[alanint]

Actually, There used to be an unbelievable gun shop called "El Ciervo" on Paraguay Street in Buenos Aires. Two of the front three windows were nothing but the owner's Luger collection. I would estimate perhaps 200 Lugers, including virtually every major variation. Inside, the shop looked like an English turn of the 19th. century outfitter. Oak paneling throughout, palms, large overstuffed leather chairs, safari trophies and thousands of quality hunter and collector firearms. The modern gun section was no more than one glass case.

There was also an island glass case one could walk around, which contained perhaps 20 nazi era presentation firearms in their original presentation boxes. There were Sauers, Mausers, Walthers and one Luger. As a younger, more naive man I tried to broker these. I sent a major US dealer /Broker from Ill. data from each firearm including serials and all inscriptions. They all checked out with factory records, where available and among the guns were one that was presented to the head of Hitler's personal bodyguard. Another belonged to the Gauliter of Munich, etc. This dealer pumped me for weeks until he obviously pieced together the collection's location. Upon a subsequent visit to the store every presentation piece was gone and all they would tell me is they had all been sold to a US collector. This was in about 1989, when Argentina was suffering an economic collapse and treasures like these were coming out of the woodwork. Oh well, live and learn.
The store is sadly now gone and the fate of all those Lugers unknown to me. There are still vast firearm treasures to be had there, although, not at yesterday's prices