New Luger Guy
 

My dad inherited a Luger from his step father in 1970. Not being a gun guy, dad kept it wrapped in a rag in his dresser drawer for fifty three years. When he passed away in 2023, I inherited it. I wasn’t really a gun guy either, although I was on a high school rifle team in the 1980s. But I mainly only shot small bore rifles, and didn’t really have an interest in pistols… until now.

When I inherited the Luger, I was fascinated. I am a mechanical engineer by trade, so I appreciate the elegance of these machines. But I found myself woefully ignorant. So I sought out help from my son in law and a local gun shop run by a Vietnam Vet. Not to mention the great community on this forum.

As soon as I got my hands on it, I took down the gun and cleaned it. That’s when I learned my first lesson. I thought all Lugers were 9 mm, but in fact, this one is a 7.65 Parabellum. All numbers match and it appears to be very lightly used. I believe it was manufactured in 1919, and is stamped GERMANY near the serial number.

The pistol was in great shape with all matching numbers annd on blemishes and pristine wood handles. The only exception is that the trigger lever pin was missing. My local gun shop guy said he could get me one and mark it up, or I could order one myself for a fraction of the price and install it myself. So I ordered a used part online and slipped it into place. I ordered ammo online and I excitedly went to my local range to try it out.

I fired own round, and it broke. Suspecting the trigger lever pin, I took it down and verified that was the problem, but upon reassembly, it didn’t work. So I set it aside and proceeded to put 100 rounds through my dad’s Remington Model 68 single shot rifle that I also inherited but
hadn’t fired since 1985.

When I got home, I took down the Luger and cleaned and inspected it. Apparently when I took it down at the range, I allowed the barrel to slide too far, and the linkage that connects the toggle to the recoil spring became disengaged. It is reassembled properly, and now I’m eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get back to the range. But also, thanks to this forum and specifically LugerDoc, I learned that I need to properly seat the trigger lever pin so it doesn’t come loose when firing.

So after this saga, I leave you fellow forum readers with a question… to shoot or not to shoot? Part of me wants to keep this lightly used specimen in pristine condition and only put a few rounds through it. But part of me feels it is a machine that was meant to be used and although it has matching numbers, it isn’t like it once belonged to Hermann Göring and has significant value. Thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

As an old Luger guy, I can say its a personal choice. Not knowing what model Luger you have other than it being a commercial (based on your description). Its value as a keep sake from your fathers step father would be worth more to me than the monetary value of the gun. I would keep it in it current pristine condition and admire it for what it is.

Go out and buy a shooter and beat it up

My .02 cents

The entire premise of personal property is that you decide how to use your personal property.
Society does put limits particularly when your decisions affect others.
Whether you view that particular piece of machinery as a machine, or as art, is up to you.

Canada would not allow you to possess it.
Europe would require you to render the machine inoperable
Here in the USA you have more choices

Keep it lubed and clean. Take it to the range and shoot it. Just my opinion. One of many.

Welcome to the forums.

I personally don’t like to own stuff that does not shoot…within reason. I won’t shoot a 1900 model because the springs are effectively irreplaceable and very brittle. But for everything else, even if collectible, I am willing to take the risk of a single full magazine function check. As others have stated, your property, your choices/rules. Welcome to the forum.

I am more of a shooter than collector. That said, I shoot all of my Lugers. I take very good care of them, and use proper ammo, but do shoot them on occasion. Strictly a personal decision.

Interesting story.
Sounds like a nice luger, too.

If it was a military version it would have a date code stamped over the chamber.
If not, it's probably a commercial model.
Enjoy shooting it.
We can help you with more details if you post some good photos.
Use the "Go Advanced" edit option below.
When you choose "manage attachments", a second window will pop-up.

Here are some pictures…any additional insight anyone can offer about this model is appreciated!

Nice .30 Commercial...

You might consider swapping in some stand-in parts when/if you're shooting the gun, in order to conserve their matching numbers.

What I find most curious about your post is that you've apparently had recent help from Tom Heller (LugerDoc). He was a tremendous asset to our community, and to my knowledge hasn't been heard from for quite a while. Illness and a fire have been mentioned as explanation for his absence, but a definitive report of his specific circumstances has yet to emerge.

Actually, I didn’t correspond with Tom. I just found an older post from him that answered my question. He indirectly helped me by helping someone else.

As far as using donor parts for shooting, what parts are most likely to wear or break that I may want to swap?

Firing pin is the single most likely. Otherwise, the whole toggle train assembly and ejector are likely to break. Ejectors are fairly easy to get replaced, make sure if you do a new toggle train to have a qualified gunsmith headspace it and ensure it functions properly. Luger parts are not like 1911 parts that drop in and fit all the time.

Brian,

Quentin's advice above is sound although I have never experienced a broken striker (firing pin). I have suffered a broken ejector on three occasions (different lugers) and a broken extractor. I suggest that you get a spare original extractor and ejector (and striker) now. My experiences with after market parts have not been satisfactory and original parts are getting harder to come by.

KFS

I think you have nice Alphabet commercial luger #7365i
They came out in 1921, after DWM changed from 5-digit serial numbers to the 4-digit plus suffix, like the military serial numbers.