[danielsand]

OK,......I appreciate all your responses. Some stuff that was said I wholeheartedly agree with, and some not.

"Metal fatigue": This happens because of repeated stress (usage), and NOT because of age (unlike the human body). Human can be kept in perfect isolation, not overworked, not stressed out (in theory), and the human body will still age and deteriorate. If one would have a NOS Luger, with zero round count, that pistol would still be "new", hundreds of years later (providing it was taken care off). Aircraft subframes develop the fatigue after certain number of take offs and landings (the most stressfull part of the flight).

"Caliber":Since I grew up in Europe, I consider 9mm caliber to be adequate (and I am not about to start the "caliber wars" here!). I believe in the shot placement, and not in "spray and pray".

"Sights": If one NEEDS to use the rear sight at all (within the usual distance of ANY pistol confrontation - 10 yards or less), one better train more. Most PDs training clases teach you to "put the front sight on the bad guy, and start squeezing". That's "spray and pray" at its finest. But if you practice the instinctive shooting, front sight is more than enough.

"Useless when the muzzle is depressed": Totally true, as ANY other auto out there.

Some other good points were brought up,.......exposed sear, tight tollerances, toggle jumping up and down, mud in the action,......

Thank you all for your responses. You did not bring up one single reason why I shouldn't use it the way I intend to. I will never conceal it, and take it to the streets (I don't spend much time in the "civilization", but when I do go down there, I pack a Glock (9mm).

I intend to asign it the "nightstand duty", and that's just an old habit, and not something I need. The main house on the ranch is 500 yards from the public road, and the grounds are patrolled by two GSDs, and one Alskan Malamute (Malamute will lure the intruder in, and love it to death, but the GSDs will tear the guy apart!). We never even lock the house when we leave for a day. There is also full time, live in groundskeeper in one of the lower houses, electric gate down below, motion controlled lights,......etc.

On three sides, the ranch is bordered by the National Forest, or BLM. When I ride out, I encounter a lot of wildlife, and I don't disturb it in any way. However,.....the back side of the property is not fenced (backed up to the mountain), and a lot of bears, coyotes, and mountain lions end up in my "back yard". For them,.....one shot into the ground is usually enough to make them leave.

And that's it. No gangbangers, no zombies, and no bad guys. In the shoulder holster on the horseback (to protect the weapon from branches), in condition three,........I think it will be fine. To my (fairily experienced) eyes, this weapon has no more than couple thousand rounds down the barrel (IF that). It was made for about 50K round count, before one should worry about the metal fatigue. No rust, no stress cracks, and it was taken care off, throughout it's life. I also have a Winchester 94 (in 30-30) on my saddle, in case something needs "more persuasion".

No,.....don't take it on the streets. Unless you practice a LOT under stress, can reload under stress, and carry spare mags, this old German workhorse will be out of place. You can't shoot it from the pocket, if you press it against the bad guy, it won't go bang, and if you drop it in the mud, it might become useless. Is it better to have the Luger than the brass knuckles and a knife? ........You bet!