1908 Commercial Model?

Ice · 03-11-2009, 09:16 AM

This is the first Luger I ever bought. Its 7.65mm caliber with a 4.75 inch barrel. Serial number is 460XX with Germany beneath the serial. Barrel bore is bright and shiny with no pitting and the internals are excellent. There are no numbers externally like a military model. Also the safety is not marked. Finish is as you see it and I don't think that it has been reblued. Straw color is maybe 50-60%.

The grips look original but are kind of cruddy with dirt. Should I try to clean them or leave as they are? I tend to want to leave them untouched.

The magazine came with the pistol and not matching. 4 digit serial with a script "L" beneath. Would this be the correct magazine. Sorry, not able to make closeup photo of this.

Thank you for your thoughts and comments.

Charlie

Augsburger · 03-11-2009, 10:32 AM

very nice... I want one, or maybe 2??? lots of stuff and opinions here about grip cleaning, just do a search. you'll have to decide

MFC · 03-11-2009, 07:26 PM

Charlie,
You have a M1906 American Eagle. These were made for the American market. Everything looks correct except the mag, which should have a plain bottom or one that is stamped GERMANY. Your mag is probably a WWI military. The external #'s (last two digits of the S#) will be stamped in the commercial (hidden) style, on the bottom edge of the takedown lever and sideplate. To see the other #'s you will have to feild strip the gun. If you are uncomfortable posting the full serial # here, you should at least email the info to Dwight Gruber for his commercial database.
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=14277

Ice · 03-12-2009, 08:36 AM

I sent Mr. Gruber an email with the info for his database.

Charlie

Edward Tinker · 03-12-2009, 08:40 AM

Charlie, ref grips. I have mixed feelings. if they are REALLY cruddy, i clean them up, usually you can still tell they were old.

Other times, I just let them be.

Cleaning is not like restrawing (a practice some folks do, I don't like it personally), and it far removed from say cold bluing or restoring a gun.

off topic, but I have a personal dilema that I have faced and then passed several times (sold the guns); I have had really nice lugers, and in say one spot, it has a bluing loss, I mean, no pitting, but this quarter size blotch. Leave it alone seems right to me, but restoring that one area seems "almost" acceptable....

ed

03-11-2009, 09:16 AM	#1
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	1908 Commercial Model? This is the first Luger I ever bought. Its 7.65mm caliber with a 4.75 inch barrel. Serial number is 460XX with Germany beneath the serial. Barrel bore is bright and shiny with no pitting and the internals are excellent. There are no numbers externally like a military model. Also the safety is not marked. Finish is as you see it and I don't think that it has been reblued. Straw color is maybe 50-60%. The grips look original but are kind of cruddy with dirt. Should I try to clean them or leave as they are? I tend to want to leave them untouched. The magazine came with the pistol and not matching. 4 digit serial with a script "L" beneath. Would this be the correct magazine. Sorry, not able to make closeup photo of this. Thank you for your thoughts and comments. Charlie

03-11-2009, 10:32 AM	#2
Augsburger User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tejas Posts: 160 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	very nice... I want one, or maybe 2??? lots of stuff and opinions here about grip cleaning, just do a search. you'll have to decide __________________ Wilder Eber

03-11-2009, 07:26 PM	#3
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Charlie, You have a M1906 American Eagle. These were made for the American market. Everything looks correct except the mag, which should have a plain bottom or one that is stamped GERMANY. Your mag is probably a WWI military. The external #'s (last two digits of the S#) will be stamped in the commercial (hidden) style, on the bottom edge of the takedown lever and sideplate. To see the other #'s you will have to feild strip the gun. If you are uncomfortable posting the full serial # here, you should at least email the info to Dwight Gruber for his commercial database. http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=14277 __________________ Mike C.

03-12-2009, 08:36 AM	#4
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	I sent Mr. Gruber an email with the info for his database. Charlie

03-12-2009, 08:40 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Charlie, ref grips. I have mixed feelings. if they are REALLY cruddy, i clean them up, usually you can still tell they were old. Other times, I just let them be. Cleaning is not like restrawing (a practice some folks do, I don't like it personally), and it far removed from say cold bluing or restoring a gun. off topic, but I have a personal dilema that I have faced and then passed several times (sold the guns); I have had really nice lugers, and in say one spot, it has a bluing loss, I mean, no pitting, but this quarter size blotch. Leave it alone seems right to me, but restoring that one area seems "almost" acceptable.... ed