Photo of Luger in Mexican Revolution
 

For those of you like me who like this sort of thing - the fourth photo down in the following link shows a nice looking young lady pulling what looks to be a luger from her holster. The rest of the photos aren't bad either but, alas, no lugers.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=363184



John

Wow neat pictures and thanks for posting.....I liked the Savage 99 about mid way down.

I agree John... the young lady is indeed preparing to unholster her Luger pistol ... the cartridges in her belt look to be 9mm as well.

Um bartender, I'd like like to buy a drink for the lady with the Luger!

Having grown up in Mexico City. I have had the opportunity to see really interesting guns both at flea markets and more typically, on security guard's belts. Anything from Colt SAA to 1909 Colt autos to 1900 and later Lugers worn by older security guards.
I amassed a small collection of Bisleys, SAAs, a Henry rifle and several Lugers while living and working there in the 1980s. Mostly bought at the Tepito, or thieves' flea market in downtown Mexico City. None were in any thing resembling mint condition, but all with honest, hard wear, often with hand-made replacement parts. I used to buy the parts in the US and hand carry them back to Mexico to somewhat restore these historic artifacts.
I sold my entire collection to a local collector upon leaving as the process for importing my finds was exhausting.

Mexican Gun Laws
 

Hi:

I'm somewhat surprised by your comments, as I've read that firemarms are strictly controlled in Mexico.

Please tell us more about Mexican gun laws.

Sieger

I think this photo is one you've talked about John L?


ed

My goodness...a six-shot (conehammer?) Mauser. That pistolero is packing a lot more dollar value than the total worth of his theatrical attire.

A fellow arms society member told me the picture of the cowboy with the C96 was taken at a bar here in San Luis Obispo CA. Wheter this is true or not I dont know.

The belt above the holster looks like he may have been one of the premiere members of the World Wrestling troupe.

It looks like it was taken in the 1920's at the latest . Long before the "Village People " :)

...the "nice looking young lady" is not so nice, IMHO ! :rolleyes:

The number of women featured is extraordinary , I wonder if this was representative or deliberate . I know nothing about the mexican revolution unfortunately! when did it take place and who were the adversaries ? what was the outcome ?

A link to brief Mexican Revolution reading for raygun....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Revolution

Is there such a thing as a "Mexican" Luger - one marked with Mexican government markings from this period?

John

John, The only Mexican Luger I am aware of is pictured on page 69 of Kenyon's "Luger: The Multinational Pistol". It is a 1900 model with "EJERCITO MEXICANO" inscribed on the left side of the frame. I don't know if these were marked at DWM for commercial Mexican sales or were sold to the Mexican government.

To reply to the inquiry about Mexican gun laws. Mexico is restrictive on the purchase of modern guns. Ammunition is also strictly controlled and purchases are registered. .45ACp and 9MM are considered "military"calibers and are generally prohibited. (This is why Mexico is a Mecca for finding .38 Super Colt 1911s and Browning HPs).
Buying, trading and acquiring antique guns seems to not be an issue, as I often found old SSAs, Winchesters, etc at flea markets and purchased them in plain view of officers patrolling the fairs. (Tepito, the largest thieve's market in Mexico City, {and I DO mean thieve's market}is situated right across the street from Police Headquarters)!!
Security guards and other such positions are a huge source for older guns as these people acquire their firearms on the street and often turn up interesting things.
Collectors in Mexico are specially licensed but are not restricted to ANYTHING. I know one guy who has a live German 20mm flak/AT gun with accompanying HE rounds in his office!
Full auto is not a problem once you are licensed as a collector.
As I said, antiques do not seem to raise any eyebrows at all.

The question of the availability of "Lugers" during the Mexican Revolution is an interesting one. The following is taken from the 1908 Sears catalog:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...atalog1908.jpg

It shows a M1900 for $24.45 - by the way, the most expensive handgun in the entire catalog by $4.45 - the ad also lists 30 Luger ammo for sale. No 9mm is offered. I have acquired the 1922 Montgomery Wards catalog too, and there are no Lugers for sale but you can buy 30 Luger ammo. 9mm is not listed.

While this isn't definitive proof about the type of Lugers available in the USA early in the 19th century, these were the two largest mail order firms at that time. I've got a line on a 1928, 1935 and 1941 catalogs - it will be intetesting to see if this changes and if and when 9mm starts to be sold.

John

See if you can turn up any of Bannerman's catalogues from NYC in the same period. They were one of the biggest dealers in these kind of weapons back them.

I wonder what the basic wage was then ? $24 . was probably a lot of money.