How many Lugers have survived the ages?
 

I've read that approximately 2.5+ million Lugers were made. Of course we know many (most?) were destroyed or lost so I'm curious what the educated guesses are how many of them exist today. Any ideas?

Hopefully a million of them are still around but that could be optimistic.

My guess would be it's a much lower number.

Many years ago some of us collectors were discussing this. Here is our WAG. 35% lost in war, 20 % destroyed, 10% to other countries, of the remaining 35% 10% are matching,except mag.,in 95%+ condition. Bill

..with a little modification, we europeans found out that the Lugers can easily become razorblades or paperweights..

Anyway, what's with the "10% to other countries"? :confused:

10% to me! (I've just legally renamed myself to "other countries") :D

Glad to hear you have found ingenious workarounds, MK, what an interesting paperweight!

Steinar The 10% to other countries was countries which would probably never release the war captures such as Russia. Bill

ahh.. well, it makes sense.
handling down military firearms from arsenals to private hands can be a political/legal issue in some countries.

This info about the British destroying 1500 Lugers pisses me off.
De-acts might as well be counted as destroyed too, as far as I'm concerned. This stupidity is criminal. Why didn't they find a market for them overseas and sell them ? GRrrrrrrrrrr.