Dumb basic Luger Question: are they still being made?
 

Gentlefolk;

Dumb newbie Luger question: are they still being made? The Lugers I know of are all WWI - WWII era, and I assumed they stopped production after the second WW.

But has production resumed anywhere? And if so, are these "real" Lugers, tracing their lineage back to the originals in some way? Or would these be essentially knock-offs, like Chinese-made Rolexes?

Thanks!

Don

Thank you, tac, great background.

Sooo... what do people DO with their Lugers? I for one hate to have a weapon that isn't used - not one to be drawn to something that hangs on a wall and all people can do is stare at it an say "isn't that lovely."

Are there Luger parties where people get together and play Luger games? Or is the finite number of Lugers available, of all stripes, finite enough that people just get them, hang on to them, and enjoy the pleasure of oiling them every whip-snitch?

(Bit of heresy here.. in the 9mm world, I prefer my Steyer GB - chrome-lined barrel, ported, very natural pointer and hasn't failed on me yet... but we have lept ahead in weapon development 50 years also....)

Thank you, tac.

Don

Don, almost seems like you're kidding or baiting the forum ;)


There are guys who shoot their lugers and there are guys who collect and don't shoot them and there are some who do both and some who own both. I have always found it a bit odd when "shooters" act like non-shooters are :rolleyes: .

There are 10's of thousands of lugers in the USA; so there are lugers that can be found for $450 (beat up or not best of shape and maybe nickled, to shooter grade (most are priced around $650-$750), and then up in price, with most collectable guns being $1000-$1800. If you take your $1800 luger out and shoot it and break a numbered part, you are now the owner of a shooter luger (for most parts of the gun and for most collectors). A broken numbered part gun will never bring the value it had; so, no, I don't shoot my collectable lugers...


Ed

Thanks, Edward...

And no, no intent on baiting the forum... I have had the Luger for a while, but just now "getting 'round to studyin' up on it" so my ignorance is appalling and apparent.

I _suspect_ that when I post the pix, we will see that the numbers match, since it is your basic WWII acquired from the homeland piece during the Conflict. But we shall see.

I have just the basics of the info about how my father got the piece, so I have little info on just where the Wehrmact officer got the piece. I do know it is not a swap meet special, so maybe I should be showing it a bit more love than just having it wrapped up in a cloth and stuck on a shelf. Then again, it lived for 50 years in a footlocker in the basement, so its living standards have improved somewhat...

Don, I believe that to understand why so collectors take care of their Lugers, one has to be a real collector.:D

Alf

I believe a gun in 90% or less condition can shoot some rounds without downgrading its appearance too much. Shooting original has different type feeling and excitement, including worring numbered parts could break.

Alf;

... point taken...Im not rich enough to be a collector, just have have enough to wish I had enough money to be a collector... <sigh>

Don

Thanks, Alvin;

And here is my conundrum.... I don't want to sell the Luger, family heirloom and all that, but don't want to damage it, but can't use it ... sooooo...... I guess I look at it and admire it.

Don

" sooooo...... I guess I look at it and admire it."

Don. Be careful, that is the first step to be a collector....

:D

Alf

Alf...

Hmmm... this could work for me. The problem with adding to my collection now, is my wife has pointed out that I havent killed anyone with the guns I have, so why do I need more?

But you have opened up a whole new line of argument. Since _these_ guns would _not_ be intended to kill anyone, I can therefore add to the collection, and they _would_ be fulfilling the intent of purchase - that is to be admired.

Im thinkin' Im likin' this collection approach!

Don

Don, my wife has used this excuse, "how many guns can you shoot at any one time". For me this is a losing fight, but for YOU, heck, one for each hand! For Steiner, he would use his teeth for a third shooter :D


Maybe pop some rounds from her, but look around for a reasonable shooter and then you're good to go!



Ed

:D Years of military practice and playing cowboy has thought me the technical skill of shooting with the teeth. My next goal now is to have a fourth one stuck in my mid-life spread, but for that I need to keep on drinking :cheers:

Ed;

Well, alas, the other way we have of spending money is to keep horses fed. Now, I have one horse.. a lovely colt, great guy. All that I need. After all, how many horses can I ride at one time?

My wife has four - for each mount serves a different purpose.

So this is where gender-math conflicts with itself. While it is valid, from my perspective, to say that one only needs one horse, but needs MANY guns - for each gun has a specific purpose - , my wife contends this is irrational, for while there is obvious (???) justification for many equines, there is very little justification for spending money on many guns.

<sigh>

Now, my own confessed weakness is.. "ohhh.. a caliber I don't have!" This creates some logistics problems, stocking .44mag, 9mm, .380, .40SW and on and on and on, OTOH, if I am out of something, I ususally have something else I can make go boom, so there is something to be said for diversity.

Don

To answer the question 'are they still beeing made?' I can only refer to this video I just found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIWPZ_HKtQc
The video also shows that Luger collecting don't necessary have to be that expencive eighter ;)

Hmmm... have to try that video again later... I would think that if a person takes time to shoot a video, he would at least take 15 more minutes to light the place... (photo snob in me coming out...)

thx! Will try this again.

Don

I would say a horse continues to be a money pit and then...dies. Nothing to show for money spent (other than photos). Horses are recreational comforts unless your using them to plow or barrel race or rodeo to make it pay for itself.

When you buy a gun, any gun, it is paid for and only increases in value. Guns are an investment in security and financial wealth (sorta). You will never go hungry owning a firearm.

Although I love horses and have had one in my life, I'll take a firearm any day.

"It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission."

It's not like I'm having my morning bath in a bin of Lugers (alÃ?Â* Scrooge McDuck) either, that for several reasons.
In a way I can relate to your frustration Mr Tac

Re: Dumb basic Luger Question: are they still being made?
 

Talking about fake Rollies..... actually, there are a few ranks of quality as well. The bottom one is Canton made. The middle one is Japan made. The highest one is Swiss made! (of course, not R factory). The extreme one is a real Rolie, but enhanced aftermarket.

There are certain degree of similiarity in different fields.

Connie;

Yeah, the downside is that guns aren't exactly cost-free after purchase - unless you collect them and don't fire them. There is the ammo, the range fees, the cleaning supplies - it is quite easy to drop $100 at a range in two hours or less.

So, you collect with no immediate plans to sell.. you then have THAT money out which may or may not be recouped.

Sadly, there are no cheap addictions... and I have been looking....

Don

Luger's is not on my 'top three ranking' of budget killers I really don't need. Wich would probably be;

#1 Hunting. With the fees, ammunition, transport and equipment, this is not a budget my wife should see!
#2 Photography. It's not like I sell my pictures.. so this is a 100% drain.
#3 Fishing and hiking. Ok.. I don't pay any fees, but in some mysterious way I manage to spend/waste quite a lot here also.

..but it's not too far below I'm afraid.

Somehow, everything that is fun costs, except.... ;)



Btw. Please print and cut out this post after reading, burn it and crush the ashes so that my wife don't see it