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GerColctor · 08-29-2009, 04:03 PM

There were millions of good, serviceable Lugers left over from the Imperial Army after the end of WW I. Most were put into storage, a number issued to the "new" Reichswehr Army, some were exported as surplus to the US and other countries, a "few" were converted to .30 cal, others issued to or seized by para military organizations, others were just taken home by the returning military men.

New ones were manufactured by DWM during the 1920s, some with chamber dates and others without. Simson also made a relatively small number of new Lugers.

These pistols were incorperated into the massive German military effort during WW II. In 1940 your Imperial 1918 was only 22 years old and was still probably in excellent condition,as it was a well made firearm, that obiviously saw limited military service as the Big War ended shorly after it was made.

Most of the Imperial dated Lugers (non import marked) were brought into the US by the returning GIs at the end of WW II. The Dough Boys did bring some home after 1918, but nowhere the quantity.

So the story of the GI coming home with your Luger stuffed in his duffel bag is probably accurate. Too bad it was reblued, but who knew then how valuable these pistols would one day become. It is still a nice matched Luger.

Joe

08-29-2009, 04:03 PM	#5
GerColctor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: CT & FL Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 53 Times in 33 Posts	There were millions of good, serviceable Lugers left over from the Imperial Army after the end of WW I. Most were put into storage, a number issued to the "new" Reichswehr Army, some were exported as surplus to the US and other countries, a "few" were converted to .30 cal, others issued to or seized by para military organizations, others were just taken home by the returning military men. New ones were manufactured by DWM during the 1920s, some with chamber dates and others without. Simson also made a relatively small number of new Lugers. These pistols were incorperated into the massive German military effort during WW II. In 1940 your Imperial 1918 was only 22 years old and was still probably in excellent condition,as it was a well made firearm, that obiviously saw limited military service as the Big War ended shorly after it was made. Most of the Imperial dated Lugers (non import marked) were brought into the US by the returning GIs at the end of WW II. The Dough Boys did bring some home after 1918, but nowhere the quantity. So the story of the GI coming home with your Luger stuffed in his duffel bag is probably accurate. Too bad it was reblued, but who knew then how valuable these pistols would one day become. It is still a nice matched Luger. Joe __________________ It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb.