first luger
 

hello! I am absolutely new to the world of lugers, but I picked this up at an estate sale for $250.00. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I would like to use it as a shooter, but I'm not sure how to determine caliber. (9mm, .30 ??) The date stamp is 1918. Most numbers match, even the obviously after-market grips. Thanks! http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/asfluger1.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/asfluger2.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/asfluger3.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/asfluger6.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/asfluger7.jpg

Welcome to the Lugerforum from a fellow Virginian!

This gun is definitely in the shooter class. It has been recently rebarreled by a gunsmith and reblued over what was once severe pitting... In it's current condition it has little or no collector value, but should provide you with years of enjoyment shooting it. You got it for GREAT price.

The grips are likely to be from Jay Scott manufacturing that used to make a lot of "fancy" grips for various pistols...

It is likely to be 9mm... IF a 9mm empty casing will chamber then it is... if it won't chamber then it's most probably a .30 caliber. A six inch barrel is great for shooting because of the extended sight radius.

Clean it thoroughly and keep it properly lubricated and go have some fun... :) <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Congratulations on finding one of the last bargain-basement Lugers. As you have guessed it is definitely a shooting quality gun, rebarrelled, reblued, and regripped. As a shooting gun, and esthetically, the 6" barrel is very desirable.

The simplest way to determine the caliber is to measure the bore at the muzzle--9mm will measure, well, 9mm. The other way is to drop a 9mm round into the chamber, if it is .30cal. it will not fit. Odds are it is 9mm.

You may discover that you have quite some pride of ownership in this Luger. Considering the low price you paid, you may find it economical to send this Luger off to someone like Ted Green, "Thor" on this forum, who specializes in high-quality restoring and refinishing Lugers.

--Dwight