Shooter Lugers?
 

I am considering adding a Luger to my military handgun collection. A friend recommends this site and tells me that it is best to buy Luger with matching parts since mismatch parts do not work well together. I am also told by others that Lugers are not the best pistols for frequent shooting because they are quite fragile.

Thanks for your comments. Figure I should hear it from experts here.

Buy a shooter from someone who will "guarantee" it to shoot.

A matching pistol may work better than a mismatch, but many mismatched or assembled pistols work perfectly fine.

Lugers are not fragile, but like any firearm, parts can and do occasionally break.

If you intend to fire 1000's of rounds, I'd probably choose a "new" pistol, not one 75 or 100 years old. ;)

Welcome to the forum.

Don has given you good advice. Mauser made new "Parabellum" Luger pistols in the 1970's that are of the finest materials. They can be found as new or lightly used. For any extended shooting, they would be your best option.

If you plan to only shoot occasionally, a WW2 era Mauser Luger would serve you well.

Shooter upper
 

I guess I went partially this road.
I want to shoot a Luger, but not to wear out my almost new , pristine 1977 Interarms Mauser.[ ASSEMBLED IN THE 1T PIC]

So with the help from GT, a forum member here] I acquired a complete ww2 Mauser upper in a good condition and modern Sarco side plate which I had to hand fit.

Now I have a great fully functional Shooter that I will use from time to time.[ 2D PIC]

Thanks for the advice. I go to the range about once a month, and I have other firearms to keep me busy. But if I am lucky enough to find a shooter grade Luger, I would like to shoot it a few times a year.

I recalled reading an online article some time ago about a small firm in TX making small batch, high quality reproduction "Lugers". I wonder if it is still in business.

location?
 

Hi footdoc, where are you located?... has a little to do with who can easily reach you should an opportunity arise?... best, til...lat'r...GT...:cheers:

The Texas firm has made stainless lugers since I was in the army (I retired in 2000), and have a excellent to poor reputation.

I am unfortunately in southern California, and, crazy as it may seem to your folks, but I have never seen a Luger in my local pistol range.

First time I ever held one was when I visited a good friend at Memphis TN about five years ago. It was a worn Luger with longer barrel, a WWII bringback as I recalled, and my friend has never shot the heirloom piece.

Maybe?
 

Hi footdoc, I'm in the Phoenix metro area, maybe I can help you out? First, we need to cover some of the options and what is available and for what price, and value? (Not the same!) Bottom basement shooters and junk yard dog shooters, (also mongrel?) start at a base price of $800.00 to $900.00 and are worth that only because the parts, if original will bring that individually on ebay or at gun shows. Nice shooters, guns that have original mostly matching numbers, and are in excellent condition, but deficient in some way, bad barrel, miss-matched major part, etc. start at $1000.00 to $1200.00 and go from there... The collectibles, start at about $1500.00 and that is bargain price in that arena, and it goes up to tens of thousands, But nice ones can be found in the $2000.00 to $2500.00 range.... I have a shooter that is a conglomeration of parts, it has a 1913 frame, with some pitting under the grips, and a byf top end, after market repro side plate (works great!) and toggle train from I don't know where, but it will shoot well and work great, for $800.00 plus shipping? Let me know if you are interested, email me at: gctomeks@msn.com best to you, til....lat'r.....GT....:cheers:

Hello G.T.,
I have sent you an email. Thank you for your assistance!

Please post the pics?
 

Hey GT and FOOTDOC, please post the pics of the shooter Luger you,re talking about. Just curious to see it.

With GT's permission- the pics of the shooter
 

He guys, here's the shooter GT was talking about. I'm posting the pics for him.

I like it, it has a nice weathered texture.

shooter!
 

Thanks to V for posting the pictures, I'm challenged by computers? We don't speak the same language? ...:eek:... But, I have some great forum friends that help me thru the rough spots!
As for the shooter, it doesn't get to be much more of a mutt that this one? Still, the only parts that are not original, are the side plate assembly, and the barrel? The barrel is the standard 9MM but is/ was total un-marked? Probably Sarco or Numrich from years past. I'm sure they sold many thousands. It is nicely polished and blued, and fit up perfectly... The side plate assembly, I've had forever. Or so it seems, as I can't remember the source? But is fit up great as well, and worked without any adjustment or delicate fitting or tuning...
The frame is an Early Erfurt frame (so I was told) I got recently and is the least condition part on the whole gun. It has pitting under both grip plates, but it doesn't show except for the RH front frame rail. A good TIG welder and a dip in the bluing tank, and the gun would look some fresher. But, as V mentioned above, it has a little bit of old wear and charm that i don't find displeasing in any event. The grips are original and fit nicely. Looks like they have been on it forever, but in reality, only a few weeks...
When I get frames and receivers from gun shows, forums, or business trades, this is usually how they end up. Generally in the hands of a new member or beginning collector. I don't make much if any on them, but enjoy making them shoot right, and making my fellow enthusiast happy! Best to all, til.....lat'r.....GT...:cheers:

footdoc: The Houston company, AIMCO, has an interesting, but short history. It's been out of business for a long time (1970-80).

The were noted for making pistols in stainless steel, but from what I have read, the guns were not very reliable. You can search for posts here about them using the names they were sold under: AMICO Mitchell or Stoeger

Since I have one of their 1900/2000 commemoratives, I think they lasted at least until then. Their stainless American Eagles were dated into the early 90s at least. All made at the Aimco shop, but like Mac Cat says, branded variously for other resellers.