Luger Database
 

I have been thinking about starting a database on lugers. However I don't want to do one if there are many others already being compiled. Anyways if I did it I would be hosting it in my office and would be running java and sql for the data. I am in IT so it wouldn't be hard and I have a friend that needs to work on his java skills. Users would simply goto the IP address that I supply and would enter data. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

LM, This may be a larger project than you realize. A serial number without the proper luger discription or identification (you might want to standardize on Still descriptions and definitions) will be meaningless. You might first want to limit it to one type of lugers: Mauser, DWM or Erfurt militaries. Getting into the commericals or contract guns, will offer a whole new set of problems. TH

I was thinking about setting it up with about 30 fields to get all the information. But I probably would only do it for the military pistols.

Steve,

I have a copyrighted database of over 1000 police unit markings along with descriptions of the pistols (not overly detailed) and photos of many of the markings. I am using it as a basis for researching these markings and am publishing my findings and data as I progress. Ultimately, virtually everything from the database will be available to collectors either as this series of articles or as a book that consolidates and updates the information from the articles. The currently available articles may be downloaded via http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...threadid=11898

Don....is there any info I can provide you, perhaps something I may not have already?

I guess I have to see what I do then. I was just trying to find something that I could be helpful in. I work on servers and databases everyday so it wasnt going to be a major effort on my part. My only issue was that I start off I would be requesting the correct information on the input interface. If anyone else has a suggestion on what I could do to benefit everyone let me know.
Steve

luscioman... you have only been part of the forum for a couple of months and your offer is quite generous... give it some time and some facet of luger collecting will find it's way into your heart... what information you collect, you can make it part of luger history by contributing its availability to this forum. I doubt that it will fade into the woodwork anytime soon. Many of the databases that exist today on firearms started with just such a thought in an enthusiasts mind...

One such database has been compiled by a member of both this forum and our sister forum p38forum.com

His name is Orv Reichert, and he has been collecting information on P.38 production for about 50 years... You could accomplish such a feat if you have sufficient time...

You might also come up with some new feature for the forum... your talents won't be wasted if you give plenty of time to what you want to accomplish. The only thing I can offer the forum is my time to moderate, and sharing almost 50 years of Luger enthusiasm and study... I enjoy every minute I spend with fellow luger enthusiasts, and sharing what I have learned,,, or at least what I can remember... :D

Howard,

Thanks very much for the offer. I probably have picked up anything you have posted on either of the forums over the last few years but a quick way for me to run a check would be if you send me the serial numbers of all of your pistols with police unit marks. I could quickly determine if they are already in my database. If there are any that I don't have, I could let you know with a request for more info (unit mark, toggle logo, sear/mag safety, etc.).

Steve,

I certainly did not mean to discourage your desire to help the collecting community, just let you know what is already being done. I know that Dwight Gruber has also been developing a database on a wide range of Lugers. I would also echo what Tom Heller said about the amount of effort involved. I started my database about 18 months ago thinking it would be rather simple. Boy, was I mistaken! The IT part of it is no problem. The real time consumer is in identifying sources, soliciting data and confirming the accuracy of the information. Not everyone is as cooperative as Howard (policeluger).

If you like using data to solve mysteries, you might want to start collecting data on the series of 1920 DWMs discussed in this thread: http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5948.

luscioman,

There is one area that you might want to help the collecting community and that is setting up a database listing Luger magazines. We know that Don H. has such a data base that he has collected for years, but there is a cost to subscribe to the updated list.
Perhaps if you wanted to start something on line that allowed everyone to input data and search the database without a cost associated with the access, it might be a worth while project.

I'm sure others here might agree

Jim