Missing hold-open - how rare?

Balder · 03-31-2005, 05:21 PM

Gentlemen,

As mentioned in a previous thread (which I would link to if I only knew how), I have a 1911 DWM Luger without the hold-open feature. I'm under the impression that this is fairly uncommon since most of them were modified with the hold-open feature prior to WW1. I finally received Walter's "The Luger Story" which had been on back order from Amazon for months; he also refers to finding these Lugers as "occasional". Is it possible to be more exact, does anybody know how many Lugers escaped conversion? Mine has the unit markings of a Bavarian regiment which seems to be the case with several unmodified Lugers.

Thanks!

Balder

George Anderson · 03-31-2005, 06:32 PM

Balder, it is not that uncommon as one might expect to find all Bavarian issued pistols, private (officer) purchase pistols, and overseas use pistols without the hold open. What is the unit marking of your pistol?

Balder · 03-31-2005, 06:47 PM

George,

Earlier on, you kindly identified the B8 R5 13 inscription on my gun to be Bavarian eighth regiment, fifth company, gun number 13. Jan C. Still states that this regiment fought in the battle of Verdun in 1916.

Claven2 on this forum was the first to point out to me that the absence of the hold-open was somewhat rare

Regards,

Balder

Ron Wood · 03-31-2005, 11:25 PM

As George has indicated, for Bavarian issue Lugers, lack of a holdopen on an '08 pattern is the rule rather than the excetion.

03-31-2005, 05:21 PM	#1
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	Missing hold-open - how rare? Gentlemen, As mentioned in a previous thread (which I would link to if I only knew how), I have a 1911 DWM Luger without the hold-open feature. I'm under the impression that this is fairly uncommon since most of them were modified with the hold-open feature prior to WW1. I finally received Walter's "The Luger Story" which had been on back order from Amazon for months; he also refers to finding these Lugers as "occasional". Is it possible to be more exact, does anybody know how many Lugers escaped conversion? Mine has the unit markings of a Bavarian regiment which seems to be the case with several unmodified Lugers. Thanks! Balder

03-31-2005, 11:25 PM	#4
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	As George has indicated, for Bavarian issue Lugers, lack of a holdopen on an '08 pattern is the rule rather than the excetion. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

03-31-2005, 06:32 PM	#2
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Balder, it is not that uncommon as one might expect to find all Bavarian issued pistols, private (officer) purchase pistols, and overseas use pistols without the hold open. What is the unit marking of your pistol?

03-31-2005, 06:47 PM	#3
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	George, Earlier on, you kindly identified the B8 R5 13 inscription on my gun to be Bavarian eighth regiment, fifth company, gun number 13. Jan C. Still states that this regiment fought in the battle of Verdun in 1916. Claven2 on this forum was the first to point out to me that the absence of the hold-open was somewhat rare Regards, Balder