New to me "o" block commercial luger

smitter1 · 01-24-2021, 12:14 PM

hello to all, recent GB purchase o block seemingly all matching (-unmarked grips) in .30 luger.

I guess is a 1920 commercial alphabet from what i've learned here but i'm not sure when it might have been manufactured/assembled.

3723 o serial umber
crown over N mark
"geladen" on extractor
"GESICHERT" safety
no "GERMANY" or "MADE IN GERMANY" marks
wood base mag, no marks

I'm guessing its a domestic german commerical model and curious what scenarios might have let it to the US and any idea of value.
thanks for looking an any/all comments.

Doubs · 01-24-2021, 12:52 PM

That's a very nice commercial alphabet Luger. They are well made, reliable and accurate if you elect to shoot it. Give or take, the "o" block was likely made about 1926/1927 time frame.

Lacking the "Germany" stamp, it could have been sold almost anywhere else in the world. There's simply no way to tell.

HerrKaiser · 01-24-2021, 01:36 PM

Either sold anywhere else in the world, or a GI commandeered the Luger when he occupied a German home in Spring 1945. The German people were forced to give up weapons and other wartime valuables such as cameras and binoculars they had in occupied towns, and many American soldiers got themselves nice war trophies from the piles of surrendered civvie weapons.

rhuff · 01-24-2021, 03:20 PM

Congrats on your new alphabet Luger. They don't have numbered grips(from the factory). These are fun shooters, if you choose to shoot it. Many on this forum own, and shoot, alphabet Lugers. I enjoy shooting and handloading the 30 Luger round. Enjoy!!

Kiwi · 01-24-2021, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitter1

hello to all, recent GB purchase o block seemingly all matching (-unmarked grips) in .30 luger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitter1

any idea of value.
thanks for looking an any/all comments.

The value part is easy
In an open auction no one bid higher than you
You set the value - at that time

smitter1 · 01-24-2021, 07:12 PM

thanks for all the replies. on the value i paid 1100 plus plus and i think thats OK but as you said a fair price is equivalent to willingness to pay. loving the gun but not yet shot.

fully disassembled and some rust on frame under grips otherwise condition really good. iv'e cleaned and considering a deep oil soak. no real pitting. some overpriced ammo on the way but wont be shot more than a few magazines/year. I know purists will hate this (and i respect that opinion) but this repro hardshell holster on amazon is surprisingly great quality for 30 some bucks. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

any opinions on fiocchi vs PPU? also any other recommendation to address the frame rust?

thanks again, and this will always be my 1st luger but surely not my last. probably looking for a WW1 and 2 luger full rig.

HerrKaiser · 01-24-2021, 08:38 PM

PPU ammo seems to more consistently get Lugers to function, Fiocchi is more hit or miss.

The purists wont bag on you for the repro holster, they'll bag on you for shooting a collectible pistol. But it is your property to do with as you please. Just know there is a chance that you will break a numbered part and instantly make your nice looking gun a $700 shooter pistol.

spripple33 · 01-24-2021, 10:30 PM

I think you got a pretty good deal. It's a nice-looking gun. The finish looks original to me. I've seen Lugers in worse shape sell for more. I say shoot a magazine or two through it to satisfy the need (I think we ALL had that need when we bought our first one) and enjoy it. But if it was mine, I wouldn't shoot it alot. it's just too nice...

Kiwi · 01-25-2021, 02:23 PM

PPU works fine, currently .30 Luger is cheaper than 9mm
I got a pile of bullets from Graf and sons to reload
https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...roductId/29125

and relied heavily on the Shooting and Reloading thread here to get started reloading
Shooting cheaper and more fun

Do get a MecGar magazine to shoot with - do not risk your wood bottom original
and the original springs may be soft after 100 years so the MecGar will function better

I have repro holsters for both a 4in DMW, and a 6in Mauser, and shoot them all

rhuff · 01-25-2021, 04:12 PM

I agree 100% with Kiwi, get 1-2 Mec-Gar mags for your new Luger, and don't try to load the old original ones for many times the wood base will break. Let us know how things go at the range for you.

01-24-2021, 12:14 PM	#1
smitter1 User Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 2 Posts	New to me "o" block commercial luger hello to all, recent GB purchase o block seemingly all matching (-unmarked grips) in .30 luger. I guess is a 1920 commercial alphabet from what i've learned here but i'm not sure when it might have been manufactured/assembled. 3723 o serial umber crown over N mark "geladen" on extractor "GESICHERT" safety no "GERMANY" or "MADE IN GERMANY" marks wood base mag, no marks I'm guessing its a domestic german commerical model and curious what scenarios might have let it to the US and any idea of value. thanks for looking an any/all comments. Attached Thumbnails

01-24-2021, 01:36 PM	#3
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	Either sold anywhere else in the world, or a GI commandeered the Luger when he occupied a German home in Spring 1945. The German people were forced to give up weapons and other wartime valuables such as cameras and binoculars they had in occupied towns, and many American soldiers got themselves nice war trophies from the piles of surrendered civvie weapons. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

01-24-2021, 03:20 PM	#4
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	Congrats on your new alphabet Luger. They don't have numbered grips(from the factory). These are fun shooters, if you choose to shoot it. Many on this forum own, and shoot, alphabet Lugers. I enjoy shooting and handloading the 30 Luger round. Enjoy!! __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

01-24-2021, 07:12 PM	#6
smitter1 User Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 2 Posts	thanks to the forum thanks for all the replies. on the value i paid 1100 plus plus and i think thats OK but as you said a fair price is equivalent to willingness to pay. loving the gun but not yet shot. fully disassembled and some rust on frame under grips otherwise condition really good. iv'e cleaned and considering a deep oil soak. no real pitting. some overpriced ammo on the way but wont be shot more than a few magazines/year. I know purists will hate this (and i respect that opinion) but this repro hardshell holster on amazon is surprisingly great quality for 30 some bucks. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 any opinions on fiocchi vs PPU? also any other recommendation to address the frame rust? thanks again, and this will always be my 1st luger but surely not my last. probably looking for a WW1 and 2 luger full rig.

01-24-2021, 08:38 PM	#7
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	PPU ammo seems to more consistently get Lugers to function, Fiocchi is more hit or miss. The purists wont bag on you for the repro holster, they'll bag on you for shooting a collectible pistol. But it is your property to do with as you please. Just know there is a chance that you will break a numbered part and instantly make your nice looking gun a $700 shooter pistol. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

01-24-2021, 12:52 PM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,698 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,687 Times in 554 Posts	That's a very nice commercial alphabet Luger. They are well made, reliable and accurate if you elect to shoot it. Give or take, the "o" block was likely made about 1926/1927 time frame. Lacking the "Germany" stamp, it could have been sold almost anywhere else in the world. There's simply no way to tell.

01-24-2021, 10:30 PM	#8
spripple33 User Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Gettysburg, PA Posts: 85 Thanks: 137 Thanked 167 Times in 54 Posts	I think you got a pretty good deal. It's a nice-looking gun. The finish looks original to me. I've seen Lugers in worse shape sell for more. I say shoot a magazine or two through it to satisfy the need (I think we ALL had that need when we bought our first one) and enjoy it. But if it was mine, I wouldn't shoot it alot. it's just too nice...

01-25-2021, 02:23 PM	#9
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 307 Thanks: 215 Thanked 435 Times in 172 Posts	PPU works fine, currently .30 Luger is cheaper than 9mm I got a pile of bullets from Graf and sons to reload https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...roductId/29125 and relied heavily on the Shooting and Reloading thread here to get started reloading Shooting cheaper and more fun Do get a MecGar magazine to shoot with - do not risk your wood bottom original and the original springs may be soft after 100 years so the MecGar will function better I have repro holsters for both a 4in DMW, and a 6in Mauser, and shoot them all

01-25-2021, 04:12 PM	#10
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	I agree 100% with Kiwi, get 1-2 Mec-Gar mags for your new Luger, and don't try to load the old original ones for many times the wood base will break. Let us know how things go at the range for you. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21