Custom G date Carbine
 

I will take better pictures tomorrow and replace these :)

Okay, this is the story on my carbine that Eugene made for me. Let me start off that I am amazed at the quality and care taken into it, although it took about a year longer than I would have liked. That said, I am pleased, very.
3/13/2013 I talked to Eugene about a carbine, we discussed type, payment and timeframe. He was honest that it would be at least 18 months. This was after Dwight and I published Police Lugers; so when we discussed a carbine, I decided on something unconventional, but fitting in with one of my collecting interests, Weimar era and police. I had picked up a parts G date and decided that this would make an interesting item for my collection. To me, the K and then G dates were the end of the Weimar – the Nazi’s were taking over the country and Mauser started producing in the clear as Germany, in their eyes, threw off the shackles of the allied countries from WW1.

Probably an early or late Simson would have been cool, but I wanted an item that signified as an end of the collecting era that I like and this fits it (in my opinion). I also knew that if I was going to have Eugene make me a carbine, I wanted one that would never be confused with an original and since I wanted one that was shootable and with two matching magazines.

The G date was the start of it, with two Haenel police magazines. Eugene replaced the bottoms with two blank bottoms made by GT. This turns out that it was likely an error on my part, although the magazines are perfect for this (made likely in the mid-1920’s to late 1920’s), the ‘flat’ follower button and these magazines go into the magazine well with a fair bit of resistance. It is likely why the flat button magazines did not last that long! However, a Mec-Gar or my Swiss magazine slips in like butter!

The carbine has a deep bluing to it that is very beautiful to look at, and the wood chosen has deep figure in it, with the same wood used for the grips.

Today I went to Eugene’s shop, he has a complete set up of making practically anything gun related. He has CNC capability, bluing, strawing, engraving, set up, etc. I saw that at anyone time he was in the process of about 30 projects, so, and I told him I was going to say this, that his worst characteristic is that he takes on too many projects, thus taking too long. And I imagine that new projects sometimes interest him more than the ones present ones. By the way, I specifically asked about ‘berks’ C96 and its in the works, I nicely reminded him that you’d asked me to ask him. I did so…

My overall judgment is much like others who have gotten a product from him, it takes much longer than we’d like, but his work is excellent.

Ed, it is beautiful. Happy that you have it in hand--a nice way to start 2016.
Jim

So, give it a day or two, then answer: Was it worth the heartburn? Certainly looks like it to me.
I'd like to meet Eugene some day. An interesting character to be sure.
dju

Many thanks
 

I am indebted to you for giving Eugene a gentle nudge. If the Mauser comes out as nicely as your carbine, it will definitely be worth the waite.:cheers:

That is a prize for sure.
Glad for you.
Jack

Very nice; and a super choice of "starting material".

I am green with envy. It is truly a masterpiece. :thumbup:

Ed, Yes! I am happy for you! You must have a shooting report in a few days. There is a small detail you really have to attend to. The front oval that holds the fore end on..it should not have brass screws. They should be fire blued steel. Glad the saga has come to a satisfactory ending.

thank you all - like I said I am pleased, and everyone's support has helped me tremendously. I love both forums, but I shared here, simply because I have always felt close to John D's forum.

Jerry, fireblue is correct for a pre-1920 carbine, but brass is correct for a G date :)
okay, it is something I can ask you or Rich for help later :)

ed

Very very nice, now for some loving handling to enhance the patina on the wood .. looks to be well worth the wait. Congratulations.

Just gorgeous, Ed. I've had to empty the drool bucket twice, just looking at these pics!

Beautiful Ed. Now that it is in hand I suspect it was worth the anguish, but man it was painful getting here! Congratulations (finally!:)).
Ron

I would say that it was worth the wait!

Definitely a good start to 2016! Thats a purty carbine if I ever saw one!

Ed, I noticed the upper receiver you used has no "flutes" cut near the barrel. Very nice pistol, waiting for the range report. John

Very nice. I'd consider getting one if turnaround was a month.

Ed, a wonderful piece of kit you have there! Well done. And your patience during the process has been remarkable!

Perfect!!! You now own a carbine probably more valuable than an original!!!!

A hearty Congrats Ed! You have the biblical patience of Job! You deserve this beautiful carbine.

One month is impossible.
 

Hi,

just an FYI even if i was doing this full time and had nothing else in line, getting this done in ONE month is next to impossible.

Ed's carbine has about 120 hours of labor in it and about another 60-80 hours of laps time , in waiting for wood to cure and rust blue to take.

To sum it up about 200 laps hours total.

Ending in 5 weeks of effort at a full time 40h a week rate.

Thanks for all the good comments.

More pictures
 

Some pictures taken at the day of the delivery before Ed arrived:

I hope Ed does not mind.

I like the light/natural color better than the stain job. ;)

In fact...It looks pretty good 'smooth' too... :D

(Pic from other thread)

Eugene and I discussed stains and what I'd like - I wanted a lighter color that showed the grain. I also liked it without the checkering, but it would not have looked finished I believe :)

I am okay with the result :evilgrin:

Wood color
 

There really is no stain per say on the end product.

Just several layers of true oil.

It does make the wood appear a bit wet / darker.
But it is a natural color without any additions / alterations.

Congrats, nice looking piece!

I wondered, how is a serial number assigned? Are there regs that control? Eric

he used the serial number that was on it, then when restored the banged up pieces, put that last two on the parts.

Same serial number as when he got it

Perfect!!

Eugene: Some gorgeous work there and my hat is off to you.

Ed: In a word: 'wow'. Thank you for sharing photos of this beautiful firearm with us.

Keep checking GunAuction.com. Eugene sold a couple Luger carbines on GA last year. Last one went for $3,509 IIRC. :)

Auction: 13429794 Auction Ended: June 21, 2015 22:36:57 PT
HIGH BID: $3,509.99 Shipping Fee: $50.00 :eek:

Ed enjoy your G date carbine. It is a fantastic addition to your personal collection. Many of us would really like something of this quality and beauty in our collections.

The burning question...will it shoot?

In fact...It looks pretty good 'smooth' too...There is something about checkering that screams finished quality. Smooth to me looks like firewood. Just a log.

:cheers:
funny stuff, It was Eugene that talked me into checkering it, I wanted it smooth :)

I was waiting for a time when Jeremy and I could go out shooting, then I got a bad cold (AGAIN) middle of last week and just now getting well and this weekend was rainy - so, this week - I want to go when I can have someone take pictures / me take pictures :evilgrin:

Yes..always trust the professional opinion. Besides, carbines are checkered! That's the way they were made..OH! By the way they had fire blued screws in the brass escutcheon on the fore end too..but then you know that already. It just looks unfinished with brass screws and I will NEVER stop mentioning it until you change them...Which you will do because you know..in your heart..it just ain't right!

Not the G date screws, they were brass

hey, send me some fireblued and I'll swap them out :)

Not the G date screws, they were brass Brass my hat! I need to know the size...If you will get me that I will do my duty to add the finishing touch to your fine piece of art. You may have to gently remove one..I need the length and the diameter of the head and the shaft, in THOUSANDS please. DO NOT give me any measurements in that foreign metric stuff.. Might be helpful to have a closeup pic.
Most modern screws today are made of a cosmic mix of junk high in zink. We need REAL STEEL old timey screws that can be fire blued. I might have them..but if not I know where to get them.

Ed, congratulations!

I'm very impressed on many levels. The workmanship and craft that went into the work, certainly - but also Ed your patience which has been rewarded.

Marc

Thank you Marc - the forum helped me tremendously - several friends pushed and prodded me and I bugged Eugene. In the big picture, it was me being lazy and not driving down and bugging Eugene in person - should have done that a year ago :D

Will go shooting some time this week :)

How's that gonna work with the big mittens on?;)