most reliable luger? what year?

[hutch1510]

ok...totally new to lugers... built up several of my own 1911's and love them... all standard gi spec... also like the mauser k98... so now gonna make the jump to lugers... so if i may ask, which model or years of production were the most reliable? and made of best steels? if that was ever a factor? basically i want a luger, not too woriied about matching, but would like to know what years produced the best guns? and if metallurgy on specific years should be avoided? thanks much.....

[Vlim]

Generally speaking: 1937-1945 are the best years for Mauser pistols. (army contracts bled dry in 1942, but some assembly of parts was done in 1945-1948).

Worst metallurgy is probably that of the stainless steel US made copies.

Early lugers can be a tad on the 'soft' side, they didn't control the surface hardening as well as in later years, although the steel quality was excellent overall.

Had the pleasure of shooting a Mauser from the early 1940s that had been in the river for some 30 years. It's still going strong today after thousands of rounds were fed through it since.

[suum cuique]

Originally Posted by Vlim

Generally speaking: 1937-1945 are the best years for Mauser pistols. (army contracts bled dry in 1942, but some assembly of parts was done in 1945-1948).

Worst metallurgy is probably that of the stainless steel US made copies.

Early lugers can be a tad on the 'soft' side, they didn't control the surface hardening as well as in later years, although the steel quality was excellent overall.

Had the pleasure of shooting a Mauser from the early 1940s that had been in the river for some 30 years. It's still going strong today after thousands of rounds were fed through it since.

Vlim,
was rust a big issue after 30 years in water?

[Vlim]

Well, on the outside the pistol looked just like you'd expect from something that spent 30 years in a river. The main parts were in good condition, although heavily pitted of course. The pistol probably had a spring job. The barrel bore was gone and a fresh 9mm sleeve was glued into place. The whole exercise reportedly started out as a sort of workshop bet to see how long the pistol, and the glued sleeve would hold out. They still do.

[hutch1510]

thanks...... so basically i'm getting the jist that even the real early lugers were good..... no real years to aviod,.... with 37-45 good years... i would have thought eveything pre 44 would have preferance due to late war shortcuts and such... thanks for heads up

[MFC]

Charlie,
Mauser stopped making Lugers in 1942 when the P-38 was adopted. Kriegoff made Lugers till 1945, but you would have to take a second mortage on your house to buy one dated 1945, so I doubt you would be conscerned with shooting it.

[Vlim]

Mauser stopped making Lugers in 1942 when the P-38 was adopted.

Well, no. Mauser stopped delivering lugers to the German army in 1942. They never stopped making them (well, until the French blew up the building in 1948).

[Lugerdoc]

Vlim, Other than perhaps making spare repair parts for the military, What complete lugers might you be refering to? TH

[hutch1510]

ok... so last question i have was their any design changes that make a later vbersion better than an earlier version? or are parts essentially interchangeble with no real design chnges?... essentially i want a shooter, that will be reliable and sturdy for ocaasional carry... so reliability is the key, i know is best to get a matching toggle, frmae and barrel action with original mag, just need to know if and when any design chnges were implented and if so when and if the gun was better or worse for it... essentially which if any years to stick to for reliability and over all sturdiness of weaopn, as forst and foremost it will be a weaopn to me rather than a wall hanger...thanks much

[alanint]

A Luger is one of the last guns on Earth I would entrust my life to.

With so many inexpensive and reliable guns available today, why would you want to entrust your life to a Luger?
They are ammo sensitive, they are dust sensitive, they must be carried with a loaded chamber to be any good in a concealed weapon role, something I would never do. They are large and cumbersome for the caliber compared to other, more modern offerings. They have a limited ammo capacity. They don't really like hollow point, defense ammo.

I could go on but I think I've made my point. The only thing a Luger is better than for concealed carry is no gun at all.

[worldoftone]

LOL @ alanint Too funny

- WOT

[Vlim]

Tom,

There were the Portuguese contract (diversion of the last army batch) and the occassional commerially made pistol. Pistols were assembled and distributed amongst Mauser workers, some as anniversary gifts and we also observed Mauser pistols that were assembled and finished during the late war years and distributed amongst local farmers as personal defense against possible looting forced labourers. They all fall into the 'assembly' category, but since they were made at Mauser by Mauser staff during 1942-45 they are "Mauser Production".

Hutch: there weren't many ground breaking design changes. The fluted firing pin helps to make it more reliable when the gun is dirty and a grip safety (1906 style) would be a good extra for a carry gun. Equipped with a new MecGar magazine and flatnosed 9mm rounds you can do worse. The remarks about having to carry it loaded are surely valid, which is why an extra safety (like the grip safety) wouldn't be too bad.

The German army used it as a carry gun for almost half a century, The East Germans did, the Dutch did until 1960, the Portuguese until well in to the 1970s, Norway well into the 1980s. It's a pistol that saw active service for about 80 years non-stop.

The luger is no 'empty whole mag, then run' pistol like many of today's 9mm hand guns. It's accuracy and extremely good natural pointability make it an excellent gun. Although the German holsters were pretty useless for any serious fast draw action.

Come to think of it, today's European police 'Action' rounds (hollow points with a plastic tip for reliable feeding) should work well in them....something to test

[hutch1510]

Originally Posted by alanint

A Luger is one of the last guns on Earth I would entrust my life to.

With so many inexpensive and reliable guns available today, why would you want to entrust your life to a Luger?
They are ammo sensitive, they are dust sensitive, they must be carried with a loaded chamber to be any good in a concealed weapon role, something I would never do. They are large and cumbersome for the caliber compared to other, more modern offerings. They have a limited ammo capacity. They don't really like hollow point, defense ammo.

I could go on but I think I've made my point. The only thing a Luger is better than for concealed carry is no gun at all.

the reason is simple... i like german stuff... k98's in particular.... i already built the ultimate 1911, that looks plain jane GI, but i fitter a kart barrel, and fine tuned all internals, gun is 100%.... i like the luger, i like ww2 stuff... i know i'm buying it and will occasionally carry it... so i just need to know if some are better than others.... while form usually follows function with me...clearly this is not the case with the luger... function will obviously follow form.... however if i can get one more reliable than another ofcoarse i will do so.... i'm buying a luger for the form and history, ofcoarse i want to research which one to buy..... i care not for the modern MIM metal injection miold toy guns of today, i like character and for the gun to be as reliable as i can get it.... however seems like all the lugers german built, were essentially the same in build quality and performance... so my question has been answered... now the journey begins of finding a nice deal/shooter

[alanint]

Ah, but there is a very big difference between a military/police sidearm and concealed carry weapon.

Those military holsters were slow to bring into action for a reason. They were designed to practically be hermetic, since the Luger was known to be dust and dirt sensitive.
I never suggested the Luger was not an admirable military sidearm, it's just a poor choice as a concealed, self defense gun.
It's too big to carry in anything but a waist level holster, (whether inside or outside the waistband). I shoulder holster is also possible but very cumbersome. It will be subjected to sweat, lint, dirt, bumps and jarrs. It is heavy and large. The safety requires and ackward thumb movement to dissengage. The trigger pull tends to be inconsistent, sometimes spongy and a liability/negligence lawyer's dream.
The reality is that any "mystique" you may be searching for in carrying a Luger will be turned on you by a good prosecutor if you are ever forced to use it to defend yourself. Even if you were fully justified in the shooting. It could cost you tens of thousands more to gain acquital.
Be prepared to hear "Nazi gun" "Nazi sympathizer', "dangerous" "irresponsible" . A well prepped prosecutor will take apart a Luger and show a rapt jury how it can still fire even when taken apart, eliciting tisk tisks and head shaking from your worthy peers.

I'm not condeming the gun, just its suitability in the very complex world of legal, concealed carry.

[hutch1510]

ummm i have no interest in debateing laws of carry, i wanted a luger a long time, and am well aware they are finicky when dirty, i dont need info on holster for carry either, i like lugers form and history, and like to get one as reliable as possible.... talking politics has no interest to me, nor being prosectued for shooting someone with a ww2 gun rather than my glock or 1911 ... i like to stay on point........

[alanint]

I was staying on point. You suggested you planned to carry the Luger for self defense. I gave you well thought out reasons why this is not a good idea.
Carry it if this pleases you.
I hope any adversary who I may encounter in a street firefight is like minded....

[alvin]

Originally Posted by Vlim

Well, no. Mauser stopped delivering lugers to the German army in 1942. They never stopped making them (well, until the French blew up the building in 1948).

Were those post-1942 Lugers dated on chamber? Production volume estimation? TIA

[Vlim]

The best estimate I can make is 'not a lot'. Commercially proofed and built from components at hand.

[alterfritz]

Alanint is right in the point he makes. I couldn't make out from this post if you really intend to buy a Luger as self defense weapon or carry around.
I made the same mistake. I bought mine thinking that it's a beautiful gun and if I have to buy one to protect myself it may as well be one I like. Don't.
A Luger is a very nice gun to have to either collect (which I don't) or just have fun at the shooting range. I ended up buying a shotgun for self defense since my experiences with the practical use of my Luger are similar to what Alanint is saying above. I want to get a special mag for my Luger to have it loaded around just as a backupgun, but I wouldn't consider relying on it as a first choice.
And from the NRA self defense classes I took and what the police guest speakers were saying there, I bet he's right about what would happen to somebody who carries it and shoots somebody in self defense.

Adding to your original point, I have a 1971 Mauser. It now shoots very nicely but only after I had G.T. make magazines to the specifications. It was a bit of a hassle since the spring of those mags seem to be stronger than the usual spring. Anyway it works fine now and I am very happy with the quality, however it is extremely sensitive to the ammo type. I specifically bought a later model because it is my belief that metallurgy naturally got better as the years went by, plus older Lugers simply are old and that means that metal can weaken.

Just my 2 cents

[Jasta2]

Boy, except for Vlim, the Luger looks not to get much respect in the role it was intended for. I have had modern made 1911's jam on me quite often, as the Luger at times. The Luger might be ammo picky and properly clean, but I know it can still do the job it was intended to do. With such poor reputation as a service arm, in many opinions, I am surprised at the desire and value placed apon them.
Bill