I wanted to share with you guys my Grandfather's Luger from WW2 Italy

[Farking Bastage]

When looking about for more information about lugers, I found this forum. My grandfather left me what appears to be a (mostly)matched serial number luger with matching magazine and holster. I also wanted to share the story behind it's acquisition.

My Grandfather was a 25 year old Company commander for the 88'th Division(Blue Devils), Company B, 349'th infantry brigade, when he was redeployed from North Africa to Southern Italy in '44. Supposedly, it was part of a program to get the newer CO's more combat experience, and boy did they get all they wanted.

In the days leading up to the Battle of Monte Cassino, his company was clearing a number of farm houses in the area. He sent two scouts forward to check the house before sending everyone else in, while being somewhat close behind himself. He came up on foxhole containing a German officer who was in the process of lining up a shot on one of his scouts. Not really knowing any German, he drew his Thompson down on him and yelled "Stick 'em up!". He said the German didn't have a clue what he said, but knew damn well what a Thompson pointed at him meant. From this officer, he took and kept his side arm, a luger. The rest of the story goes, they stormed a German warehouse later on containing boxes of Luger pistols, in which the entire company took one, but when asked by another soldier if he wanted a newer one, he opted to keep the one he captured. On a side note, he HATED his .45 and never used it again after obtaining this pistol.


It's not in pristine condition by any means, but considering what it went through, it's not bad.

The holster is in the condition, less a little wear and tear, he obtained it in. The twine repair on the clasp was supposedly done by the original owner.



Left side of the receiver



The manufacture date, 1940 stamped on the receiver



Part of the grip and the safety mechanism



Full Top View



Stampings on the bolt



Stampings on the magazine



And another set of Nazi Markings on the right side of the receiver



From the markings I think it is a mass produced variety, and has 2 mismatched parts, the takedown lever and the side plate.

I fired this weapon last Memorial weekend, and I am completely blown away by the precision and the total lack of recoil this thing has, which is why pops liked it so much. It is like shooting a .22 there is next to zero muzzle flip, none of the delayed kick I have felt in like a glock, or anything. Follow up shots require very little, if any adjustment.

I have not taken it down to see if the internal marts match mainly due to fear that I may mess something up. It's a priceless family heirloom to me, and I figured you guys may enjoy hearing about it.

[Ron Wood]

You figured right...I enjoyed the story. "Stick 'em up!" would work for me if I was looking at the business end of a Thompson, even if it was said in Swahili!

[GerColctor]

The holster was made for a Polish Radom VIS M1935 pistol.

Somewhere along it's life the 1940 dated Mauser Luger had the side plate and the take down lever changed. It is rather interesting that one of the mags still matches this pistol, whereas two of it's numbered parts do not.

Joe

[raygun]

Interesting story allright . One wonders why a german officer would end up with a non issue holster and a couple of miss matched parts on the gun , but I'm sure there are many stranger stories to come out of the war .

The important thing , to me is its history . Please mister bastard [LOL] write everything down you know about it and keep it with the gun . To me a gun with an authenticated history is worth more than all matching numbers -- which I'm sure was of little concern when repairing and issuing weapons of war !

Here is yet another report [I've heard many] that servicemen did not like the 1911A1 .45 --- I wonder why ? Was it the recoil , marginal accuracy or poor training !? I've always felt it was an excellent pistol with a little fettling and practise . Although I love the luger , if I was getting into a real **** fight , the 1911A1 would probably be a better choice. Hard to beat those flying ash trays !

[John Sabato]

It has long been my opinon (a strong one!) that if I were to enter a gunfight with only a pistol... it would have to be a 1911A1 with a lot of magazines. I carried one for nearly 20 years in the Army... It is still my serious social encounter choice.

The problem during WW2 and after was inadequate training. Those who were given .45 pistols were intended to protect only their own lives with them... they are not an offensive weapon, nor is any other pistol.

The myths about their inaccuracy are exactly that...a MYTH.

The service accuracy criteria standard for a 1911 pistol is 4 inches at 25 yards from a machine rest... if it doesn't meet that standard it is withdrawn from service and sent back to be rebuilt. I have no idea what the standard is for the Beretta 9mm that replaced it. Thankfully that was after I retired from the Army.

Your Luger is a PRICELESS family heirloom? I totally agree. Never let that piece of history out of your possession. Treasure it as a memory of your grandfather... YOUR grandchildren will be fascinated by its engineering, design, comfort, accuracy and history...

And now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that we DO in fact have the RIGHT under the U.S. Constitution to own firearms for protection, we are one step closer to freedom than we were with the uncertainty that existed this morning before their historic decision.