All P08's equal in workmanship?
 

I am assuming that all Lugers/P08's are not equal in quality/workmanship depending on when they were made and what factory made them. Am I correct? If I am, how would you rank the manufacturers? Getting ready to buy my first P08/Luger and I'm trying to figure out what to buy. Pricing is important but not nearly as the workmanship aspect and condition.

too wide of a net - it depends on personal taste

some will say that the commercials are nicest, some same that the later Mausers are (workmanship and having been in much less conditions due to age).

I think the early 1900's are very well made, but you said P08, so that would be German military technically.

If you are referring to Lugers in general, I put the 1900 models toward the top. Shootable works of art.
In military guns, WW1 DWM were nice, and the long barrel models were a bit more glitzy.
Late DWM German guns were still nice. Erfut guns leaned just a bit more toward functionality.
Mauser guns are said to be better shooters, with better metallurgy. A bit less glitzy and more functional.
I know I'm missing a lot, but that is a brief synopsis, IMHO.
But everyone here will have their own opinions, it is all a matter of personal taste.
dju

Thanks guys. Just looking for opinions then I'll make up my own mind but inputs from people who have actually collected P-08/ Lugers is interesting.

And then there are the Swiss Lugers.

The 1900/06 Swiss Lugers made by DWM are very good. I think that the Germans were possibly trying to impress the Swiss when they were made.

Then, later, the Swiss Bern made Lugers are superb. I think that the nicest one I have is one of these; a 06 W+F ...

(per Ron's notes below, I now have the correct nomenclature... which I will now adapt as "1900/06 Waffenfabrik Bern")

Marc,
Glad you have a nice one, but there ain't no such thing as a 1906/24. That is a designation I am trying to destroy. The Swiss started making their own Lugers in 1918, not 1924. I'm not picking on you, it is in common use and it is in error, and I have made it my own personal crusade to get rid of it.:)

Welcome to this forum.

If I were you I would try to read as much as possible, before I go to get my first Luger.
You'll see that there is an awful lot to learn about these fascinating guns.

Thanks Guys reading topics on Lugers as we speak and saving my pennies.

I would suggest "1900/06 Waffenfabrik Bern", " '06 W+F", "1906 Bern" or some variant of any of them...but nothing that includes 1924! :)

Thanks Ron I read up on them.

Nice, quick (and pretty accurate) synopsis as far as I'm concerned. :cheers:

Very nice Lugers but from what I can see out of my price range. 5 to 7K is just way too much $ for my budget. Story of my life. Champagne tastes on a Budweiser budget

I agree with Ed! I would have to say the early commercials were the finest as they had to be sold to the commercial market and were widely advertised to the public, I.E. 1902 fat Barrel and 1908 commercial...Both are usually found in excellant condition page 119, 'Luger Variations'~~~ In reguard to holsters the 1908 commercial holster and Krieghoff are the nicest that I've ever owned.~~Eric

Thanks Eric

Jeff, they will always be your best investment!!!

Swiss Lugers are very nice but I'm not a fan of 7.64 firearms. Looking else where to 9 mm land.