I think one opinion expressed here is almost certainly not true. No stainless steel is equal or better than the best allo y carbon steels except in one area, corrosion resistance.
I don't know what steel was used in the stainless "Lugers" but whatever it is it isn't better than a good gun steel. I try to buy nothing but stainless guns, because I live on the Oregon coast and because I'm lazy.
My position on stainless is based on what custom barrel makers have said on the issue, makers who make barrels out of both alloy carbon steels and stainless steels, specifically 416 stainless. I'm pretty sure the stainless Lugers are not made of 416 stainless, but they could be. There are only so many stainless alloys that can be hardened to values needed in a firearm.
I make a few gun parts out of 416 stainless, commercially, I love the stuff, but would not expect it to take high stress like 4140, for instance.
And I also have always wanted a stainless "Luger".
