A Mystery Craftsman Among Us!
 

If you go to the new Member Gallery pages from the homepage of this site:

http://www.lugerforum.com

-- you will find a new photo album that illustrates an American Eagle Luger and an Ideal Stock. What is different about this Luger/stock combination is that the stock is BRAND NEW. Here is a sample from that album just to whet your appetite...

http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralb...AW06.sized.jpg

It was painstakingly created by the hands of a master craftsman who is a member of this forum. He created it because he decided he would never be able to own the genuine article to accompany his American Eagle (which he also refinished himself)... The creation of this masterpiece has taken several months...

I have been privileged to follow the creation of this completely unique Luger accessory from the outset... The owner of a genuine Ideal Stock generously permitted this craftsman to possess his prized piece during the recreation effort... He too shall remain nameless, at least for the present.

The Creator of this new Ideal Stock and I thought it would be interesting if the membership tried to guess who he is. I will reveal a new hint every couple of days until his identity is made public...

The membership is invited to present their guesses in this thread...

Good Luck to all! [img]smile.gif[/img]

P.S. NO, the stock is not for sale! [img]frown.gif[/img]

Does he live in Arizona?

And it is really nice, a beaut!

Let me save you some time... he lives east of the Mississippi River...

Well, that eliminates two machinist guys I know, so now I'm stumped... [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Well,
First of all I'd like to tell Mr. X that his work is very VERY good!!!

Second of all,
John Give us our first hint!!!

Regards,Brandon

Nice try Brandon... the first hint was that he doesn't live west of the Mississippi! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

You know You're not making this easy!!!

... [img]biggrin.gif[/img] , Brandon

Why do I see "This page cannot be displayed" when I click on the website?

Sorry all,

That is because my fast fingers mistyped the URL... try the link now that I have corrected my error...

My guess is that it wasn't me. Does this make mine the first correct guess?

Is his initials A.B. ?

Is his first name Tommy?

John, Nice metal work, but the leather is too dark & soft to be mistaken for an original. Do the arms open up like an original? If I knew the maker, I'd never tell. Tom H.

Truly magnificent craftsmanship. Now, how does the maker keep it from being passed off as an original after he is long dead and buried? Hate to be a party pooper but I feel that mine is a legit question.

Tom A,
Who has been stung by a forum member's idea of making a copy of something.. and YOU know who I am talking about! I consider you owe me $400 but whats money among friends? Only money; honor is far more important.

Maybe Schwob has something to do with this nice recreation

Alain,
I was thinking the exact same thing!!!

Hey who has "The Shadow"'s e-mail address Maybe he knows!

... [img]biggrin.gif[/img] ,Brandon

Martz?

Tom A,

QUOTE]Now, how does the maker keep it from being passed off as an original after he is long dead and buried? Hate to be a party pooper but I feel that mine is a legit question.[/QUOTE]

You have posed a very good question, and as you stated, a totally legitimate question.

I feel that this craftsman fulfilled his obligation to assure that it will not be â??passed off as an original after he is long dead and buriedâ?�. This individual has crafted a truly outstanding piece of work, and to his credit (God bless him) he has incorporated a number of subtle (and a couple of not so subtle) differences from the original in his recreation to assist future collectors from such subterfuge.

I appreciate the need to be honest, but it is the responsibility of the purchaser to do his â??homeworkâ?� before buying anything of relative rarity. If in the future, as now, an individual obtains a reproduction or an outright â??fakeâ?� without doing the necessary research to authenticate it, then he will be a graduate of the â??school of hard knocksâ?�. All of us long time collectors have been stung (myself included, several times) and sometimes that is the best teacher.

If an individual expects to be â??spoon fedâ?� all the pitfalls of collecting, then he/she is either indifferent to the intricacies of the hobby, or not sufficiently motivated to do the research necessary not to be bamboozled. Several members of this Forum have sought the advice of others, and thus have avoided being taken. That is what everyone should do. A warning to all collectors, if you swim with sharks, donâ??t bleed.

Tom, your point is well taken, you are not a party pooper. I hope your caution is heeded.

So far, the ONLY correct answer regarding the responsible personalities was made by Alain. schwob was the benefactor who allowed his original Ideal Stock to be measured and examined for the creation of this NEW masterpiece.

Ron Wood is also correct in his supposition that there are some distinct differences that will always allow future owners of this one-of-a-kind Luger accessory to know that they possess a copy and not an original...

Tom Armstrong's comments are right on target and these sentiments were considered during the construction of this stock. The 'body' of the holster was constructed from a leather coat that was purchased at a second hand store to give the leather it that aged look... It is much softer than the type of leather from which the original's were created, but still looks good.

Tom H. - Yes, the stock is fully functional-the 'trombone' is exactly like the original. The finish photographs well, but could easily be distinguished from an original.

All the rest of you are not even close with your guesses about who this craftsman is... this is turning into quite a mystery. I would have thought at least one of you might have guessed by now. There will be a new hint later today about his identity...

Feel free to ask other questions about the construction... I am sure the owner will provide me with the answers to any question you might ask via email, since he is watching the guessing game from lurk mode.

Just to set the record straight here... It wasn't ME... <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

I noticed two differences between an original and this fake that would distinguish this from an original. I will hold off because so many people are having fun guessing who did it. But I will give a teaser. One of the differences will prevent the holster from being both right AND left handed. The other difference is not the softness of the leather.
I have a few questions though. Did this person also make the wood grips and the metal attachments? I noticed the stand too. The Luger has the magazine in it. How did he make a stand like this without having to remove the magazine? I gotta look at the picture some more to see if there are more differences.
Big Norm

On examining my two originals, I MAY have to take back my teaser. But I found two other differences between an original and this fake. One is obvious and the other is more subtle. So my score is two obvious, one subtle and one maybe. My conclusion is that this rig can be easily distinguised from an original. But I would still like to know about the stand and the grips.
Big Norm

Opps! Gotta correct my last post and an email to John. After playing with my original, I realized that I had my iron stock extended. This mistakenly made me think that the nose of the repro holster was too long. So now I am reduced to two obvious differences and one maybe. Time to take a nap.
Big Norm

Hello Norm,

Here is my thought on the magazine stand :

It is just a metal stand with a woodend magazine bottom cut in half, longitudinally, and then the wooden pieces glued to the bottom of the metal stand. Giving the look of a real magazine inserted into the grip frame...

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Here is your next hint... I admit it isn't much to go on, but this mystery has sparked a lot of interest...

Once upon a time there was a man who lived a quiet life, At times working in the environment of the "Past", or the "Future", Or, "On Some Days Both".

We'll see how many hints it takes to reveal his identity...

once again, Good luck!

I would like to congratulate Alain for his thought about Schwob having something to do with the magnificent creation.

I also thank John S. for his help. The genius that took the infinite time & patience to measure, seek out the materials, cut, bend, and assemble this labor of love will be brought to light, but I'll wager it will not be an easy undertaking trying to determine the quiet extremely skilled old world craftsman whose immeasurable talents created the "Phrend". I will not disclose his secret John will have that pleasure. I'm humbled that I could make a small contribution to this project. I wish everyone all the luck in trying to guess who the identity of "Der Meister".

[img]wink.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img]

Schwob,

It is just visual memory and observation.
The pictures are a series declined after your previously posted pic of your Ideal rig.

The level of craftmanship in this achievement is truly remarkable.
Should your "Phrend" one day decide to make a few more of these Ideal tributes, then count me in; I really would be happy to "sponsor" one.

There was already plenty of wooden stocks (even if few good navy ones), now there could be reborn exotica.
A kind of repro or restoration that never alters a nice gun.

Rgds,

Alain

Alain,

I can edit all posts because I am the Site Admin (JS), but each member has the ability to edit their own posts by using the icon that looks like a pencil and paper...

As you can see I have edited this post and also corrected the spelling of Schwob's name for you.

Just wanted to let you all know that ten additional and even better photographs have been added to the album for this new Ideal Stock reproduction...

And Big Norm, the creator of the stock said to pass on to you that the stock IS fully capable of being either right or left handed...

If anyone wants to see a particular part of the stock close up for detail, all you have to do is post here what you would like to see and I am sure the owner will be glad to oblige and provide the new photos...

The next hints:

[img]smile.gif[/img] Only those who had part in this work knew of his efforts to fly with the birds or reach for the lights in nightâ??s dark sky.

[img]smile.gif[/img] He was at home with the stars and among the creatures that fly in the day or on the darkest night.

[img]smile.gif[/img] His life was spent striving in the dark hours to make it possible that others may freely go to places that he could never reach.

Does that help anyone's memory about who the mystery craftsman might be?

Is it RoadKill?

Nope! Not Roadkill, but he knows who it is! and he isn't the Shadow either... <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

[quote]Originally posted by John Sabato:
<strong> [img]smile.gif[/img] Only those who had part in this work knew of his efforts to fly with the birds or reach for the lights in nightâ??s dark sky.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Superman????

[quote]<strong>
[img]smile.gif[/img] He was at home with the stars and among the creatures that fly in the day or on the darkest night. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Batman?

[quote]<strong> [img]smile.gif[/img] His life was spent striving in the dark hours to make it possible that others may freely go to places that he could never reach.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Spiderman???

[quote]<strong> Does that help anyone's memory about who the mystery craftsman might be?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Not in the least. [img]tongue.gif[/img] But, what part of the US does ViggoG live in???

Bill Stanley prehaps?

http://www.gunsandammoauctions.com/a...p?Item=5614622
rk

Better Check the map Brandon... I don't think Bill Stanley lives east of the Mississippi... [img]frown.gif[/img]

Now I am going to make it a little tougher... When you guess you have to give a reason why you think it is the person you are suggesting... [img]smile.gif[/img]

RK, that gun has been for sale for a long time... and it is not the one used as the example... It doesn't look anywhere near as good as Bob Spitzer's (Schwob) AE and Ideal Stock...

Hey, I sent Bill a PM earlier in the week. Was wondering about the guy, haven't heard" from him for a while, hope he is okay!
[img]smile.gif[/img]

[quote]Originally posted by John Sabato:
<strong>... When you guess you have to give a reason why you think it is the person you are suggesting... [img]smile.gif[/img] </strong><hr></blockquote>

Oh - I forgot that part in my post!!! OK, your "hints" - or the way I interpreted them - made me believe the "Mystery Guest" had something to do with either space or rocket construction or NASA - well - whatever... Anyway, I remember what I read for quite a while (it's an occupational hazard being a computer market research analyst [img]wink.gif[/img] ) and I seem to recall that ViggoG made some comments on the old board about when he was involved with metallurgy in rocket construction... Or, I thought that was ViggoG - but I don't know where he hails from (so I asked his location..!)..

Sooo - now you know my thought process in my guess..!!!

I will try a direct email because Bill hasn't posted since July 27th and that is a long time for him...

[quote]Originally posted by John Sabato:
<strong>Better Check the map Brandon... I don't think Bill Stanley lives east of the Mississippi... [img]frown.gif[/img]

Now I am going to make it a little tougher... When you guess you have to give a reason why you think it is the person you are suggesting... [img]smile.gif[/img] </strong><hr></blockquote>

Ooops! I just knew his e-mail address had Boeing in it!