questions
 

I am new to this.I have a 1939 S/42 4 in. barrel in very good shape. All matching numbers including mag.9mm. Is it alright to shoot occasionally? Or should I just keep it put up to look at.

Yes, I would shoot it occasionally...it's made to be fired. I'm not a fan of any gun I can't shoot. Shoot good quality ammo in it though, I prefer Sellier & Bellot FMJ. S/42 is the early code for Mauser, which later changed to "byf".

-Eric

NO, I would not shoot it.

There are several threads (postings) asking this same question.

Be aware that if you break a numbered part, your collector value is essentially gone.

Some folks will disregard this and shoot their guns, that is fine, but it really depends on how nice your gun is?

If all matching, etc.

I moved your posting to its own thread and check-marked so you would receive notification.


Ed

Jihn, Yes..if you are a rich man and don't mind losing $800-900 dollars go ahead ...Take eric's advice and shoot it.
If you break an extractor or any other numbered part you have altered history and lost your butt in the Luger market.
I have MANY Lugers that will never be fired. Might be you could shoot them for the rest of your life but could be you shoot a magazine and wonder why parts are flying off.
Since I wouldn't want to risk a huge market loss..I simply bought a shooter. One Luger is just like another untill you break a part and I have broken several.
I wouldn't shoot it with a matched mag..no way. One day it's worth $15-1800 the next $500..

Lugers are fun to shoot but you are taking a risk when you shoot them.
Bob

Go buy a shooter. One you can have guilt-free fun with. Besides, no one should own just one Luger.
dju

Thanks for the reply.It is a beautiful weapon and I would not want to do anything to damage it.

Finding an all matching Luger including the magazine, with all in the original finish is rather rare. That's why collectors pay more for them.

Some of this depends on condition. To be collectible it should have over 85% of it's original finish intact.

Post some pictures taken without flash in indirect light (shaded outdoors) and we may be able to help you judge the finish on your Luger.

I personally would not shoot it. It's not worth the risk or breaking a numbered part. It does happen, and while not common, it's certainly not worth the risk. It's less expensive to get one that is a mismatch, or refinished and shoot that one.

I think it's a bit like collecting fine vintage wines. Some cost thousands per bottle. What good is wine unless you drink it? Well, some of those bottles are a real delight when opened. Some have turned to vinegar... Which ones will be a "loss".... You can't tell without tasting it. But tasting it destroys it's collector value...

Marc

Looks like I'm alone in my opinion, however I would still at least test fire it. Maybe not shoot it often, as others stated I would have a "shooter" Luger for most trips to the range, but I would still have to put a mag through it once in a while. I don't buy any gun that I either can't shoot or would be afraid to shoot. I am diligent about ammo quality, careful in transporting/storing, and spend a lot of time cleaning after a range trip.

If you do decide to shoot your '39, definitely don't use old, possibly corrosive ammo. I would not use new production cheap steel case stuff either. Recommend S&B 9mm. Their 8mm Mauser 196gr FMJ is also excellent, as well as boxer-primed if you reload.

-Eric

Eric, I respect your opinion and glad you are willing to voice it. And to tell you the truth used to have your same opinion, I just have broken a breechblock, so I am a bit nervous about it.


Ed

If you must shoot it, and don't want to buy a shooter, at least buy a complete toggle train for shooting. It has the numbered parts that are broken most of the time.

I love to shoot and I have been tempted to shoot a few of my matched weapons but guilt prevents me from doing it. I am only a caretaker to the peices I own and I think it would be a shame to ruin a piece of history for the person who will own it after I am gone.

Just my opinion

W

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give me their opinion.After all the support you have given me I have decided to just somehow display it properly and not fire it.I will try and take some pictures to post so that your opinion of it's condition could be considered.Thanks again. John

Here are some pictures of my Luger.

Very nice gun.
dju

John,
it's a really nice luger!
Love it, lube it, hug it - but don't break it...:nono:

Many, many years ago, when I was a novice collector of Lugers, I owned an absolutely mint, fully matching (including mag) 1911 example. It was the absolute jewel of my collection, something I treasured and loved to show off. After I owned it a couple of years for some silly reason I decided to test fire it. Well, it stovepiped most of the time and was just completely reliable. After about 100 rounds of commercial ammo I just gave up. In those days we knew llittle about proper ammo choice, so it was most probably a simple matter of choosing the wrong fodder. From then on, I lost all respect for that weapon, and couldn't even look at it any more. Eventually I let it go at a giveaway price. How I wish I had never fired that pistol. I would probably still own it today! It has been at least 50 years since I have subject one of my collector pieces to such callous treatment.

Ah, the one that got away...
dju

This loosely reminds me of something my brother told me. He is a car enthusiast up in Seattle, owns an NSX and races on weekends. He and the majority of racers at his track hate Paul Allen, of Microsoft fame, because he has collected and destroyed a number of historic race cars at this track, apparently just because he can.
As mentioned above, we are only the caretakers of historic objects. There are hundreds of shooter Lugers out there to scratch that Luger firing itch. Preserve what has made it this far in history intact.

I am unsure of the actual place in history my Luger has BUT I will not be the one to damage it.John