Swiss Luger Improvements?
 

Is the W+F M1906/29 improved in strength, accuracy, or reliability over its predecessors?

I don't believe so. The primary goals were ease of manufacture and decreased cost. There may have been an improvement in strength due to more up to date metallurgy, but I don't know for sure.

I agree with Ron. The 'improvements' were the result of reduction of costs in production by simplifying machine setups and decreasing milling operations... witness the sideplate full length projection boss over the trigger lever and the rounded front on the upper receiver. They ultimately even eliminated the checkering/embossing of the toggle knobs... and the safety lever...

While the simplified 06/29 is a rather homely gun, it and the earlier mis-labeled 06/24 have an improved trigger pull which made them popular in post-war European competition shooting. The 06/29 with custom sights set several records at the time. For a description of the trigger modifications, see Harry E. Jones,'Luger Variation', pg.7-8. Personally, my 06/24 is a favorite shooter, albeit an expensive one given the ammunition. One interesting note is Swiss steel hardness tested on a Rockwell B scale was notably softer than various DWM, Simson, Mauser & Krieghoff samples according to Randall Gibson in 'The Krieghoff Parabellum'. The '29 is something of an orphan with most Luger collectors, however people collect Edsels and Henry J's. I'm told. Regards to all, Dick McE.

Correction: The book is 'Luger Variations', first published in 1959, last in 1975 by the author privately. It's full of personal observations based on hands-on experience with many rare guns including a genuine .45 Test Luger. Along with Fred Datig's book it was one of the pioneers in Luger research.

One of the cost-cutting measures was to finetune the Swiss M1929 for use of the 7,65mm Para round and it's softer recoil only, so reinforcements that made their way into DWM's 9mm design were never implemented in the Swiss versions.

It's probably one of the reasons why the Swiss abandoned the idea of developing a 9mm version. Too much redesigning needed.

Would you please spell out this lack of reinforcements?

Are you suggesting that a DWM 7.65 P08 is stronger than a Swiss M1929?

Michael -

I have sent you a private Email.

Mauser720 - Ron

Hi Michael,

Actually, yes, there is a good chance, but it needs some further investigation :)

The 9mm versions appear to have some 'meat' or weight added to the rear end of the grip piece. These reinforcements have been described in other threads before. These changes most likely made it into DWM's .30 luger versions of the same era as well.

We also now know, after speaking with former Mauser engineers who were connected to the development of the 1970s Mauser Parabellum, that they had a lot of problems to create a decent 9mm version based on their .30 luger / Swiss inspired model, because of these Swiss changes. Can't give too many specific details, as more will be revealed in an upcoming book on the Post-War Mauser Parabellum.