1900 Bulgarian Lugers
 

The most recent information I have on the 1900 Bulgarian contract is that of Kenyon's book. He stated that only 2 or 3 examples were known at that time still in the original configuration and maybe 7 pieces that had been rebarreled to 9mm.

Are those numbers still accurate or have more of these early pieces come to light?

Thanks in advance.

Gary

book authors sturgess & goertz indicate on pgs 524 and 525 in book 2 of their 3 book set (published in 2010) that the bulgarian 1900 luger which they called the m1903 was a consecutive order of 1000 guns.

the database list that mr. dwight gruber keeps on commerical guns supports this number as well as all the guns he lists in this 20000 number block are noted as bulgarians with around 38-39 guns reported but no other non-bulgarian guns are in the bunch of these 1000 sn places.

Ben; Thanks so much for that information. It is just what I needed and I do not have that set of books....sigh.

Does he indicate which of those had been rebarreled to 9mm?

Do you know if these works are available anywhere as public information? I have not had much success at my local Library when it comes to Luger books.

Thanks again for your time and response.

Gary

At the last data listing that I have, Dwight had recorded four M1900 Bulgarian Lugers that had been converted to 9mm. I wonder if the stronger 1902 type spring for 9mm was also installed when they were converted? Almost had to have been changed to make them function reliably and not cause excess wear from the more powerful cartridge.

Nearly all of the M1906 Bulgarian Lugers were converted to 9mm when the M1908 Luger was purchased by the Bulgarians. So unalterd M1906 Bulgarians are nearly as hard to find as M1900.

I doubt that there are any public copies of these references available. The Görtz/Sturgess books are too new and expensive for public library acquisition so far, but I expect some of the larger well-funded libraries would have them soon. Dwights data base has not been published in a book but it is available as a .pdf download...unfortunately I do not have the link recorded.

Here is the pdf download:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=16979

Thank you very much. Downloaded and saved.

Gary

Just supplying some fresher info - a total of 43 M1900/03 Bulgarians have been documented so far, 5 of which are known to have been rebarreled to 9mm.

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...3-found-so-far

It has been my observation that most early grip safety (M1900 & 1906) Bulgarian lugers, had their recievers shortened and standard 9mm barrels installed after 1908. I know of at least a few that have had the recievers rewelded and converted back to the original 7.65x120mm long barrels, by an expert Calif. restorer. TH

Tom - I recall seeing pictures of one M1900 like that, I believe it was auctioned off a few years ago. I will have to see if I can dig it up and identify it, thanks for the reminder.

If you have details on any others, I would greatly appreciate knowing about them as well.

Hello Mark,

You recently sent a PM questioning the frame serial number on my Md 1908 Bulgarian Luger. The following is my original PM to you.

"The two (2) worst guns in my collection are 1908 Bulgarian Lugers. One is a "sanitized" variation that I bought as a shooter years ago, with the frame and receiver serial number 103. The other 1908 Bulgarian has been arsenal reworked with all the original markings plus more markings still in place, the frame serial number is 5284 with the receiver numbered 4347."

The frame on my 1908 is serial number is 5284 with the Cyrillic fire mark in place. However on closer examination the frame serial number 4 appears to be a different fount than the other numbers. Additionally the 5 may also be different fount than the 28.

Another mystery regarding arsenal reworked Lugers.

Dick, something about the Bulgarian Lugers is cool - the toggle and then the DWM on the upper receiver - just so different :)

Ed,
The 1908 Bulgarian is a very cool variation.
The whole package, swivel lower lanyard loop, DWM on receiver, Imperial Crest on toggle center link and cyrillic fire and extractor marks.
I am pleased with my arsenal reworked Bilgarian 1908.

Dick -

Thanks very much, if you'd like to post pictures of your arsenal reworked Bulgarian I would love to see them, including the frame number that's been modified.

Mark

Ok Mark,
I have to wait for a sunny day to take a photo.

Reworked 1908 Bulgarian
 

Hello Mark,

Here are pictures of my reworked 1908 Bulgarian. I know there have been many sunny days but plans are not always on schedule.

I wouldn't take pictures on a sunny day, as the best pictures can be taken in the shade, or better still on a pretty overcast day which is simply perfect for photography.
My 2 cents.

Dick -

Thanks very much for your help with this and for posting the pictures. It seems that the receiver and toggle assembly was likely from 1908 Bulgarian #4347. The full number on the left side of the receiver was added later, but the sear bar is also numbered 47, and perhaps the toggle parts as well (can't see those).

The frame appears to have been renumbered at some time, and the frame front picture isn't clear enough to see if there might be vestiges of another number underneath. Maybe it started out as 4347, maybe not. I think probably not as I don't see the point of renumbering it if it did.

In any case, I think we can safely add #4347 to the 1908 Bulgarian list, and thanks again for your help.

Mark