Artwork by a Master
 

I received a package Saturday from Forum member G.T. (Gerry Tomek), and I was bowled over! One of the finest craftsmen I have ever known has created these magazine bottoms that are of fine jewelry quality. They are exhibition grade French walnut, the same as he uses for the work he does for John Martz, and have ivory inlays. I had given G.T. a piece of scrap ivory a while back and asked someday if he would make some mag bottoms for a little project of mine. Someday has arrived and they are magnificent!

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/mag_bottoms.jpg

More than 20 years ago I started to make a â??babyâ?� Luger from a box of parts I bought from Ron Peterson in Albuquerque.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/baby_side_view.jpg

I have shortened the grip and added a web in the frame to convert it to coil spring...and one other major modification that I will let you figure out.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/top_crop.jpg

I am pretty sure that G.T. has produced such wonderful mag bottoms to goad me into completing the project. Since it is a long frame/receiver, I have been dragging my feet in getting a custom short barrel made in 9mm with the long thread shank. I guess it is time to turn it over to the pros to finish, because I canâ??t wait another 20 years to get it done!

Thanks a million G.T.:cheers:

Beautiful Ron. You should get GT to furnish a magazine spring also. They do not show but in their own way they are as outstanding as his magazine bottoms. He would have to clip it a touch though.

Gt's work leaves me near speechless, just outstanding...the major modification you did not tells us about...would that be an internal barrel :)

Howard,
No barrel yet...need that part to finish it ;) . The modification is visible in the second picture of the Luger.

Ron:

Great piece of work.... 06/08 breech block and extractor??

Regards Ken D

Ron, A truly elegant combination! GT does fantastic work. I must get up to Phoenix someday and meet the fellow. Jerry Burney

Ken,
You win the cigar! Figured if I was going to go with the coil spring I might as well add an '06 breechblock.

Ron,

So -thats- how you have been spending your time. Didn't know that "landscaping" was code-talk for "gunsmithing". Very nice piece it is, too--the 1900 toggle and the custom grips are very classy.

I guessed the 1906 breechblock before I read through to Ken's post, but he got there first...

Of course, what I need now are the frame and original receiver serial# (if you still have the barrel) for my database :)

--Dwight

Ah, Dwight, it truly is a parts bin Luger and I wish I had the original guns it represents. The frame is #9507 (1900 style with toggle lock detent and GERMANY marked under the serial number), and the trigger and rear toggle link are marked 07. The receiver is a 1900 American Eagle. The recoil lug is #261 and there is a "flaming bomb" just forward of the lug. Not a Test Eagle since the test pieces have only a 2-digit number on the lug, but the 3-digits have me baffled, since all my other American Eagles also only have 2 digits. The side plate and takedown are numbered 26 (not 61 so they don't match the receiver).

When I found the receiver, it had a Lahti type barrel, but it wasn't a Lahti. It was a thin "pencil" type barrel in .30 caliber about 5" long with a hexagonal profile next to the receiver like a Lahti. It was only screwed in hand tight. Really an odd piece. All in all a real "story book" Luger.

Ron,

Regarding the 3-digit lug number, my 1900AE #13499 has the last three digits stamped on the recoil lug, sideplate, rear toggle, and breechblock (two digits everywhere else, grips not numbered and may not be original...).

Is this a 1906 receiver, or did you need to relieve it for the 1906 extractor? ...and it looks like the breechblock may have part of a BUG proof set, did the extractor come with it, and is it GELADEN or LOADED?

GERMANY stamped on the frame? This will be interesting, as 9506 is an AE, 9508 is a Commercial.

--Dwight

I'm late getting in on this, but it is, as everyone has said, beautiful. I too am particularly taken with the grips.

Ron,
Hurry up and get the barrel. Dying to see it finished. What a classey looking little Luger. The grips are outstanding.

Other Ron

yes, I think so too !! :D


Ed

Ron, great looking Baby, so far!! Anxious to see the finished product. I'm sure you are too!!! Keep us posted! :)

Dwight,
The breechblock is Crown/N marked and it has the original GELADEN extractor that was with it when I got it. I suspect that the frame, like the receiver, is a 1900 American Eagle, but I have no way of knowing for sure. It would be highly unlikely that it is a non-AE frame with the GERMANY export stamp on it. You have already figured out that the receiver is a 1900 (I also edited my earlier post to add the â??1900â?�). The receiver retains the radius in front of the breechblock and is not dished out like the New Model receiver. I just cut a relief in the receiver to accommodate the later extractor.

To the rest of you guys, thanks for the kind words. The baby has been in its current configuration for nearly 20 years, so I guess it is time I get on the ball and finish it.

Actually, I have data for quite a few 1900 Commercials with GERMANY stamps on the frame. They trend toward the 4000 serial range, and all have BUG proofs.

Interestingly, #9508 is just such an example.

--Dwight

Really beautiful grips and magazine bottoms!!!
Well done..
Mauro

Thanks Ron and all for the kind words... I hope this baby is up and running soon! it's a unique & beautiful pistol.... Best to all! til....lat'r....GT

Ron, I may have THE correct barrel for your project baby. Please check your PMs. Tom

Tom,
I checked my PMs. I tried to reply but your mailbox is full. I'll try again later. Thanks. Ron