Luger Production Totals/Good Sources?

LugerFan68 · 02-18-2011, 02:49 PM

My apologies if this has been asked before but I have been trying to get a good ballpark estimate of all Lugers produced and I have seen numbers all over the place but not consistent. Some references say they were produced between 1900-1942 a few say until 1943 before official production stopped. Grand Totals I have seen state 2 million(I think this is low) others state 2.5 million ( That maybe about right) and others as high as 3 million. So what is closest to the accurate figure? Also, what books or sources are out there that are worth purchasing?

Thanks for all the help,
Dan

Edward Tinker · 02-19-2011, 03:02 AM

Dan, Are you are asking about military, police, navy or police issue?

And then by which manufacturer?

DWM, Erfurt, Simson, Mauser or Krieghoff?

Not being too glib, but you are correct, there is conflicting information out there.

Almost a million made in WW1, almost a million made in WW2, then the commericial varients, then there are the contract variations...

Did you have a chance to read our FAQ? It answers several of these questions.

Ed

guns3545 · 02-19-2011, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugerFan68

My apologies if this has been asked before but I have been trying to get a good ballpark estimate of all Lugers produced and I have seen numbers all over the place but not consistent. Some references say they were produced between 1900-1942 a few say until 1943 before official production stopped. Grand Totals I have seen state 2 million(I think this is low) others state 2.5 million ( That maybe about right) and others as high as 3 million. So what is closest to the accurate figure? Also, what books or sources are out there that are worth purchasing?

Thanks for all the help,
Dan

Dan,

You have asked a tough question!!! I repeat, a tough question. The answers are relatively simple; once you define the question.

Ed touched on the issues. What constitutes a Luger? Only German made? What about the Swiss? Only military? Police?

Once the question is bounded and defined, the answer can generally be calculated.

That's why general questions are the hardest to answer because there are a lot of possible definitions for the simple question: How many Lugers were made??

Hope this helps.

John

LugerFan68 · 02-19-2011, 11:34 AM

Thanks guys, I meant the whole enchilada. All Lugers... German, Swiss, WW I , WW II, police, commercial, interwar years etc. Just a ballpark figure.

sheepherder · 02-19-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugerFan68

Thanks guys, I meant the whole enchilada. All Lugers... German, Swiss, WW I , WW II, police, commercial, interwar years etc. Just a ballpark figure.

... 42 ...

(Let's see who gets this...)

LugerFan68 · 02-19-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postino

... 42 ...

(Let's see who gets this...)

Sorry...I don't have a clue

FNorm · 02-20-2011, 11:39 AM

POST!

Booo...Hisss... LOL

FN

Edward Tinker · 02-20-2011, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugerFan68

Thanks guys, I meant the whole enchilada. All Lugers... German, Swiss, WW I , WW II, police, commercial, interwar years etc. Just a ballpark figure.

That is about the best you can get.

You can buy the best books out there, and newest and count the numbers up.

It is like asking how many chevies, fords and dodges there were made from 1900-1940; its too wide of a question.

An estimate from me is 2.5 million

but its just a feeling from my experience, it will buy you a cup of joe at Micky D's and you throw in a dollar...

ed

tomaustin · 02-20-2011, 01:20 PM

add up all the lugers held by

ed tinker, bill lyons, postino, g.t., the shattuck collection, and mike morris,

double the number, and you should have a pretty fair representation of all lugers produced............lol...tom

LugerFan68 · 02-20-2011, 07:03 PM

Thanks to everyone...........what a bunch of clowns LOL. I think I really stepped in it with this question. Oh well, I will consider it my first rookie stripe. Ed, thanks for 2.5 mil figure because even with my very limited expericence that is the number I seem to gravitate to as well based on what I have seen so far.

Dan

FNorm · 02-20-2011, 07:20 PM

From Std Catalog of Lugers, by Aarron Davis:

DWM 1,000,000 or about 38%

Erfurt 520,000 about 21%

Vickers 10,100 .4%

Swiss/Bern 48,000 2%

Simson 12,000 .5%

Mauser 1,000,000 38%

Krieghoff 13,580 .5%

2,603,680

FN

sheepherder · 02-20-2011, 10:04 PM

Here's a link to Philohio's album -

Vlim · 02-20-2011, 10:39 PM

42: The meaning of life, the universe and everything. A classic

Ron Wood · 02-20-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

42: The meaning of life, the universe and everything. A classic

From: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams

LugerFan68 · 02-20-2011, 10:57 PM

No matter what the production numbers are, those of us who own a Luger or Lugers are a very lucky few. At least that is my take on it.

Thanks Again to All
Dan

02-18-2011, 02:49 PM	#1
LugerFan68 User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 7 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Luger Production Totals/Good Sources? My apologies if this has been asked before but I have been trying to get a good ballpark estimate of all Lugers produced and I have seen numbers all over the place but not consistent. Some references say they were produced between 1900-1942 a few say until 1943 before official production stopped. Grand Totals I have seen state 2 million(I think this is low) others state 2.5 million ( That maybe about right) and others as high as 3 million. So what is closest to the accurate figure? Also, what books or sources are out there that are worth purchasing? Thanks for all the help, Dan

02-19-2011, 03:02 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,929 Thanks: 2,029 Thanked 4,527 Times in 2,090 Posts	Dan, Are you are asking about military, police, navy or police issue? And then by which manufacturer? DWM, Erfurt, Simson, Mauser or Krieghoff? Not being too glib, but you are correct, there is conflicting information out there. Almost a million made in WW1, almost a million made in WW2, then the commericial varients, then there are the contract variations... Did you have a chance to read our FAQ? It answers several of these questions. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

02-20-2011, 01:20 PM	#9
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	the way i've got it figured is add up all the lugers held by ed tinker, bill lyons, postino, g.t., the shattuck collection, and mike morris, double the number, and you should have a pretty fair representation of all lugers produced............lol...tom

02-20-2011, 07:20 PM	#11
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	From Std Catalog of Lugers, by Aarron Davis: DWM 1,000,000 or about 38% Erfurt 520,000 about 21% Vickers 10,100 .4% Swiss/Bern 48,000 2% Simson 12,000 .5% Mauser 1,000,000 38% Krieghoff 13,580 .5% 2,603,680 FN Last edited by FNorm; 02-20-2011 at 07:25 PM. Reason: add

02-20-2011, 10:04 PM	#12
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	Here's a link to Philohio's album - __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

02-19-2011, 11:34 AM	#4
LugerFan68 User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 7 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks guys, I meant the whole enchilada. All Lugers... German, Swiss, WW I , WW II, police, commercial, interwar years etc. Just a ballpark figure.

02-20-2011, 11:39 AM	#7
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	POST! Booo...Hisss... LOL FN

02-20-2011, 07:03 PM	#10
LugerFan68 User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 7 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks to everyone...........what a bunch of clowns LOL. I think I really stepped in it with this question. Oh well, I will consider it my first rookie stripe. Ed, thanks for 2.5 mil figure because even with my very limited expericence that is the number I seem to gravitate to as well based on what I have seen so far. Dan

02-20-2011, 10:39 PM	#13
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	42: The meaning of life, the universe and everything. A classic

02-20-2011, 10:57 PM	#15
LugerFan68 User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 7 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	No matter what the production numbers are, those of us who own a Luger or Lugers are a very lucky few. At least that is my take on it. Thanks Again to All Dan