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mrerick · 09-26-2011, 11:02 AM

Aaron, congratulations on your new Luger! I used to live in NY, and know what you just went through on purchase registration and delays, so it's double good to have it in hand!

There are good references that discuss the history of the Luger. The collector references are fairly expensive (these are the books with extensive photographic coverage of all the variations and markings). There are some less expensive books that have pretty good information about the origins and development of the Luger from before WW-I; through end of military manufacture during WW-II and commercial manufacture after that.

"The Luger Story" by John Walter is a nice initial reference. So is Fred Datig's book "The Luger Pistol".

Walter's book was published in 1995 by Greenhill Books in London and Stackpole Books in the USA. If it isn't available new, check for a copy used through Amazon or Abe Books. They should be about $50.

Fred Datig's book was published in 1955 with printings through at least 1962 (my copy). Again, check for used copies. Again, checking around you should be able to find a used copy at around $50.

Both books have inaccuracies and lack information that was discovered after their publication. They are excellent overviews of the development of the Luger.

Collector identification books like Charles Kenyon's "Lugers at Random", Jan Still's extensive series of books, Gibson's "Krieghoff Parabellum", Ed Tinker's "Simson Lugers", Hallock and van de Kant's "The Mauser Parabellum", Baudino and van Vlimmeren's "The Parabellum is Back" and Bobba's (Swiss) "Parabellum (among others) are all detailed photographic and factual overviews of Luger variations.

They constitute the texts of what I call "Luger University". If you are going to collect Lugers, you have to study and master the details covered in these volumes. They are the references that help you know what's "right" in a collectible Luger.

If you go on to collect Lugers, you'll find that "Luger University" is much less expensive than making mistakes buying Lugers from uninformed but profit oriented sellers at Gun Shows, etc...

BTW, considering what the collector reference books cost, I have this ongoing fantasy of stopping by GoodWill some day and finding that someone has cleared out a collection of "those old gun books"...

Cheers!

Marc

09-26-2011, 11:02 AM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Aaron, congratulations on your new Luger! I used to live in NY, and know what you just went through on purchase registration and delays, so it's double good to have it in hand! There are good references that discuss the history of the Luger. The collector references are fairly expensive (these are the books with extensive photographic coverage of all the variations and markings). There are some less expensive books that have pretty good information about the origins and development of the Luger from before WW-I; through end of military manufacture during WW-II and commercial manufacture after that. "The Luger Story" by John Walter is a nice initial reference. So is Fred Datig's book "The Luger Pistol". Walter's book was published in 1995 by Greenhill Books in London and Stackpole Books in the USA. If it isn't available new, check for a copy used through Amazon or Abe Books. They should be about $50. Fred Datig's book was published in 1955 with printings through at least 1962 (my copy). Again, check for used copies. Again, checking around you should be able to find a used copy at around $50. Both books have inaccuracies and lack information that was discovered after their publication. They are excellent overviews of the development of the Luger. Collector identification books like Charles Kenyon's "Lugers at Random", Jan Still's extensive series of books, Gibson's "Krieghoff Parabellum", Ed Tinker's "Simson Lugers", Hallock and van de Kant's "The Mauser Parabellum", Baudino and van Vlimmeren's "The Parabellum is Back" and Bobba's (Swiss) "Parabellum (among others) are all detailed photographic and factual overviews of Luger variations. They constitute the texts of what I call "Luger University". If you are going to collect Lugers, you have to study and master the details covered in these volumes. They are the references that help you know what's "right" in a collectible Luger. If you go on to collect Lugers, you'll find that "Luger University" is much less expensive than making mistakes buying Lugers from uninformed but profit oriented sellers at Gun Shows, etc... BTW, considering what the collector reference books cost, I have this ongoing fantasy of stopping by GoodWill some day and finding that someone has cleared out a collection of "those old gun books"... Cheers! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.