Bob Simpson Says Consider A Swiss
 

http://www.guns.com/2011/05/17/colle...ss-connection/ Eric

Good advice, prices in Europe are pretty decent at the moment. The Swiss lugers have been free to own in Belgium for a number of years. This fact dramatically increased the prices of these pistols and Belgium served as the main distribution point to other EU-countries (not neccesarily legally....). After some gun related mishaps the Belgian law was revised and the Swiss lugers are now permit-only guns again, reducing the prices considerably.

I recently purchased 2 examples from a gun store at an interesting location, they are based on the old industrial zone that was once the Rottweiler Pulverfabriken in southern Germany, later part of the well known IG Farben. This industrial zone lay in ruins for many years and has been restored and turned into a business and leisure park in the last decades. The history of the complex makes it well worth a visit.

Sorry for the tatty photographs, I only had my phone with me and they are waiting there for import documents.

I'm particularly impressed with Swiss Lugers!

Thanks to George Anderson I will own mine next week! I feel like an expectant father~~

Me too! :)

They are just so Sweeeeet ~~~~!

Has anyone heard of Fred Datig's Swiss book? http://www.amazon.com/Luger-Pistol-H.../dp/B0039OG2RY Eric~

Yep, that one has been around a long time and is usually in a Luger collector's basic library. You may already have one...note that the illustration in the Amazon ad is not the actual book cover.

No but I do have what I consider the finest! Vittorio M. Bobbo, PARABELLUM A Techinal History Of Swiss Lugers. It is printed both in Italian and English. Beautiful photography and over 200 pages!

I still shake my head at this title 'A technical history'. Although the book has nice photos, it doesn't explain anything of value on the technical changes made to the Swiss Parabellum.

We included more background info in our book 'The Parabellum Is Back! 1945-2000' ... Including the altered opening curve of the 06/29 and the list of parts manufacturers and suppliers to the Waffenfabrik Bern.

Your Right! I will order a copy tomorrow! Tks

Ron,

Where did you get those very stylish luger stands in your post:

I made them.

Very nice Ron.

Where all Swiss lugers made for 7.65 calibre. Was the 9mm round ever considered? Eric http://www.landofborchardt.com/ammo-swiss.html

Yes, they did consider a 9mm version and they finally even managed to produce a good 9mm one, but not without a fight :)

Thank you! Did the 9mm ever go into production? My book in on its way!

No, not officially. By the time they were done with the 06/29 in 9mm, they were already well away with the acceptance of a new 9mm pistol: the SIG P210.

Tks~Were they as accurate as a Swiss Watch?

Eric,

They produced a few, certainly less than 100, almost against everyone's objections, in the 1924/8 era, around SN 24,000 to 27,000 but by the time 1929 came along the project was dead.

May be off on the SN range but 9mm variations have been seen. Not many, but they are around and expensive. The 9mm Luger was never a serious contender for their next generation sidearm. Too complicated, too costly and alternatives mainly driven by Browning's work on the Model 1911 abounded.

John

Thank You John! I'm studying up before I get my first in a few weeks. Did their overall quality ever change over the years? ~ Eric

Eric,

Like all gun manufacturers, the Swiss made hundreds of "improvements" over the years. Some to simplify production, reduce cost, create manufacturing short cuts, etc. But quality was alway important.

They were good pistols and well liked by the Swiss military. When we lived in Switzerland in the mid-60s, you would occasionally still see privatized P-codes at the Schuetzenhaus.

But... the SIG 210 (its replacement) with its internal rather than external slide design was the most accurate military pistol I ever used. Tremendous accuracy, great reliability. An all around great side arm. And its successor, the 220 was no mean gun either.

But remember a side arm is primarily a defensive weapon. There is nothing like an UZI or a MP5 to get the job done.

John

John Thank You for that! I'll post it as soon as it arrives! Could they have always been privatly owned??

I saw three of them on one table at Tulsa years ago! Fakes abound and I wouldn't buy one without serious study...and then I would hope to have someone else give me the money for the purchase...I would hate wasting my own.:eek:

Lotsa money for a luger paperweight!!

Ron.

I'll not argue with you on that. And some were actually made in Switzerland for use as patterns.

John

I am aware of the Swiss pattern pieces John. I was just trying to give fair warning to anyone who contemplates buying a 9mm Swiss...you had better do your homework and be pretty well up on Swiss Lugers. It is not for the novice. Heck, it isn't even for me and I am not a novice.:)

Gerben
Just for an easy price comparison

1) the "Red Grips" costs US 2650.00
2) the WF 1906 costs USD 3200.00
3) the WF 1929 cost 2150.0 each

Sergio

I bought the 1906 + the 1929 together for about $2300 in total ;)

Ron,

AMEN to that!!

John

I truly love my '29. I find the quality on Swiss firearms superb. I also have a K31 and it is one of the most accurate rifles I own.

Ten year ago F.G.S. was selling the 1929 with holster for $2100! They don't seem to go up in price!! Eric

Eric,
It seems like have actually went down in value over the last few years. The Blue Book price for a 98% 29 is $1950.00, add 20% for Red Grips. 5 years ago it was $2450.00

One small question! I see you quoted the Blue Book. Years ago they were referred to as the 'Black and Blue' book! Are they reliable now??

Sometimes yes and sometimes no, it's supposed to be based on market prices but I've seen it wrong on many occasion, still it is what the gun dealers use. So in this case if their selling they will use the older edition, if buying the newer one. And yes I have seen this happen. All in all I find it a loosely based guide to use. It still comes down to what someone is willing to pay.

How did a country that never went to war need so many variations or models?

To make it better or make it cheaper or both!