An Inquiring Mind Wants To Know ???

calibrator · 09-14-2025, 12:50 PM

I clicked on your link to your website. Congrats on trying to keep the Luger dream alive.

Over a 2 yr period, I visited Ralph's home here in AZ at least 6 times, about 20 miles from my home. Do you know that he started his gun dealing as a sideline to being a paperboy, delivering newspapers at a young age? He was buying firearm collections from relatives of deceased individuals, many were WWII Vets. Did he get his leads from obituaries??? He told me he had an agreement with some guy who would fly a private plane into a local airport at given intervals, and buy up what he discovered in the mean time.

Ralph told me stories of how upset he was that collectors he had sold numerous high-end pistols to had died and the heirs sold them off for pennies on the dollar of actual value because they had no concept of what Daddy paid for them. Guess he was upset he didn't get there first.

My point is, ... most collectors are getting old. If they are not sharing the value of their collection with heirs, they will more easily get back in circulation, creating a new wave of questions from neophyte collectors.

Most people I know who have had garage sales say that the first thing they are often asked is; "are there any firearms you want gone today". I can see an 80 year old widow being offered a couple hundred $$$ for that "old useless firearm" and gladly taking it.

SegaDreamcast · 09-15-2025, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calibrator

I clicked on your link to your website. Congrats on trying to keep the Luger dream alive.

Thank you for the kind words and the recollections! Very neat to hear the origin story of Ralph, he was before my time (Im 37), however I see him and his brand as a pioneer in the hobby. I saw the domain name for sale around a year and a half ago and bought it. I am slowly adding to it when time permits. I have many gbs of files to add, plus I’ve been going through the German and Swiss Bundesarchivs and have found a lot of stuff.

calibrator · 09-15-2025, 10:16 AM

I think you SHOULD continue the actual history of the Luger and it's creators. There are many variants and fakes out there, many unanswered questions. Ralph likely had the greatest knowledge of the light and dark side of this issue.

If you are going to tell the story of Ralph, tell the true story or as much as you can get from those who had dealings with him. The few I had were an unwanted, ... but needed education.

Contact the "Old Timers", I'm sure each has a tale or two. I had to laugh at a post someone recently made about a "Black Widow Mauser", I'm sure it's still here at the top. The term that something was "Shattuck-Y" was coined.

Here ya go Chris, I found it, the author can take credit if he desires:

p.s. A black bakelite-bottom mag would make it 100% Shattuck-y.

calibrator · 09-15-2025, 11:58 AM

Hey Chris, ... after coming back and re-reading my post, I came up with this idea. You have shown an interest Lugers, ... and The W.O.L in particular. If your passion is as I suspect, .. you have what it takes to create what I envision. I'm aware of another young person on this Forum that could share that sense of responsibility to the Luger Community.

There are many great books already out there about the history and evolution of the Luger. There's something about that Toggle system that is sexy, ... there is no other pistol out there that incorporates it AFAIK. I also think that the Luger is sexy in the same way that Vampires are when portrayed in the Movies. In Cinema, ... the Luger always seems to find it's way into the hands of the Villian, ... or at least the Nazis.

The Luger is also (maybe questionably) the most boosted (counterfeited) firearm of our time. I think that compiling a volume of as many known counterfeit examples of the variants (or how to spot them) could be VERY helpful to collectors just starting on this journey. The "Navy" Luger is likely the most boosted variant out there. I suspect there are many out there, ... the owners most likely DON'T want to know, or want you to know the tell-tale signs. Someone on this site has compiled a list of known actuals and likely those that are not. I guess we could add the "Deaths Head" Luger to this list.

Yes, this info might be somewhere in the archives of this site, but is this knowledge widespread? You might find some folks here that are willing to privately share examples of what to look out for. A guide to spotting a boosted Luger in general would be a GREAT service to FNGs. I would have bought a copy if I could have before I bought my first Luger. How many people here bought a .30 cal Commercial and a box of 9mm ammo for their first go-round ???

09-15-2025, 10:16 AM	#3
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 340 Thanks: 67 Thanked 272 Times in 109 Posts	I think you SHOULD continue the actual history of the Luger and it's creators. There are many variants and fakes out there, many unanswered questions. Ralph likely had the greatest knowledge of the light and dark side of this issue. If you are going to tell the story of Ralph, tell the true story or as much as you can get from those who had dealings with him. The few I had were an unwanted, ... but needed education. Contact the "Old Timers", I'm sure each has a tale or two. I had to laugh at a post someone recently made about a "Black Widow Mauser", I'm sure it's still here at the top. The term that something was "Shattuck-Y" was coined. Here ya go Chris, I found it, the author can take credit if he desires: p.s. A black bakelite-bottom mag would make it 100% Shattuck-y. Last edited by calibrator; 09-15-2025 at 11:02 AM. Reason: Humor

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09-14-2025, 12:50 PM	#1
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 340 Thanks: 67 Thanked 272 Times in 109 Posts	I clicked on your link to your website. Congrats on trying to keep the Luger dream alive. Over a 2 yr period, I visited Ralph's home here in AZ at least 6 times, about 20 miles from my home. Do you know that he started his gun dealing as a sideline to being a paperboy, delivering newspapers at a young age? He was buying firearm collections from relatives of deceased individuals, many were WWII Vets. Did he get his leads from obituaries??? He told me he had an agreement with some guy who would fly a private plane into a local airport at given intervals, and buy up what he discovered in the mean time. Ralph told me stories of how upset he was that collectors he had sold numerous high-end pistols to had died and the heirs sold them off for pennies on the dollar of actual value because they had no concept of what Daddy paid for them. Guess he was upset he didn't get there first. My point is, ... most collectors are getting old. If they are not sharing the value of their collection with heirs, they will more easily get back in circulation, creating a new wave of questions from neophyte collectors. Most people I know who have had garage sales say that the first thing they are often asked is; "are there any firearms you want gone today". I can see an 80 year old widow being offered a couple hundred $$$ for that "old useless firearm" and gladly taking it.

09-15-2025, 11:58 AM	#4
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 340 Thanks: 67 Thanked 272 Times in 109 Posts	Hey Chris, ... after coming back and re-reading my post, I came up with this idea. You have shown an interest Lugers, ... and The W.O.L in particular. If your passion is as I suspect, .. you have what it takes to create what I envision. I'm aware of another young person on this Forum that could share that sense of responsibility to the Luger Community. There are many great books already out there about the history and evolution of the Luger. There's something about that Toggle system that is sexy, ... there is no other pistol out there that incorporates it AFAIK. I also think that the Luger is sexy in the same way that Vampires are when portrayed in the Movies. In Cinema, ... the Luger always seems to find it's way into the hands of the Villian, ... or at least the Nazis. The Luger is also (maybe questionably) the most boosted (counterfeited) firearm of our time. I think that compiling a volume of as many known counterfeit examples of the variants (or how to spot them) could be VERY helpful to collectors just starting on this journey. The "Navy" Luger is likely the most boosted variant out there. I suspect there are many out there, ... the owners most likely DON'T want to know, or want you to know the tell-tale signs. Someone on this site has compiled a list of known actuals and likely those that are not. I guess we could add the "Deaths Head" Luger to this list. Yes, this info might be somewhere in the archives of this site, but is this knowledge widespread? You might find some folks here that are willing to privately share examples of what to look out for. A guide to spotting a boosted Luger in general would be a GREAT service to FNGs. I would have bought a copy if I could have before I bought my first Luger. How many people here bought a .30 cal Commercial and a box of 9mm ammo for their first go-round ???