be held, so you can't have for instance more than one specimen of Mauser S34 with the same caliber, marks, and year of manufacture.

[cirelaw]

I hope we survive the next 4 years!!!!!!!!!!

[ithacaartist]

I'm a latecomer and won my first at an RIAC auction in early 2011. My first Luger was also my first pistol, a very nice, all-matching 1917 DWM Artillery--with the stock lug ground off. Fine tune rear sights, not in front. G.T. hooked me up with a segment of rear grip frame with intact lug, from some other project where somebody chopped up a Luger, I presume. The plan is to excise the offending area from the gun and TIG weld the replacement into place, then spot-refinish.

The stock iron in my Pakistani repro holster rig fits the replacement part nicely.

[Diver6106]

I bid on this Luger on GB for $550... But then went off to the Virgin Islands for a week of sailing and was sure someone watching would bid more. When I got back I was amazed that I won and quickly purchased this 'bring back' nickeled, dual date Luger. It is a DWM, 1918/1920, 2336 i frame, mismatched, 9mm pistol. Since then I bought about 5 with parts for another 2 or 3, if I find frames. All in the $500 to $700 range, but all would be considered 'shooters.' I have almost a full set of INOX Mitchell Luger parts and looking for a frame. So if you have a Mitchell frame for sell or would like to trade, let me know.

[aldo35]

In 1960 bought a double date 1917/1920 DMW all matching for $40. Mag didn't match, it was stolen in 1979. Had several go thru my hands since. Given several to my two sons who fortunately share my interest in guns as we trace family back to Zella Mehlis in the 1600's.

[jeb111]

My first was a late 1937 all matching minus period correct mag. Used to shoot it often took my liberal hippy California girlfriend shooting one time and took pics of her using the Luger. When to visit her several years later in CA and met her parents and there it was a framed pic of their hippie daughter shooting my Luger, to find out her dad had a small Luger collection himself. Told me the pitfalls of shooting a matching pistol. Girlfriend married someone else and long gone but still have my Luger that I bought in 1990 for $400 with holster. Love my Luger, girl was fun to just way more expensive!!

[Lugerdoc]

My first luger was one assembled postwar at the Kreighoff plant from left over parts in their own serial number range (now very collectable), Purchased mail order from Ye Olde Hunter (become Interarms) in 1959 for $40 + $10 more for a nice orig WW2 era holster, which joined me on a trip or two to Viet Nam. Too bad that I cut it down into a Baby luger years later. Lugerdoc

[cirelaw]

Tom, You never cease to amaze me! Nice gun!!!

[Doubs]

Earlier I mentioned that my father and I went together in 1958 to purchase a 1939 Luger. It has a mismatched toggle train. The muzzle had apparently been damaged as it was countersunk about 3/16 of an inch and braze was used to fill a gash of some kind. I still have the barrel.

It wasn't reliable at all so my father ordered an Italian made 8 inch barrel and had it installed. It was very accurate but still not reliable. Years later I would finally realize the problem and radius the chamber mouth. It now works flawlessly.

I shot it just last Friday. At a measured 24 yards on 8 inch steel plates, I shot two magazines without a single miss using my reloads. 115 grain Berry plated bullets, 5.6 grains of Hodgdon CFE Pistol powder and an OAL of 1.155".

The composite picture below shows the Mauser in B&W as it was when we bought it 63 years ago. The color picture was taken not long ago.

[sdmark777]

My first Luger was a 1941 BYF rig with holster, 2 mags and tool. My father and I had been looking to collect German automatic handguns. An old gun show horse trader we knew named Chet (had a long Santa Clause white beard) came up with this excellent original condition BYF rig. We bought the BYF 41 and an almost new Remington 700 BDL bull barrel .22-250 from Chet. That was in the 1970's. Still have both today, plus a few........