Norinco Luger
 

Just for your eyes, does anyone own this?

Are they still around? How much are they worth? How many were made, how many imported?

Aren't these the metal models that almost seem real?

Otherwise, if Norinco made / makes lugers, I haven't heard of it?


Ed

I think the photo is a doctored artists concept. I think there was a move afoot by Norinco to make a Luger largely from investment castings but I don't know its status or if it even got started.

The grips look terrible...

IF Norinco ever were to make a Luger pistol it had better be in .45 or cost $300.00 because there would be few buyers otherwise IMO. I owned a Norinco 1911 A1 once and everytime I took it to the range some part would break and fall off.
I was not impressed with the quality of it.

Jerry Burney

Hi,

It is real. One was made as a prototype, we discuss it in our book 'The Parabellum Is Back! 1945-2000'. And it is currently in a forum member's collection. I had a chance to handle, study and photograph it a couple of months ago.

(and yes, it looks awful, but it actually works :) )

Here:


http://www.hermann-historica.de/aukt...db=kat59_s.txt


And here is Hi resolution where it is obvious how crudely it was made. Just enlarge the front sight.

http://www.hermann-historica.de/aukt..._max/96743.jpg

Joe, I am just curious, if you knew this information at the begining, why didn't you share it?

Rather than folks guessing at what you were looking for?


Ed

The Hermann Historica pictures don't do it justice, they are very, very light.

The pistol itself is a normal dark blue finish with almost golden like discoloration of the hardened toggle parts.

It's ugly !
Not only the grips look terrible, as Postino said, they seem to me to be made by plastic.
Also the knobs look stamped and welded to the toggle.
And scratches all over the gun.
And look to the trigger...... and so on.
With $ 800 one can buy a good shooter, I don't think this Norinco will be a collectible in any future.
But these are only my thoughts.
Best regards
Antonio

The grips are wood and the checkering is indeed more like scratching than anything else. As a testament to the history of the luger pistol, and the fact that only one has been made, I'm pretty sure it is and will be a collectible right now :)

I didn't understand that only one has been made.
But I'm sorry, I still have my opinion that it has nothing to do with Lugers and I would not spend 1$ on it.
If the actual or the next owner will be happy with this gun, better for them!
Again, it's only my opinion.
Best regards
Antonio

If you asking me???

I didn't know they exist. I am posting information as I am digging dipper, and discovering more myself.

Maybe off-topic and a philosophical point? The workmanship on this is horrible, worse than in the 1950's from Japan, before they got their quality ducks in a row. I have a repro Winchester M52 made in Miroku, Japan in 1994 that rivals the orginal in quality....these days, the Chinese are becoming the dominant economic power in the world, turning out absolute crap....think of anything you've seen made by them thats not substandard...price is all that matters thses days, everything's disposable.

About the workmanship:

Don't forget that this is, in essence, a prototype annex feasibility study. It is not meant to look pretty, it is meant to be produceable at a reasonable cost price and be functional as well. Minor issues like finishing and checkering can easily be addressed when series production starts. Unlike other copies, at least it feels solid and it works.

We can probably write entire shelves of books on the development of the Chinese economy, but I feel that at least Norinco deserves some credit for giving this a try. :)

Both of my Norinco AK's are ugly too....but they are 100% reliable and shoot like champs. One of them has over 10,000 rounds through it with zero jams. In fact, no Norinco firearm I've ever owned has given me the slightest bit of trouble. The same can be said of my Norinco NDM-86 (SVD). That thing can hit a man at 1000 yards but sure is ugly. Exterior metal finishing is crude in the extreme but on the inside it's a thing of beauty. You gotta' remember that Norinco is in the business of making firearms that work. They polish and fit parts only where necessary. And when they do, their work is as good as you are going to get. How pretty it is is either low priority or no priority. I have never seen a Norinco product that was not top notch quality. You can't jugde a book by its cover. Also, ther is no "Norinco" per se. That is a name used to market products made by MANY state run military factories throughout China. All of them build for the military and as such have very high quality standards when it comes to durability and function. I don't think the Chinese made this Luger to collect. I think they made it for a mass market audience as an inexpensive way to enjoy shooting a Luger without paying the high price of an original or the worry of it breaking. I'd take a Norinco anything any day of the week!

Gerben I feel that at least Norinco deserves some credit for giving this a try. Absolutely! It is amazing to me that they managed to make one that looks this good and only one?

Gerben, you say it works..Has anyone you know shot it? Would enjoy hearing a report of that!

Jerry Burney

Jerry,

The gun smith who handled the import after the HH sale test fired it a couple of times in his work shop. Sadly no 'range report' on accuracy.

Sadly no 'range report' on accuracy.

Gerben, Yes..too bad.

I am amazed that only the one pistol has surfaced. With any prototype attempt usually more than one is involved. Interesting stuff...
Jerry Burney