Hi, Welcome to the addiction!
As mentioned here, the answers to your questions are on this site. I'm new here too, but to answer a couple of your specific questions, here's what I have learned:
- The stock lug is a small structure on the back-strap of the grip that is used to mount a wooden stock. The intent was to make it possible to turn the Luger into a carbine.
- "Geladen" is German for "Loaded". It is text that appears on the left side of the extractor at the top of the bolt when a round is in the chamber. Try pushing the extractor up when the breach is open and you will see the text.
On shooting a Luger, consider the following:
- A large portion of the value of a collectible Luger rests on the fact that it hasn't been modified since it left the factory. This includes retention of the original finish and all of the original parts.
- Lugers are precision manufactured to the point that their specifications are very tight. This is why all the parts are numbered. They were hand fitted to function reliably in the gun at the factory.
- The more close to the factory new condition, the higher the value of a collectible Luger. This includes the original finish, and metal condition. I have seen Mauser manufactured Lugers in a local collection that look like they have never been issued or fired. Effectively brand new. They are quite valuable.
- Refinishing a Luger makes it look great, but eliminates a large portion of it's value.
- The gun was made and proof tested to shoot. In the case of your Luger, that was 95 years ago.
- Ammunition was loaded to different standards 95 years ago.
- Parts can deteriorate . Old parts can weaken when corroded or flawed in manufacture. Springs can take a "set" or weaken.
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So, how to proceed. That is a judgment call. I'm learning that it takes a practiced eye to gauge the condition of a Luger, the state it's in, determine if it's been refinished, verify the fit, properly lubricate and store.
Good pictures help, but it's hard to judge condition except in person.
If you have a Luger that is collectible, and it gets damaged in transport or firing, you've lost value and also lost history.
So.... go slow; educate yourself; appreciate what you have; take your time.
If you choose shoot your Luger, turn "high anxiety" into "high enjoyment" by being well informed.
If you choose to get a "shooter", you'll find a good buy buys in East German reconditioned police Lugers (VOPO) that entered our market a few years ago. They come up regularly on auction sites. I bought my shooter from a member of this forum, and have been very happy with it.
Marc
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