Hello All Newbie Here
 

Hello everyone,
My name is Mike and I reside in Ohio. I currently do not own a luger, but I hope to own one someday. Ive seen a few for sale around my area at local gun shops . Unfortunately, I dont know enough about them to spend that kind of money. It would be nice to find a shooter grade BYF43 to match my k98 mauser it one exsist. Having a waffen stamped shooter grade luger would be awesome to own.

I also build akms from parts kits and collect various types of guns mostly military issued weapons. I love to shoot and build firearms. Luckily, I can shoot anytime I want on my property.

I look forward to learning all I can about WW2 shooter grade lugers here. Oh, not looking for safe queens or knowledge of them. All the guns I own I shoot.

Thanks for allowing me to join this forum.

Best regards.
Savage11
Aka, Mike

Where should I start my research here that would yield the best result for a WW2 shooter grade luger?

Thanks!

Put what you desire in the Wanted to Buy in this Forum .You mentioned a byf43. I assume you mean a P38 since no such luger exists? The last WW2 luger production was 1942. Welcome to the Forum. Bill

Watch the collector sites like this one. Shooter Lugers get listed periodically.

IMHO, the best shooter is a 9mm Mauser made luger (1935-1942 vintage) with either properly fitted mis-matched parts or matching with finish issues. My own shooters are a mismatched 1941 Mauser byf with the cannon/receiver from one gun, and the frame from another; and an all matching 1937 Mauser S/42 with finish issues on one side. Being shooters, they function flawlessly.

The steel alloy metallurgy in the WW-II era Mauser pistols is slightly more advanced than that found in the WW-I and Wiemar era Lugers.

Read the stickys at the top of this sub forum, and then read all the posts here.

Many questions are related to your topic.

Welcome, now time to do your homework!:thumbup:

Welcome to the forum Mike.

You'll also benefit from getting and reading a copy of our FAQ document:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

I think you'll agree that it's one of the most complete ever made available on a gun board. In some ways, more valuable than many books being sold on the subject of Lugers.

Marc

welcome

I would highly recommend you take a difference stance on the knowledge part before you buy...

I'm unaware of any BYF43 lugers; they stopped at 42 byf

Wow, thanks for the warm welcome and information. Yeah, I didn't think lugers were made in oberndorf germany in 1943 lol. Ill probably go with 1935-1942. Thanks for the homework!!!

What are the member's thoughts on RC lugers as far as shooters are concerned?

On many C&R, you can predict its range performance based on its condition. But Luger is hard to predict. Until you shoot it, you don't know.

RC Lugers can range from complete matching refinished pistols to parts assemblies from a bunch of different guns. Most were used, but a few came over un-issued after being refurbished in the Eastern Block.

Many were brought into the country over the years. They will have import marking after 1968 which pretty much eliminates collector interest.

Look for a high condition matching or almost matching one. It would make a good shooter if completely functional.

Thanks for the RC information. I remember reading many RC were imported during the early 1990s, if my memory serves me correctly. None-the-less it is still an interesting part of history. If these firearms could only talk. The history of military guns fascinates me.

It's interesting. I just showed my kids the Parabellums that are supposed going them in future. They looked at the guns, saying "what did you say? I cannot shoot, better not touch, and need to be very careful on that cardboard box?? why do I need a gun like this,,, just for looking??" :)

:Alvin,

The old saying goes, "The apple does not fall far from the tree." But in you instance, the apples seem to have rolled a bit! :)

I suppose it is what it is, and one's opinions and tastes are not guaranteed by heredity... :confused:

It's related with many factors. For shooting and not shooting, I don't have strict rules on myself. But I found that's more related with curiosity...for example, I fired 6-shot conehammer, simply because I wondered it works or not. Also fired rare MM-31 for similar reason. Those rare plain gun samples were fired in the past anyway. But I would not fire NIB postwar Mauser, I know it works, no curiosity on that. Made as commemorative also suggests not for shooting. I will keep them NIB. Not totally based on value consideration, but somehow also related with value consideration.

Its also that you sometimes become a collector later - while in the army, I had shooter examples, a 1914 Erfurt LP and a mismatched 1940/42 and shot them. After retiring, I found this forum, met guys, captured the interest and have learned from there :)

However, no byf 43 but Kreighoff made lugers in 1943, however, they are a bit expensive :D