[RShaw]

Since I live in the Netherlands, I know exactly what you mean!!

The deactivation process is quite drastic really.... very well designed to make the gun impossible to fire and also impossible to restore to firing condition.

However, due to these laws in this area, I have heard that there is a significant market for deactivated, but authentic weapons like your Luger. An all matching, good condition deactivated Luger can sometimes be considered of higher value than a parts gun in poor condition but fully functional.

Putting "money" and "value" aside for a moment, I began to appreciate over time the big advantage, of course, which is that anyone can purchase a properly deactivated gun without a collector's permit or shooting permit, and hang it on the wall to enjoy! If my children or granchildren are curious, I can take a gun off the wall and show them the different parts, and perhaps impart an impression of what it was like for soldiers to carry these weapons into battle. I now have a deactivated M1 Garand on my wall which will soon be joined by a K98k, also deactivated. I don't need a safe or a permit, and they will be passed to my children who can enjoy them as well.

I do have a shooting permit here, and therefore am allowed by law to own a maximum of 5 firearms no larger than .45 caliber. I have to keep these in a safe at all times, separate from ammunition (stored in a second safe), but can go to the range and shoot as much as I like. A collector's permit allows one to own as many guns (functional) as one wishes, but they cannot be taken to the range and fired without properly registering them in advance to be fired. (a bit complicated) All functional weapons must be in a safe at all times. Police to show up unannounced at your house, asking to see your weapons, to check if they are registered to you, and properly stored. A gun left on a shelf, or a box of ammo left out is a good way to have everything confiscated on the spot. I've heard some very sad stories along those lines...

I know it's not the same as going out and shooting a tin can off a post with a special vintage firearm, but European legislators just look at gun ownership differently than do the Americans. Ahhh well.... I miss the USA sometimes......

I like your gun! You have a piece of history! You did well!!