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PhilOhio · 05-27-2009, 12:18 PM

Pistol Whipped,

Your concern about shooting a postwar Stoeger Luger because it is increasing in value made me smile. That's because most of us who own original registered Thompson submachineguns have been through the same thing in recent years. We've gone through the same conflict, as values and perceptions of the guns we own change.

Some of us paid a few hundred dollars for fine quality originals. We shot them regularly. Why not? It's fun.

After the NFA Registry was closed to new registrations in 1986, values slipped up to the $3K to $5K range rather rapidly. Some of us were not sure what to do, and the guns did not get shot as much. Golly, you might break an original extractor or something.

When things passed the $10K level, some fellas stopped shooting entirely and their Thompsons became safe queens. No fun in that. And the owners were in constant fear of theft or natural disaster.

When it passed the $15K level 5 - 10 years ago, it got scary. I didn't shoot mine much. Nor did others.

Then 4 - 5 years ago, we hit $20K to $25K for a WW-II Thompson and $30K to $35K for an early pre-war original Colt Thompson. The guys got really serious about their guns. It wasn't just about fun anymore.

Then after awhile, an overheated market stabilized. People had more time to think about it, and most voted for having fun again. Everybody was in the same boat. The two major Thompson collectors groups get together for annual shoots and competitions, and many are held at other times during the year. Almost nobody is terminally anal retentive about their Tommies anymore...some have five or more...and they shoot them a lot or a little. That's what they were designed for, as was the Luger.

Is the Luger something unique and different, to be treated in some other way? No. And compared to a Thompson, or a $40 - $50K MG-34 or MG-42, the Luger is an inexpensive fun gun. It's a matter of perspective. The average Luger, not just those referred to as "shooters", should be shot occasionally, given the best of care, not abused, fed only good ammo (I like lead bullets because they cause virtually no bore wear), and thoughtfully stored. But nobody should, in my opinion, obsess over the typical good quality original pre-1946 Luger.

Are there exceptions? You bet. Top collectors/authors on this board know what they are. These may be exceptional because of rarity, originality of condition, historical provenance (got one of those), or for other reasons. I, personally, would not shoot one in that category. But some may, and it might be O.K. now and then.

This is my personal opinion, and I know many highly respected collectors might disagree. But I think we should be careful not to go overboard in what can easily drift into the worship of "things", any kind of things. Original Lugers are now historical artifacts, no longer just wartime souvenirs. We are their temporary custodians, like the G.I.s who brought them back. But I reserve the right to actually, and carefully, fire two of the three I own, for awhile at least, to make the historical flavor a little bit more real to me. And I would never do anything likely to risk damaging them or contributing to significant wear, especially bore wear.

05-27-2009, 12:18 PM	#4
PhilOhio User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 145 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	My New Luger Pistol Whipped, Your concern about shooting a postwar Stoeger Luger because it is increasing in value made me smile. That's because most of us who own original registered Thompson submachineguns have been through the same thing in recent years. We've gone through the same conflict, as values and perceptions of the guns we own change. Some of us paid a few hundred dollars for fine quality originals. We shot them regularly. Why not? It's fun. After the NFA Registry was closed to new registrations in 1986, values slipped up to the $3K to $5K range rather rapidly. Some of us were not sure what to do, and the guns did not get shot as much. Golly, you might break an original extractor or something. When things passed the $10K level, some fellas stopped shooting entirely and their Thompsons became safe queens. No fun in that. And the owners were in constant fear of theft or natural disaster. When it passed the $15K level 5 - 10 years ago, it got scary. I didn't shoot mine much. Nor did others. Then 4 - 5 years ago, we hit $20K to $25K for a WW-II Thompson and $30K to $35K for an early pre-war original Colt Thompson. The guys got really serious about their guns. It wasn't just about fun anymore. Then after awhile, an overheated market stabilized. People had more time to think about it, and most voted for having fun again. Everybody was in the same boat. The two major Thompson collectors groups get together for annual shoots and competitions, and many are held at other times during the year. Almost nobody is terminally anal retentive about their Tommies anymore...some have five or more...and they shoot them a lot or a little. That's what they were designed for, as was the Luger. Is the Luger something unique and different, to be treated in some other way? No. And compared to a Thompson, or a $40 - $50K MG-34 or MG-42, the Luger is an inexpensive fun gun. It's a matter of perspective. The average Luger, not just those referred to as "shooters", should be shot occasionally, given the best of care, not abused, fed only good ammo (I like lead bullets because they cause virtually no bore wear), and thoughtfully stored. But nobody should, in my opinion, obsess over the typical good quality original pre-1946 Luger. Are there exceptions? You bet. Top collectors/authors on this board know what they are. These may be exceptional because of rarity, originality of condition, historical provenance (got one of those), or for other reasons. I, personally, would not shoot one in that category. But some may, and it might be O.K. now and then. This is my personal opinion, and I know many highly respected collectors might disagree. But I think we should be careful not to go overboard in what can easily drift into the worship of "things", any kind of things. Original Lugers are now historical artifacts, no longer just wartime souvenirs. We are their temporary custodians, like the G.I.s who brought them back. But I reserve the right to actually, and carefully, fire two of the three I own, for awhile at least, to make the historical flavor a little bit more real to me. And I would never do anything likely to risk damaging them or contributing to significant wear, especially bore wear.