...and a strong one!
The photo I have attached is of a genuine Luger carbine that is on one of the auction sites currently for several thousand dollars...
You have a VERY UNUSUAL and totally CUSTOM gunsmith modified Luger. After examination of all the photos you made available, here is what I have been able to determine:
The grip frame is from a Mauser made Luger, probably 1941 or 42. (The P.08 on the flat of the left side is the evidence of this)
The forward toggle, as you are well aware, is from a standard Erfurt military Luger, likely of WW1 vintage.
The rear toggle is somewhat of a mystery, but is not from a model 1900, because it is a standard post-1908 toggle that has been machined to appear like the dished toggles on the 1900 (the knurling is not the type found on the dished toggles). It may even be the original Mauser rear toggle that has had the rear sight ground off and it probably came with the frame. It also has a screw showing from the top that would have no internal purpose that I can imagine. My guess is that the custom gunsmith that built this gun from parts first tried a toggle-mounted adjustable rear sight, and then decided against it, filling the mounting hole with a screw.
The front sight is either a complete custom sight base, or it was salvaged from some other sporting rifle. The front sight blade is a standard Marble blade that is available in different heights.
The rear sight appears to have been salvaged from a Mauser military rifle and adapted to the custom barrel by a screw/silver-solder - If you should decide to have this pistol refinished, be aware that hot-salt blue will dissolve the silver solder and the rear and possibly front sights will be removed in the process. I would recommend that you have your custom Luger carefully reblued by the Rust Blue method. See Ted Green for the best work around... He has a link in the LInks & Resources section on your left and posts here frequently...
The upper receiver or barrel extension has apparently been ground down so that whatever was stamped above the chamber is now gone. The serial number stamped here may have been done by the custom gunsmith... does the number match the number on the front of the frame??? If so, does the style of the numbers match the lower frame? Considering that I see other numbers on various parts of the pistol, I would guess not...
The forend appears to me to also be a custom item because the profile of the shape does not look like the original Luger carbines I have had the privilege of examining. I would be very interested to see some closeup photography of the disassembled pistol to see how the tang was made and attached to the Mauser frame, and also how the inside of the forend was constructed. It is not common to see a sling swivel mounted where yours appears - another custom touch.
I don't think you told us what caliber the gun is, but my guess is that it is 7.65 or .30 caliber Luger... because I would bet that the barrel was made from a standard .30 caliber rifle barrel... probably the front half that already had the front sight base attached.
your gun may not have any further historical value, but It looks like a GREAT shooter!
Just one caveat... but a very important one. Since your Luger is NOT an original Luger Carbine, it is not exempt from the National Firearms Act of 1934. This means that in order for you to use a stock with it, you will have to contact the ATF, and register the gun as a short barreled rifle (SBR) and pay a federal TAX of $200 for creating the SBR.
As long as you don't obtain a stock to mount to your Luger, the gun is only considered a long barreled pistol and is not subject to NFA registration and the tax.
I think it would be cool to shoot with or without a shoulder stock! If you decide you want to stock it, contact me via email... I may have a deal for you...
Best of luck with your new Luger... and visit the Lugerforum often. I invite you to open a user profile and have photos of your custom luger displayed in the owner's corner...
regards,
John Sabato
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Carbine03132002.jpg