Great Herr Luger Life Story~
 

Luger spoke fluent Serbian and corresponded in that language. I have an original issue of that “Small Arms Review” magazine and it is one of my favorite references (you will see why further on).

The author of the article, Branko Bogdanovic, did a great service in researching and translating these early letters personally written by Luger. While much of the article concerns the sale of machine guns, the part about Luger’s pistols captured my attention. I was particularly drawn to the passage “Accordingly, he wrote on 10 July, 1907 that, ‘his pistols were in hot demand and were being made for Russian officers…”

I have long maintained (contrary to the strong opposition by some :)) that the “Russian Contract Luger” was not a government contract at all, but rather an effort by DWM, and Luger in particular, to create a commercial market in Russia, much like the American Eagle Luger gained a foothold In the U.S. commercial market and subsequentially did indeed result in a “contract” with the U.S. Army. The fact that Russian officers were required to purchase their own weapons, and Luger specifically stated “Russian officers”, underscores the notion that the Russian Luger is commercial and not a “contract”.

Ron

He was a great Salesman!! https://www.smallarmsreview.com/disp...darticles=1537