"Jerry, with all due respect to your established expertise in the field you are neglecting one quite important aspect of life.
Individual choice.
I have shot my Navy, and may well shoot it again. Your assertion that I am "brainless" for doing so is a personal attack that I don't appreciate.
You certainly have the right to disagree with the way I exercise my freedom of choice but if you are unable to express your opinion in a mature way and without resorting to subjective slams I think you would do the Luger collecting community a service by keeping them to yourself."
Gary
Gary, please re-read Jerry's original post, he did NOT call you brainless, he said that in his opinion shooting an all matching Imperial Navy Luger was a brainless thing to do. I believe that the vast majority of members on this forum have a very high regard for collectible Lugers, particular all matching Imperial Navy Lugers and there will never be any more then what is in existence now. From time to time, although we do not regard ourselves to be "brainless" never the less we all are guilty of doing things of that nature and usually live to regret it. I am sure his intention was merely to prevent you and others from making a very costly mistake. As he pointed out Lugers such as yours generally fall into the $5,000. to $8,000. range, because of the problems his has experienced it is now in the $2,000. range. Just my two cents but I would say his comments in this regard should be very much appreciated. I have always found Jerry's advice to be right on the money.
Lon