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PRD1 · 09-20-2015, 07:03 PM

To clarify what I am doing and what I intend to do/wanted to know:
I bought the pistol as a shooter, and paid an appropriate price for it as such.
I can find no evidence of any mechanical changes or re-finish - except that the grips have been painted, as has the magazine base plug.
The grips appear to me to be original, though I have no expertise on Lugers in detail - and I wondered about the paint, per-se. I did think about stripping the grips, but hesitated to do so before asking for other (informed) opinions. The fact of the paint (at least in its current, worn-in condition) does not distress me much, or detract from the pistol's suitability for its intended use, so far as I am concerned, but I would be willing to 'restore' them if a consensus makes it seem worthwhile.
Sergio's advice about avoiding 'modern heavy loads' is sound, if applied to the variety of +P and +P+ type loads now available, but the standard ballistics of U.S. - made FMJ ball ammunition is unchanged in any significant way from the original German military loadings, and is, if anything, milder in terms of maximum breech pressures and velocities, and I do not use bullets heavier than 124 grains in the 9mm, or load to increased velocities. Caution is always adviseable in arms of almost 100 years old (and I shoot much older arms than that), but a Luger in otherwise good mechanical condition is perfectly capable of safe operation, though there is always some risk of parts breakage, particularly in specimens which are much-used and/or deteriorated through neglect. In this case, I consider the risk slight and acceptable.
I am attaching some photos, and I must apologize for their quality, which is representative of my equipment and skills, but I hope they will be useful.

Thanks again;
PRD1 - mhb - Mike

09-20-2015, 07:03 PM	#8
PRD1 User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: S.E. AZ Posts: 69 Thanks: 18 Thanked 32 Times in 8 Posts	More info: To clarify what I am doing and what I intend to do/wanted to know: I bought the pistol as a shooter, and paid an appropriate price for it as such. I can find no evidence of any mechanical changes or re-finish - except that the grips have been painted, as has the magazine base plug. The grips appear to me to be original, though I have no expertise on Lugers in detail - and I wondered about the paint, per-se. I did think about stripping the grips, but hesitated to do so before asking for other (informed) opinions. The fact of the paint (at least in its current, worn-in condition) does not distress me much, or detract from the pistol's suitability for its intended use, so far as I am concerned, but I would be willing to 'restore' them if a consensus makes it seem worthwhile. Sergio's advice about avoiding 'modern heavy loads' is sound, if applied to the variety of +P and +P+ type loads now available, but the standard ballistics of U.S. - made FMJ ball ammunition is unchanged in any significant way from the original German military loadings, and is, if anything, milder in terms of maximum breech pressures and velocities, and I do not use bullets heavier than 124 grains in the 9mm, or load to increased velocities. Caution is always adviseable in arms of almost 100 years old (and I shoot much older arms than that), but a Luger in otherwise good mechanical condition is perfectly capable of safe operation, though there is always some risk of parts breakage, particularly in specimens which are much-used and/or deteriorated through neglect. In this case, I consider the risk slight and acceptable. I am attaching some photos, and I must apologize for their quality, which is representative of my equipment and skills, but I hope they will be useful. Thanks again; PRD1 - mhb - Mike Attached Thumbnails