For the most part I agree with Norm. But, "save your money" is a bit overstated. Even with the few minor errors, there has never been a better compendium of Luger markings. It should be one of the cornerstones of a comprehensive Luger library.
Ron

Ron, what would you advise? By your signature under each post I see you also interested in Imperial Lugers :rolleyes:

I am also interested in Imperial, commercial, and contract guns like Ron. His advice was the Gortz and Sturgess volumes. He even sold them to me as he had a spare set of volumes lying around. The knowledge gained from these volumes has been worth every penny of my investment in them.

What can you say about Imperial Lugers by Jan Still?

Unfortunately, nothing. I have not read it nor had the chance to. I have been rather fortunate to not get burned really bad on my purchases, mostly because I have gotten 3/4 of my Lugers from here on the forums.

What can you say about Imperial Luger's by Jan Still? Classic reference, beautifully done. get a copy and you will have hours if not days of enjoyable reading/viewing not to mention studying and information. Can't go wrong. It will be your menu for the tasty experience of finding that dream imperial Luger.

Agree 100%. I have three of Still's volumes and they are well worth owning.

If you get into truly researching, thenI think Costanzo is a good book - otherwise it just sits on the shelf.

Depending on what I am looking up - I go to different books.

For me, Weimar Lugers by Jan Still was my favorite, because I collected police lugers and simson lugers.

Walters the Luger story is an excellent read, as is the old, old Datig book. I don't think of the other Walters book as being so wonderful, will have to look, or I am not sure.

Ed

Igor,

From your earlier post (#16 in this thread) you indicated that you have already acquired Walter’s and Still’s books, so you are off to a proper start IMO.

When you feel you need additional resource material and the budget permits, Görtz & Sturgess is a good investment. If you want to get back to the roots of Luger books, I still enjoy sitting down with an adult beverage and perusing once again Fred Datig’s “The Luger Pistol” and Harry Jones' “Luger Variations”. Those two guys were pioneers in documenting Luger information. Datig actually talked to still living early Luger historical individuals such as Georg Luger Jr. and DWM’s August Weiss. I enjoyed a number of conversations with Harry Jones over the years (I still frequently contact his son Mike Jones who continues to run Harry’s shop “Collector’s Gallery” in Torrence, CA). And I would be remiss if I didn’t repeat my continued affinity for Costanzo’s book, Norm’s advise notwithstanding. :)

Ron

So now I have on hands both books, started to read The Luger Book and just checked Imperial Lugers book - slightly disappointed... I have model 1906 commercial with grip safety and there is no info in both books... Also can't find info about BUG proofs and etc. Am I blind? :)
Imperial Lugers book almost has no info about commercial guns.

So I was trying to find more info on 1906 Lugers

Briskspirit, "Imperial Lugers" is a wonderful work on the Lugers of the Imperial German military. That starts with the Navy in 1904 and the Army in 1908. The commercial pistols are not a major focus.
I actually do not know what reference is best for commercial issue lugers other than this forum and the Jan C Still forum, under the commercial Luger sections. Also search here on FAQs and "commercial"

Heinz is spot on..It's a military book. There is NO commercial book published that I know of.

So I won’t find more info in Gortz and Sturgess book on my subject?

I suspect there will be more in Gortz and Sturgess but there is no specific book on commercials. It's a very small subject compared to military Luger's.

Ok thank you, ordered. Will take a look.

I also like the 1906 Lugers. Information is out there but you have to kind of read between the lines. For instance, Gortz & Sturgess often refer to the 1906 as simply the "new model".

The 1906 was made as a commercial with no chamber markings and with the American Eagle over the chamber. I don't know if other chamber markings may exist that were meant for other commercial markets.

The 1906 was adopted as a military sidearm by Switzerland, Portugal and Brazil to name three. The serial numbers followed the commercial pattern although the Swiss varied just a little. The Portuguese designated their 1906 as the M/909 because they adopted it in 1909.

The "U" was applied after a visual inspection before and after proof firing. The "B" was applied after the gun in finished form mechanically (not necessarily blued or completely finished at that point) had been proved and the "G" designated a rifled barrel. They followed the German 1891 proof laws.

Most of the information above came from Gortz & Sturgess which I see you've ordered. The three volumes are impressive although I use the DVD more than the books.

Doubs, thank you.

So on the DVD you have a full copy of the said book? Or just some parts/info?

It's the whole book. I find it very convenient to research information using my computer vs using the printed index and then going to the correct volume.

Walker, Doesn't Simpson's sell just a DVD, no book?

On Jan Still's forum I've found that they also sell the DVD for $50 with shipping... Too late I think :)