Is this a real Luger or a knock off? (It looks too good.)
 

I've always wanted a Luger, but the prices always prevented me. Yesterday, I saw this Luger on consignment at a local shop and was blown away. Not only was it in my price range, but it looked near-new! I spent all last night researching the few markings I could read, and by this morning was comfortable enough to jump.

It appears to be an incredibly good condition early commercial Luger, but I was hoping that some of you could confirm that it's even real and not some kind of knock off. The barrel is pristine! Mirror finish and sharp rifling! The finish looked so good I originally thought it may have been re-done, but all the markings are stamped into it, and there's no sign of new finish "flowing" into them. All the parts appear to match! No letter suffixes on the serial number! The only "blemish" is the import marks, which are obviously cut into the finish. (Blast them!)

If my research is correct, this should be a late 1910s commercial (Crown/N) pistol, but it looks fantastic, too good in fact. I'm wondering if I hit gold or got taken! Any help, opinion, or outright conjecture would be greatly appreciated!

Photos attached (which actually look worse than reality) and thanks in advance!

It is an East German military or police rework of what appears to be a 1920's commercial. It may very well be a mixed parts gun that has been renumbered as was the practice of the East German government.

I'm wondering if I hit gold or got taken! How much did you pay?

as Geo said, they put new east german barrels on them, thus why it is pristine.

Do some research here and it can help, but there are literally scores of variations of lugers

6 bills.

You did alright. That's about what shooters cost. Not a pure collector piece..just a good shooter

That makes a lot of sense. As I look at it, even the exterior finish of the barrel is different than that of the pistol (a lot shiner).

I think the matching crown N on the barrel led me to think it was an original stamp from the manufacturer.

I am curious, though, what gave it away? Was there a marking that stood out? Or is it just the knowledge of the experts?

I'm a happy camper. The collectable Lugers have always been out of my price range, and I don't buy things like this to look at. I want to use them.

It shot very, very tight groupings and was/is a pleasure to shoot. As I said in my original post, I've always wanted one. They look and feel fantastic. It's been a good day. :thumbup:

The grips help give it away

The crown N is the later one I believe

And the matching mag is big time giveaway

$600 is a good price for a nice vopo shooter


ed

That's a nice clean VoPo rework. The things that "gave it away" also include the import marking on the bottom of the barrel and the size and typographic font of the serial number stampings.

These are usually not this sharp and clean looking. Somebody took some time to make it look this nice...

Marc

Also the exposed serial numbers on the left side of the gun were added. Commercials have hidden numbers on some parts and no numbers on other parts that are usually numbered on militaries. The small parts should be strawed... takedown lever, trigger, mag release button, thumb safety, and ejector. It started out as a 30 Luger cal. I assume it is a 9mm now?
It started out looking like this one... only the C/N proof visible on the left side.

I too have a VoPo refurb that was (so I've been told) 'dipped' [reblued] rather that buffed and then covered with roofing tar...I'd say you got an excellent deal for 6 bills...These East German Lugers (and P-38's/PP's etc and others) are starting to get a lot of attention from serious collectors...Your Luger is one of the better examples... :thumbup:

The non-period correct magazine that was numbered to the gun is a red flag. But like everyone says, you have a nice shooter and something to admire while you look for the next one...
Welcome aboard.
dju

You took some very nice photo's...That always helps!

The magazine is a post war manufactured magazine by what was the Haenel Schmeisser factory. It is 100% correct for the pistol. The pistol is a legitimate example of a government service Luger after 1947.It is every bit as correct as a WWI military Luger reworked into a Weimar police gun.

I was issued and carried a reworked 1943 Remington Rand 1911A1 in the early 1970s. It seemed pretty legitimate to me.

The East Germans would have issued the Luger to the Volkspolizei (VoPo) with two mags numbered 1 & 2. Some were rebarreled while others, like my 1917 Erfurt, will retain the original barrel if the bore is good enough.

The Crown/N is a commercial proof used on early commercial Lugers and used by the East Germans. It had previously been dropped by pre-WW2 Germany. Maybe they had old stamps already available or wanted to differentiate themselves from West Germany.

Note in Mike's post that his commercial Luger has strawed parts that are blued on yours. The East Germans refinished yours as they did to many others they refurbished.

The good news is that, as already stated, the VoPo Lugers are going up in value and you didn't overpay at all. They are one of the more recent chapters in the saga of the Luger and while some may not consider them "original", they have their own history and appeal. In time they will appeal to collectors more and more.

Nice score, enjoy.

I would have jumped on that. Great purchase.