Spotted a 1929 Swiss Luger...

Saw a nice 06/29 Swiss luger today...


It has the straight front grip strap, has all matching numbers in the 57xxx series, and looks to have 97% blue and maybe 60-75% straw.


Toggle has a Shield and Cross. Chamber has no marking. Caliber is .30


It has red plastic grips (excellent shape) and a magazine with a red plastic magazine bottom. Magazine was not numbered and appeared to be nickel (?).


It has that funny EP proof on the receiver (looks like the letters E and P are touching).


The only wear on the blue finish I could see were on the side plate and a few of the sharp edges show some thinning of blue.


The only part that was not numbered was the side plate which worried me; I think a 06/29 side plate should have 2-digits.


Price is in the $ 2,050.00 to $ 2,150.00 range.


What do you folks think ?

[Orv Reichert]

Here is the other Swiss that my German buddy owns! Nice guns!


Orv Reichert




http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/0629.jpg

Orv,


The gun I saw is just as in your photo...


Does the side plate need to have a 2-digit serial # ?


The gun I saw has strawed parts, also...the photo gun does not appear to have...is strawing appropriate ?

[Ron Wood]

The funny "EP" proof is actually a stylized "BP" or "bernerprobe" applied to Waffenfabrik Bern weapons whose barrels were proofed to 40% overpressure. For what it is worth, I have never seen a 06/29 Swiss with strawed parts or external serial numbers on the side plate. Even the "transition" pieces had blued trigger, take-down lever and thumb safety. On the 06/29 Swiss that I have seen (including mine) the side plate is serial numbered on the inside on the extension that is captured by the take-down lever. Mine has the last three digits of the serial number stamped there.

Ron,


Thanks for the great info. on th EP proof marks and the side plate serial # marking location.


In my copy of Aarron Davis' luger book, on page 48, it states that 06/29 can have strawed parts...it sounds like the Swiss made over 29K's of these units. Might there be some variations in parts finishing ?

[Ron Wood]

Pete: Aarron Davis' book is a handy little pocket guide, but I would be careful using it as a reference standard. If you look you will find that he lists ALL Lugers as having strawed parts, even the 42 and byf coded Mausers! I think he is the victim of "copy and paste" editing. There are a few other errors throughout the guide, but in all it is a nice reference for folks getting started in Luger collecting. I stand by my earlier observation and remain suspicious of a 06/29 Swiss with strawed parts.

Ron,


Yes, I agree the Davis book is a starter book for a newcomer. I am still trying to figure out that 06/29...it belongs to the father of my dental hygenist so it will be around as long as I need; he is not in a hurry to sell and did not even consider it until I started chatting with him. I may ask him to let me come over with my digital camera and then can have others look it over...he also said I could mail it, insured, to an expert appraiser if I want.


The gun looks real good and is not refinished. Bore has very sharp lands/grooves so it has not seen much shooting. It looks as great as the photo posted by Orv. The strawed parts match the gun but I need to look at the back side of the side plate for the numbers you indicated would be there.


So if I find I don't care about the purity of the strawed parts vs. blued parts, I may try to pick it up; hopefully somewhat less than his ask price...This gun is just "elegant" and I like how if feels in my hands.


I have ordered but not yet received other books from Bobba, Kenyon, Shattuck, and Reese.


That should keep me pretty busy for a while learning more stuff. I think I might try some of those down-loadable E-books as well, mentioned by others on the Forum.

[Ron Wood]

You're hooked - and I totally understand! Been there, done that. There is a sense of satisfaction in finding a Luger that is a "sleeper" from a non-collector source. The 06/29 is an attempt by the Swiss to produce the Luger with a number of production changes to reduce the cost of manufacture. As you can see from Orv's photos, the machining marks are quite visible, so if the piece that you have found has not been refinished, it should display less than the smooth polish of most Lugers. I cannot say with 100% certainty that strawed parts are never found on 06/29's, just that I have no knowledge of it. So, follow your heart, just as I and many others have done. At worst you will get a Luger that may not be absolutely correct, but one that lots of folks do not have and would give their eyeteeth to own. If you find in your research that the strawed parts are not right, you can have them blued by Thor or other artisans who specialize in preserving a great heritage. I encourage negotiating a less than the asking price, but in the final analysis what your are happy with is all that matters. Good luck and God bless.

Ron,


The finish appears to me as "striped and not even". Very similar to the finish on the photo Orv posted...certainly not as smooth and shiny as the lugers posted in the Owner's Corner (I assume from Ralph's displays).


And you are right, I think I am hooked...

Ron,


Forgot to mention :


On the Simpson luger site, under their Swiss listings, they have an inventory # SW-34 listed with straw parts, but in the rare 9 mm caliber; for $ 3,995.00.


If the Simpson gun is authentic; maybe some strawing did occur on 06/29's (just being very optimistic...)

[Ron Wood]

Pete: Appreciate your optimism and encourage it. However, it would appear that the description of the 06/29 9mm Swiss listed by Simpson is probably an error in setting up his catalog. I contacted an associate who has seen and handled the piece and he states that there are no strawed parts on the gun. It is a very nice 06/29 that has been barreled in 9mm. There is no serial number on the barrel, so it would appear that it is a special order piece requested by a private individual (Waffenfabrik Bern would perform work on commercial as well as military pieces). In all respects other than the 9mm caliber, it is a standard 06/29 with all small parts blued. Please do not think that I am trying to discourage you from acquiring your find! I just hope I am giving you proper information that might let you negotiate a good deal. By the way, my friend also stated that Simpson was selling 06/29 small parts "kits" for a while and may still have some. It seems that there were a lot of spare parts left over after the last production run and they had been released for sale. The small parts are not serial numbered so they could be replaced or re-blued without impacting the value of the piece. Again, good luck!

Ron,


I appeciate your info. !!!


I think I will try to buy, but at $ 500-600 less than asking price.


The strawed parts are 70-80% and I think they make the 06/29 much prettier with a color-balance between the all blue gun and the maroon-red grips and magazine bottom ?


I will also call Ralph Shattuck this week to get his opinion, as well.


Thanks for the tip on the spare parts at Simpson's. I will be there the week of 2-25-02...