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03-14-2002, 11:13 AM

Perhaps someone like Tom Heller can provide more insight into this area but I have often seen a lot of incorrect information about these DDR Lugers. Most of the true DDR re-works that I'm am aware of started being imported into the US in the later 1980's (they were released in then W-Germany in the early/mid 1980's). These pistols that I inspected (maybe a total of 50-75) had East German proofs in addition to non-scrubbed earlier proofs, were generarally matching, often (if pre mid-37) had the usual parts strawed and had excellent (really factory) quality re-finishes. Often the mag had been arsenal re-numbered to match, sometimse the East German made mags were used, most all had the Bulls-Eye grips (nothing cheesey about these IMO) and excellent bores, often East German replaced barrels....and many other fine point characteristics...the point here is Most of the East German re-work is First Class and my understanding is there were both VOPO used Lugers and DDR Military used Lugers each with slight nuanances in markings.

The other great lot from Europe is more recent, early to mid 1990's thousands of Lugers that reportly originated from the former USSR and were sold thru Germany (and are so import marked) were released into the US, these are still around at the imported/distributer level. These Lugers were captured by the Soviets during the course and close of WWII and eventually reworked and stored for potential use by Soviet supported causes (ie Vietnam!). These Lugers almost all show some pitting here and there under the re-work blue and often have numbers (mismatched?) electro-penned scratched out and not re-stamped, some made it thru all matching (except I doubt any grips or mags are included with this definition) many have beefy Russian vertical slotted composition grips and many are found bearing the mysterious "X" marking. IMO, these too are interesting, Historic Lugers, but not up to par with the East German ones in terms of quality of re-work. While I say historic, I do not think it is a sin to shoot them....I do.

As for replaced parts tending to work as well due to tolerences as factory originals, I say this; All parts have to meet a tolerance range to fit well and work. If the replacement (used) parts were correctly gauged and selected and or fitted, In theory they could be BETTER than the factory part. It all depends on which ones had the most care in fitting and selected.

03-14-2002, 11:13 AM	#6
BCC Guest Posts: n/a	Often mis-understood subject Perhaps someone like Tom Heller can provide more insight into this area but I have often seen a lot of incorrect information about these DDR Lugers. Most of the true DDR re-works that I'm am aware of started being imported into the US in the later 1980's (they were released in then W-Germany in the early/mid 1980's). These pistols that I inspected (maybe a total of 50-75) had East German proofs in addition to non-scrubbed earlier proofs, were generarally matching, often (if pre mid-37) had the usual parts strawed and had excellent (really factory) quality re-finishes. Often the mag had been arsenal re-numbered to match, sometimse the East German made mags were used, most all had the Bulls-Eye grips (nothing cheesey about these IMO) and excellent bores, often East German replaced barrels....and many other fine point characteristics...the point here is Most of the East German re-work is First Class and my understanding is there were both VOPO used Lugers and DDR Military used Lugers each with slight nuanances in markings. The other great lot from Europe is more recent, early to mid 1990's thousands of Lugers that reportly originated from the former USSR and were sold thru Germany (and are so import marked) were released into the US, these are still around at the imported/distributer level. These Lugers were captured by the Soviets during the course and close of WWII and eventually reworked and stored for potential use by Soviet supported causes (ie Vietnam!). These Lugers almost all show some pitting here and there under the re-work blue and often have numbers (mismatched?) electro-penned scratched out and not re-stamped, some made it thru all matching (except I doubt any grips or mags are included with this definition) many have beefy Russian vertical slotted composition grips and many are found bearing the mysterious "X" marking. IMO, these too are interesting, Historic Lugers, but not up to par with the East German ones in terms of quality of re-work. While I say historic, I do not think it is a sin to shoot them....I do. As for replaced parts tending to work as well due to tolerences as factory originals, I say this; All parts have to meet a tolerance range to fit well and work. If the replacement (used) parts were correctly gauged and selected and or fitted, In theory they could be BETTER than the factory part. It all depends on which ones had the most care in fitting and selected.