What attracts you to the luger?
 

Viewers,
I'm interested to know personal opinions. What is it about the german lugers of old? Is it the history? The unique design? Some personal connection? The reason I ask is because I can't see this particular gun as anything practicle to today's standards. In fact I'm not really confident that one can fire them on a constant basis, with any reliability. Perhaps Im wrong.

Please give me a lesson in value.

Thanks,
-rb

Hi,

You're wrong. They are very reliable, have won several world championships and it is actually more practicle as a target gun than as a military sidearm. Nonetheless, this design has (and still does) put other, later, designs to shame on a regular basis.

I put about a 100 rounds a week through my S/42 shooter. Hasn't failed me once, apart from the occasional ejector spring replacement.

Re: What attracts you to the luger?
 

Like anything, it all comes down to opinion.
To me the Luger is the zenith of beauty in a handgun.
The perfect marriage of form and function.
I'm not a Luger collector. In fact I own only one.
But I own a lot of other guns, more than half of which I bought for their appearance first and functionality second, and the Luger is by far the most visually appealing of all (and they do function reliably, they just don't like a lot of dirt).
There are a lot of close seconds, but only close.

And the way current trends in handgun design and manufacture are going (lots of plastic and cost-cutting), nothing like it will ever appear again.

I don't care how reliable (I question this strongly) Glocks and all the other block-shaped modern handguns may be. They can't hold a candle to the beauty of many older weapons, especially the Luger.

I think this is a personal thing. I have lots of "older" guns, I like the history associated with them (although for lugers I "prefer" the Weimar and earlier for the same reasons). when I was young, I read about lugers and they always fascinated me. On the other hand, I have always liked the Colt 1911 and 1911A1 variants, then in the army, I carried one for about 2/3rds of my career, so naturally I trust them more than I trust a Glock or other newer gun like a High Power :D

There are a post or two like these, although it might be several years old, and always a good thread to read.

Why do YOU like the luger?

Ed

It is obvious that HE is looking for just the right one!

Now THAT'S a very disturbing picture! (Though I'm sure it would make a lot of our politicians happy.)

I fell in love with the Luger back in the early 60's. Didn't get around to buying one until the prices started going through the roof a few years ago. The things that attracted me to them were the history,and workmanship . They are a very elegant handgun that screams form=function. There will never be another handgun made this way.

I wonder if you could calculate how much the parts in this photo would be worth today? Screws, grips, springs, fireing pins, bolts etc..Must be millions of dollars worth there..

For me it is many things but the history and variety is some of it. This pistol played a part in Military evolution in a unique era. As a Military historian I am most focused on the period when the Luger was accepted untill it's manufacture ceased.
I also collect Colt pocket auto's and as a pistol they are much the same as the Luger. Functional, designed well, work every time, beautiful bluing and wood. They practically fall apart with little effort, unlike say a c-96. BUT, they have very little Military history. Some were issued to General Officers of course but in general next to nothing compared with the Luger. As neat as they are they become boring compared with the history of the Luger. It's many variations are enough to keep me occupied for many more years to come!

Jerry Burney

The design is what attracted me, it is the Queen of my collection, beautiful eye candy, comforting when held and at the same time deadly, where my 1911A1a is the King, brute force wrapped in nobility.

Well put. Consider it stolen.

I am a bit of a history buff and an avid shooter. The Luger, for me, was a beautiful blending of the two. I hold the firearm and I wonder about who the original owner was. What happened to him and so many other questions. No other pistol seems to invoke so much curiosity and awe from the people who see it. I go to the range and I'll bring my Glock or my Witness to practice with. I almost always bring one of my Lugers with me as well. People turn a blind eye to my Glock, but when they see the Luger, its "Is that a real Luger?". I love sharing it and showing it to people, its like getting under the glass at the museum. Whatever the magic is, very few other pistols seem to generate that kind of enthusiasm.

Great proportions, beautiful style, elegant appearance, and comfortable fit.

All the rest is commentary.

Dave in TN.

What Dave in TN said. I realized this when I was eight years old and had a 9/10 scale, detail-accurate Kruger cap gun.

Since I've owned a real Luger, while circumstances allowed I shot several hundred rounds a month with virtually no failures--proper magazines, ammunition, and technique assure this. Lugers, even those with badly pitted bores, are phenomenally accuate.

--Dwight

Good responses!
Thanks. I'm on the mystique side of the house myself.
The design is incredible, the history profound.
I'm very excited to have on as a part of my collection.
My only fear is that I become addicted and do so before I have a chance to be as knowledgable as you folks are.

Thanks for all your input,
-rb

When I was 6 or 7 years old my father who was a gun dealer/collector had a room full of fine guns, parkers, winchesters, military guns of all types. I was drawn to an artillery luger that he let me hold any time I went into the gun room. I ignored all the others except the MG42 which I got into trouble with for setting it up when he was not there(no ammo). I was able to disassemble and assemble the artillery, just fell in love with it. 40 years later Im still hooked, History, workmanship and shooting are just gravy.
The memories of collecting with my Dad are priceless. Thanks for the question and thanks you guys for the lugerforum and thanks Al G. for inventing the internet!
Merry Christmas
Dante

It's the ultimate movie "bad guy" gun.

I disagree.
The Luger is the ultimate movie bad "spy" gun.
The ultimate movie bad "guy" gun is the 1903 Colt Pocket Hammer (.38 ACP); which of course I own.

no wood grip panels...
 

Jerry, I notice that there are no wood grip panels in the photo. I wonder if this pile has been through a fire? First step before meltdown? Pappy

Pappy, look to the right, I see what looks like a huge pile of magazines. I was wondering if they had started to take some parts off, and...


I would say there are probably tens of millions of dollars of guns and parts there...

Yes and the pile seems to have an abundance of 'broomhandles'. Maybe the people hid their Lugers. I do see what appears to be a snaildrum magazine.
Interesting photo that makes me feel somewhat ill...Pappy

"Yankee Fist"
 

That's why the Germans called the M1911 the "Yankee Fist"...Pappy

I can thank George Raft, Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet for my interest in lugers!

rjbuckley, im new here but ive been around guns [weapons] my whole life. i bought my 1st colt gi 45 1911/a1 a few mo,s ago and i got to thinking about who carried it during WW2 and it,s history, and i will probley never shoot it. i am looking for my 1st luger now. and hope to get one next week end and will probley never shoot it. it,s a history thing to me just like my 45 cal. 1873 colt ssa mnf. in 1875 i like to hold it and wonder if some bad guy carried it in the old west etc. like the luger and the 1911/a1 they are things of our past. in my opin. these old weapons are to be looked at for what they were. not what they can do today [kinda like me. ole GI.] anyway if i want to shoot something or some bad guy ill use my S/W 38 cal. snub nose. plus it,s easery to clean. Merry Christmas. L. Boos

I became addicted to the era from turn of the century through the early 30's at a very early age. I loved the old Soldier of Fortune/ Adventure "B" movies. And for some reason Luger's bring that era to mind. That's one reason that I usually use an old burlap sack as a back ground in my photos. I like the hint of "Tramp Steamer" effect it lends to the pistols.

The unit mark fetish is just butter on the bisquits...

About 20 years ago while at the firing range, I met a professor from Mary Washington College and his daughter. He owned a 1915 Artillery Luger (he said) which he let me shoot. The ergonomic design fit my large hand like a glove and the accuracy was exceedingly good for it's age. Although I did have plans on buying a Luger, it never happened at that time.

I'm not an expert but, it was an Artillery Luger and the serial number was 15xx. Whether it was a parts gun I don't know but it was beautiful. He did mention that very few were made for that year. He was a very nice, open and warm man and I'll never forget the experience. He had no idea how just firing the luger affected me. Where ever he is, I wish him well.

When I was a teenager the Shooter's Bible had an article that I think was called called "Lure of the Luger". I fell in love with the design after reading the article.http://glocktalk.com/images/smilies/hearts.gif

Chris

The Luger is a piece of art. That it fires a bullet extremely accurately is icing on the cake. No other gun made is as graceful in design, yet every piece is minimally designed for function. The least amount of metal for the most strength. It relies on precise fit, precise metallurgy, and precise hardening.
The Glock is known for its rugged reliability, yet I wonder how they will fare after 90 years. Will the plastic shrink away from the metal inserts in the frame, or develop brittleness from UV and environmental chemicals. Metal rusts and is a known quantity, but the modern plastics cannot be tested by accellerating time.
IMHO, the 1911 slab side is the utilitarian better, but without the art.
If just looking at them (Lugers, Parabellum) does not hook you, wait until you've actually had one for awhile. Almost every day, especially when unable to go to the range, I find myself wanting to have a Luger in my hand even if for just a few minutes. :cool:
The Berettas and Smiths are jealous even though they get to be carried with me, while the Lugers stay in the safe until shooting time, and that's only for the shooters. That 1915 DWM safe queen once proved it can shoot well, but hasn't seen a live round since.:bigbye:

Nah, the Broom Handle Mauser is the ultimate bad guy gun! :D

Jim

Only if he's wearing a Fu Manchu moustache.

Fu Manchu!
 

Yes, the mustache adds to the fun! :D

Jim

Your right, lboos, those .38 snubbies may not be the most powerful or accurate or glamorous guns ever made: but as practical, go-practically-everywhere-you-go everyday carry pieces, they have a lot going for them.

Too many people who want a gun "for protection" end up with something that's too big and too heavy to carry. They're effective: but not there when you need them.

Jim

I'd have to say the design is part of it... though a certain percentage of my interest is the Nazi connection to the gun. I'm NOT a skinhead either... but the history of the Nazi movement is very fascinating on a 'can't believe how big it got' area.

One thing is certain, it is a time that shows how much power ONE man is able to achieve. Amazing as hell to me....

M.W.

People find it difficult to understand or accept that someone can have an interest in the Nazis without being in agreement with them.
They assume that if you collect Nazi related items you must be one.
I watch every Nazi related film and documentary I find. I think it's a fascination with the closest thing to pure evil that has ever existed. It's like stepping to the edge of an active volcano or slowing down to look at a horrible accident... irresistable, but it doesn't mean you want to be a participant.
Or, as a friend of mine used to say; they may have been evil incarnate, but they definitely had the best looking uniforms.

It's a great question and I'm not sure I even know the answer.

I do know I would not even be here on this on any firearms forums had I not inharited the two S&W wheel-guns from my brother just a year ago.

My wife and son and I took them to a pistol range and knew we wanted to get our own weapons-of-choice. She wanted a new PPK. I knew after brief reflection that mine had to be a Luger even though I didn't yet even know how one functions. Internet searches brought me here where I learned nearly everything I now know about them. I am still in awe of the wealth of knowledge possessed by the members, old and new, of this forum. I have since added other guns, C96, P38, M1911 to my collection but the Lugers are most prized.

Sublime elegance of design and execution is the only way I can explain my fascination with the Luger.

Russell

Thypentacle and Davidkackel. so far from what iv,e read here you two are the only two to tell it like it is. everone else stays away from the words like nazi, SS. ww 2. most say things about the luger like, a work of art, the old gangster movies. a beautiful weapon, a stremline gun, and oh aint it pretty.
today it was raining in GA. so i stayed in and watched the hist. chan. about the rise of the nazi,s and the last days of hitler and i saw a lot of lugers. and it is still a beautful weapon no matter what. but it crack,s mme up to read how so many people dance around what it was so infamous for. and it is a great weapon. i guess kinda like Jesse James ole gu. but id still love th have it.

Didnt matter to me who made it or used it I would still own it for what it is, if it wasnt part of the Nazi history they would problably be a lot less in price which would be ok with me.

Curly1. unless you were trying to sell one right?
And i hope thats not rap music your dancing to. [just kidding] i love it. a rainey night in GA.

Iboos,

I don't think anyone is dancing around it. I think the people on this forum just aren't preoccupied with it.
It's people who do not have an interest in Lugers or Nazi collectibles in general who tend to jump to conclusions about those who do.

And the Luger wasn't infamous for anything. It was the people most associated with using it who were infamous.

Hmm, if I weren't such an amical person, I'd think you were calling just about everyone in this thread a lyer because we don't share your nazi-preoccupational views....

The Nazi's were only a small part of the Luger history, which started almost half a century earlier. In fact, the luger fame can be attributed more to the first world war than the second. Don't forget that during the first years of the 1900's just about every army that took itself serious had tested the luger and it came very close to being the US military service gun as well.

Switzerland was the forerunner in many ways and without the Swiss it probably wouldn't have evolved into the gun we know today. Many countries eventually accepted the luger as official side arm and much more contracts were fulfilled. This is what makes collecting the luger so interesting, the hundreds of variations available.

The first luger I bought was a Dutch KNIL contract version and part of my own country's history.

I regard the Nazi era to be more of a blemish on the pistol's history than anything else. As history proved, they were a bunch of idiots and nothing to be proud of.

Very well said!!!

Hello,

Very interesting thread.

I think as a side question, we should ask what makes a gun nut or not? Regardless of our interest we have people interested in firearms and the other group that wants to take them away, we have shooters and collectors. My interest in firearms goes back to when I played cowboys and indians around the end of WWII. The cowboy movies and war movies I am sure influenced my interest.

Why is it we have this group of people so interested in any firearm? Does it go all the way back to our forefathers? Why do we have those people so dead set againist firearms that we cannot understand why?

I am not sure about the younger generations. Will our interest with young people continue in the future as collectors? One of the mind sets of some of the younger people are to use the firearm to committ horrible crimes. Many things are involved here that I didn't have to deal with when I was a young man. Our society has canged so much in my lifetime.

I can remember in the late 1950's when I was in high school we had a rifle team which I enjoyed very much. Shortly after leaving high school the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) was eliminated. This resulted from an attitude in the country and the early beginning of some of the gun control we see today. It has been like a termite eating away at our rights as gun violence has increased.

So, I like firearms, I am a gun nut, I do not intend to use them in a violent manner except for protecting my country and family.

I just like guns and I quess I should say I am sorry, but I want.

Good Day,
Chester