Let's see what opinons this brings, Who/When made the best Lugers?

Jasta2 · 10-28-2009, 05:25 PM

During the Luger's history, what manufacture made the best overall quaility= fit/finish/operation, Lugers? No one-off G.L. spls included. Maybe the early DWM's, later Mausers, Swiss built, Simpson & Co, or maybe the Krieghoff models? I have read somewhere that some think the Krieghoff tops this list. Your opinion? I have also read that the late WW1 Erfurt's were some of the poorest fit and finish.
Thanks,Bill

alvin · 10-28-2009, 05:45 PM

Finish, all of them are good. But the best of the best of the best -- DWM Parabellum 1900.

Ron Smith · 10-28-2009, 05:49 PM

I would vote for the Swiss.

Vlim · 10-28-2009, 08:37 PM

Mauser between 1937-1948.

Jasta2 · 10-28-2009, 08:52 PM

MMM??? Three replies, three varying opinons!! Disagreement among the ranks!

Ron Wood · 10-28-2009, 09:26 PM

The finest handguns produced in terms of precision, fit and finish were the Model 1900 followed closely by the Model 1906. The Swiss attained this standard of excellence but did not exceed it. If you hold a minty 1900 in your hands and look at the engineering, the elegant contours, the depth of the bluing and the flawless strawed parts that all come together in a tribute to the gunmakers art, you can't make any other choice.

wlyon · 10-28-2009, 09:37 PM

Swiss and Model 1900. Bill

Frank · 10-29-2009, 09:47 AM

Bill, you are really asking two different questions. First, the best quality from an appearance view, Then the 1900 wins hands down. Second, the best (strongest) producible, the late Mausers would win. At least in my opinion.

See Ron, I'm not as big of a Mauser Snob as you thought I was.

Piet · 10-29-2009, 02:05 PM

I only have a 1911 DWM, BUT I have experienced a number of other makes and models of rifles and handguns. The Luger tops them. The finish, and tight tolerances beats brand names like Browning, BSA, Lee Metford/Enfield, FN, Beretta, Vickers, AK, Winchester, by far
(Sorrey I might be off the topic- but for me the 1911 is superb!)

the gunman · 10-29-2009, 02:22 PM

Ron Wood is "RIGHT ON " #1 With a bullet

Ron Wood · 10-29-2009, 02:33 PM

Frank,
Never though you were a Mauser snob. Shucks, I even have a Mauser in my collection (of course it is a GNR, but still a Mauser)

Frank · 10-29-2009, 03:30 PM

Ron, heck, at least you picked a nice one!!

I have a few of the "older" models myself. Besides a 1906 AE, I also have one each of the 1917 production models (DWM Standard, Erfurt Standard, Navy and Long).

If it's a Luger, it's GOOD!!!

George Anderson · 10-29-2009, 05:12 PM

For fit and finish and sexy appearance it's hard to beat a 1900 commercial. For me the early military DWM and Erfurt slick backs can stand up to most anything else. And then there are the real Krieghoffs which no one can discount in a beauty contest.

Thor · 10-29-2009, 05:15 PM

The Dished toggle 1900 are really nice with a very smooth polished finish, very little tool marks left. I like the extra toggle lock and extractor strawed parts. The thing I DONT like about that model is the main spring which doesnt have a very long life from what I have seen. The switch to coiled mained springs was a good deal I think. The very late Mausers, and Erfurts are a bit rough in finish due to speed in which they were made I guess, but they function just fine. I like the early Mausers that were rust blued/strawed. The Mauser Luger are VERY HARD also. Just some of my observations. If I had to pick some of my favorites, it would be a nice 1900 American Eagle DWM Commercial, a 1914-1916 DWM Military model and the early Mausers (K, G and 1936) all of these Rust blued with strawed and fire blued parts. I tend to like the lighter blond or reddish brown grips. Some of the Military Erfurt grips are really pretty dark. Krieghoffs are a cadillac unto their own. I see only a very few of those.
My all time favorite, the K date, first variation S/42 Mauser Luger.

Jasta2 · 10-29-2009, 06:20 PM

For looks, the 1900 wins hands down it seems, but for toughness, the Mauser seems to fit the bill. It's beauty vs. the beast! Well, not beast. That long sexy tapered barrel of the 1900, and the He-man Mauser. OOPS, wrong forum! Thanks for the imput.
Bill

10-28-2009, 05:49 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	I would vote for the Swiss. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

10-28-2009, 09:26 PM	#6
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	The finest handguns produced in terms of precision, fit and finish were the Model 1900 followed closely by the Model 1906. The Swiss attained this standard of excellence but did not exceed it. If you hold a minty 1900 in your hands and look at the engineering, the elegant contours, the depth of the bluing and the flawless strawed parts that all come together in a tribute to the gunmakers art, you can't make any other choice. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-28-2009, 09:37 PM	#7
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,637 Thanks: 3,174 Thanked 2,561 Times in 956 Posts	Swiss and Model 1900. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

10-29-2009, 02:05 PM	#9
Piet User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 143 Thanks: 155 Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts	I only have a 1911 DWM, BUT I have experienced a number of other makes and models of rifles and handguns. The Luger tops them. The finish, and tight tolerances beats brand names like Browning, BSA, Lee Metford/Enfield, FN, Beretta, Vickers, AK, Winchester, by far (Sorrey I might be off the topic- but for me the 1911 is superb!) Last edited by Piet; 10-29-2009 at 02:20 PM. Reason: Correction

10-29-2009, 02:33 PM	#11
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	Frank, Never though you were a Mauser snob. Shucks, I even have a Mauser in my collection (of course it is a GNR, but still a Mauser) __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-28-2009, 05:25 PM	#1
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	Let's see what opinons this brings, Who/When made the best Lugers? During the Luger's history, what manufacture made the best overall quaility= fit/finish/operation, Lugers? No one-off G.L. spls included. Maybe the early DWM's, later Mausers, Swiss built, Simpson & Co, or maybe the Krieghoff models? I have read somewhere that some think the Krieghoff tops this list. Your opinion? I have also read that the late WW1 Erfurt's were some of the poorest fit and finish. Thanks,Bill

10-28-2009, 05:45 PM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Finish, all of them are good. But the best of the best of the best -- DWM Parabellum 1900.

10-28-2009, 08:37 PM	#4
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	Mauser between 1937-1948.

10-28-2009, 08:52 PM	#5
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	MMM??? Three replies, three varying opinons!! Disagreement among the ranks!

10-29-2009, 09:47 AM	#8
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Bill, you are really asking two different questions. First, the best quality from an appearance view, Then the 1900 wins hands down. Second, the best (strongest) producible, the late Mausers would win. At least in my opinion. See Ron, I'm not as big of a Mauser Snob as you thought I was.

10-29-2009, 02:22 PM	#10
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Ron Wood is "RIGHT ON " #1 With a bullet

10-29-2009, 03:30 PM	#12
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Ron, heck, at least you picked a nice one!! I have a few of the "older" models myself. Besides a 1906 AE, I also have one each of the 1917 production models (DWM Standard, Erfurt Standard, Navy and Long). If it's a Luger, it's GOOD!!!

10-29-2009, 05:12 PM	#13
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	For fit and finish and sexy appearance it's hard to beat a 1900 commercial. For me the early military DWM and Erfurt slick backs can stand up to most anything else. And then there are the real Krieghoffs which no one can discount in a beauty contest.

10-29-2009, 05:15 PM	#14
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	The Dished toggle 1900 are really nice with a very smooth polished finish, very little tool marks left. I like the extra toggle lock and extractor strawed parts. The thing I DONT like about that model is the main spring which doesnt have a very long life from what I have seen. The switch to coiled mained springs was a good deal I think. The very late Mausers, and Erfurts are a bit rough in finish due to speed in which they were made I guess, but they function just fine. I like the early Mausers that were rust blued/strawed. The Mauser Luger are VERY HARD also. Just some of my observations. If I had to pick some of my favorites, it would be a nice 1900 American Eagle DWM Commercial, a 1914-1916 DWM Military model and the early Mausers (K, G and 1936) all of these Rust blued with strawed and fire blued parts. I tend to like the lighter blond or reddish brown grips. Some of the Military Erfurt grips are really pretty dark. Krieghoffs are a cadillac unto their own. I see only a very few of those. My all time favorite, the K date, first variation S/42 Mauser Luger. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

10-29-2009, 06:20 PM	#15
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	For looks, the 1900 wins hands down it seems, but for toughness, the Mauser seems to fit the bill. It's beauty vs. the beast! Well, not beast. That long sexy tapered barrel of the 1900, and the He-man Mauser. OOPS, wrong forum! Thanks for the imput. Bill