Another explanation of their rarity may lie at the feet of the US Federal bureaucracy. Stocks, both Navy and Artillery, were commonly imported into the US as accessories by many retailers in the years after WWI. Ads for Lugers and stocks were so common as to be virtually ubiquitous in firearms and sporting publications.
But when Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934 they made short barreled rifles suddenly very expensive to own and somewhat onerous to register, effectively killing the market for stocks and no doubt leading to the destruction of many existing ones.
The C&R status and removal of Luger stocks from the NFA when used with the correct pistol (e.g. Navy stock only on Navy Luger) certainly has lead to significantly increased interest and corresponding higher prices. That in turn has resulted in makers like CMR offering inexpensive replicas for forty years or so. It also attracted criminals like Shattuck who turned out fakes to sell to unsuspecting collectors.
For the many who desire a complete rig, the ability to acquire a replica stock, holster, pouch and strap for $500-600 is great. But the fact that a genuine rig is ten times that price is an irresistible opportunity for the unscrupulous.
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- Mike
Life member: NRA, OVMS, VGCA
Member: NAPCA, N-SSA(Veteran)
Si vis pacem, para bellum
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