Questions About My Well-Worn Plexiglass Handled Luger
 

First time poster. I also posted about this gun at "the Firing Line" forum, so if you are a regular there too, you've probably seen this already.

Barrel is 1941, serial number 7655.

Rest of the gun is "6311 u". Grips are ugly or cool yellow plexiglass.

Magazine is not matching.

Much pitting on the piece above the trigger, and in some other spots.

Worn black leather holster is dated 1916.

So, it's an old, worn mutt, I know.

Can anyone give me an idea on the date of manufacture for the bottom part of the gun "6311 u", or any other info on it?

I've read that the plexiglass grips could have been GI made "trench art", or possibly made by German POWs. Any educated guesses?

Any other thoughts or opinions on this gun?

I'm thinking of getting wood or plastic grips ( I think the yellow is sort of ugly).

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum!

It is a 1941 (41) made by Mauser (42) upper that is on top of an unknown lower. I do not think it has the Mauser hump (see the FAQ for side by side pictures) - which means the lower could be DWM from WW1 to around 1934 when Mauser took over production. You can narrow it down to what years made a 'U' suffix, but other than that, it can be hard to tell.

The grips, I assume they are clear with yellow behind them? If actually yellow, then I would say post-war grips, as the GI made ones were made from aircraft Plexiglas and not colored Plexiglas, although who knows where they got it, if no story its just a guess. I have heard of German gun makers making things for GI's or holsters, etc, not usually German POW's as the story :)

Ed

Thanks for the info. I'll check out the FAQ.

Yes, the grips are clear and painted on the backside.

Welcome to the forum! Your pistol also seems to be incorrectly assembled, where the stirrup for the toggle has not properly engaged the main recoil spring. Do not attempt to shoot the gun until this is assembled correctly!

Nice shooter, in any case.

Thanks. You are correct. I just field stripped and cleaned the gun today and corrected that/

Good eye, and thanks for the warning.

I will not shoot it until I get it checked out by someone more knowledgeable than me.

Is there anything I can do to improve the look of the finish, or is it too far gone?

Thanks.

Is it properly in battery, but the receiver has been cut back a few mm for some reason? That could be dangerous. Never seen a proof mark that close to the front of the receiver, and it looks like there is a chip out of it on the right side at the front.

The frame is definitely a few mm proud of the receiver front...

it's a mixed parts gun. You could spend all kinds of money to restore it, but then you'd be out all that money... with no improvement in value. Just shoot once you've determined it's safe...

Hawk, The number die set used on the frame is by Mauser, but I'd have to do some research to see in which years they may have reached the "U" block. TH

Thanks all. Keep the info coming, it is much appreciated.

Here is another set of photos after my clean up (and hooking up the recoil spring - so everything is in proper position, I believe).

Scott

It's a nice gun but while is not really a collectible perhaps it's not a shooter grade either unless you take it first to an experienced armourer.
I wouldn't spend any money on it, and apart from cleaning it an lube it properly I would keep it as it is.

Regards.

Can you explain what you mean? What will an experienced armourer do / look for that an experienced gunsmith would not?

Thanks.

Semantics, no difference as there are no "luger" armorers around(except maybe in Switzerland), IMO. Well, with exception of a few members here.

Most "gunsmiths" don't know much about lugers!

You are as well off to inspect it your self for damage, cracks.
If matching, I would not hesitate to fire it if it passes inspection.

The only thing I see a little "amiss" is the strong marking from the toggle on the rear of the frame. This could be from a too weak mainspring or firing nato or other +P ammo.

I'd change the mainspring spring if it were mine. They are available from Wolf Gunsprings.com.


Always use gloves and eye protection when firing.

Interesting piece. I'd not change anything. The grips are likely GI made. Perhaps done in the field. Maybe even painted in the field. My father made a set of clear sweetheart grips for a WWI Izarra he picked up in France. After the war, in '48, he bought the Luger he always wanted (35 bucks including a box of ammo) and inspired by the first grips he made, he made grips for the Luger but used laminated strips of different colored Lucite. He painted the backside silver. It's just a shooter, though, as it's been polished a bit and reblued.

I agree with above that it is a shooter class Luger.....that is not a bad thing, as they are fun to shoot, and usually quite accurate. Use only std. velocity ammo like 115-124gr FMJ Winchester white box, PMC, etc. No +P+ or NATO 9mm.

If it were my Luger, I would spend no money for professional restoration, but I would purchase a good cold bluing solution, and cold blue the Luger. You can do it yourself, and the expense would be minimal, yet improve the overall looks. JMHO.

Hawk,
It doesn't look that bad to me.
Personally, I'd replace those "ugly" grips with something a little more "muted"; save them of course for any potential historic value.

Re-bluing, professional or cold, won't do anything much for the pitting- the rest isn't bad in my book.

I suggest you just live with it and shoot it as it is; if you want a pretty luger, you can always buy one to look at!

Several months ago, I decided to get the Luger re-blued and I just got it back this weekend. I am pleased with the result.

I know the purists may disagree and say I ruined the gun, but like I said, I am happy with the result.

Took it to the range and shot it for the first time in about 40 years. It shot great. Man, those rear sights are almost useless though.

Anyway, thought I'd share some "after" photos.

Here is a before and after.

Your re-finisher did a good job.
Who did it for you?

Looks great! :cheers:

Thanks.

Buisse Custom Arms in Union Grove, Wisconsin

http://www.buissecustomarms.com/index.html

Excellent

Looks good! :) I have never had any criticism of re-blueing, my only complaint is that most re-bluers want to buff the snot out of the pistol. Excessive buffing ruins the sharp edges and rounds out the stampings. Why they do this is a mystery to me. Your re-bluer has done an admirable job. ;)

Very good job, excellent indeed!

The transformation is awesome. You now have a most handsome Luger. I would be proud to have that Luger in my safe. To me, you made a good decision to "gussy up" that very tired Luger. Your refinisher did a very nice job, considering what he had to work with. Enjoy!!.

Hawk62, I don't claim to know much about Lugers, but I know what I like, and I really the restoration work on your Luger. Nice job!

As has been stated, the refinish was nicely done...didn't buff the bejeebers out of it.
Are you interested in selling the plexiglass grips? I have as small collection of odd-ball grips and wouldn't mind adding a pair like yours. Shoot me a PM if interested.
Thanks,
Ron

Hawk,
In my opinion it was an excellent decision to refinish this luger. The person that you choose to do the job is to be commended. It now looks very presentable whereas before, it was unattractive to say the least.

Foxdoublegunner

That's something I wanted to add, as a collector (very small one really) I would prefer an all original gun to a rebuffed one BUT in your case yours has been very well refinished.

You hurt nothing.
A near junker parts gun very nicely done.

You're happy, and that's what counts.

Ed,

I think I see a "Mauser hump" on the frame on one of the photos. Also some "K" date Mausers had the hump.

Fred

Tastefully done. Reminds me of my restored 1937 P08 which I used for sports shooting.

Yep! There's a Mauser "hump" alright.

OK, next question on the Luger.

I bought a Mec-Gar magazine for it (while it was in the shop). The magazine only fits about half-way or a little less up into the grips/handle, then gets stuck. I took the grips off (thinking the aftermarket grips might be messing it all up), but same thing. It appears the top forward part of the magazine is rubbing against the inside of the frame.

The magazine that came with the gun fits and works fine.

Is this common? Could the gun frame be bent?

As far as I can tell, using a metal straight edge, the insides of the frame are straight.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Try holding down(pushing) the mag release button while you insert the new mag, and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes new mags are a bit difficult getting by the mag catch area.

Thanks.

Tried. That's not it.

The magazine actually only goes in about a quarter or third of the way.

Any other ideas??

I hate to buy/try another magazine if it's the gun.

If the grip screws are out and it still won't go up, you've got me. Different magazines is an option, or using some Prussian Blue or other marking method to determine where it is binding is the next step.
Once you determine where it is binding you can consider relieving it, but professional advice is probably a good idea before you go making mods. to the frame.
dju

I've run into a few lugers with bent or dinged frames that will not easily accept any mag. These are difficult to fix, but it can be done. if you haven't already tried an new Mecgar mag, you may want to do so, as they are a few thousands slimmer than most other mags. TH

Gerry Tomek here on the forum (username: G.T.) does amazing Luger magazine work. Gerry has the mandrels and fixtures (and hammers) to re-shape bent/dented/difficult magazines. If you want your magazine checked out, he's the man! :thumbup:

Excellent work on your Luger.
Much better now - specially with the wooden grips.
As your gun was already a shooter before the restoration, no one will tell you that did wrong.
Now you have a nice gun to grab all the attention at your range.
And if you are happy at the end of day, that's all that really matters.
Douglas.

The original magazine works fine, it's the new Mecgar magazine that doesn't fit. So, assuming I didn't get a lemon of a magazine from Mecgar, I'm assuming it it the Luger that has an isse.

Thanks.

I'm not sure I would assume that, a little comparison measurement could tell you if the Mecgar is off.

Most Mecgar mags are great, but there can always be a problem.

Buy another, or return that one; or borrow a mag or two and try them.