How many Lugers were made?

07-08-2001, 08:40 PM

I am being very lazy, but does anyone have a guess at the total number, by type, by manufacturer?

The second question is how many have survived?

FGR

Big Norm · 07-08-2001, 09:38 PM

The only lugers that survived are the ones that I own. Thats why they are so pricy. All the rest are stainless steel.

Are you any relation to FDR?

SORRY! I am just a little giddy about getting my artillery stock.

Big Norm

Big Norm · 07-09-2001, 09:37 AM

I am still on a high from getting my artillery stock. This giddiness has lead me to think of a stupid question. So here goes...

My understanding is that some of the stainless steel lugers were blued somehow. OK. But how do you straw stainless steel?

Big Norm

07-09-2001, 10:26 AM

Jan Still does an excellent job, IMO, of breaking down the production of the Luger by year and make. I do not know off the top of my head the number of total estimated production, but I would guess around 2 and 1/2 million. The survival rate varies based on year, and type (military, commercial, or contract). for most German military variations many say around 20% or so survive today....I really don't know as the data is so circumstaceial and incomplete. My research would indicate that the total number of Lugers used by Germany in WWII would have been in the area of 1.1 million or so, this included earlier imperial and Weimar examples that would have survived in German service or private officer ownership. I would guess that most of these by far were lost or destroyed and maybe one hundred thousand were brought back by GI's, maybe another hundred thousand were imported after the war....this is just a guess.

07-09-2001, 05:55 PM

Per Michael Reese II (Luger Tips Revised) approximately eight million Luger were manufactured between 1898 to 1945.

Best Regards

07-09-2001, 06:24 PM

I don't question your reading of that number, but I would again refer anyone to look at the detailed serial information compiled by Jan Still in his three volumes. As I said earlier, I have never carefully added up all the production numbers for the makers, but it could hardly have exceeded 3 million, and I think that it was closer to 2.5 million. The production from, DWM, Erfut, Simsom, Mauser and Kregoff is well documented (at this date).

07-08-2001, 08:40 PM	#1
fgr Guest Posts: n/a	How many Lugers were made? I am being very lazy, but does anyone have a guess at the total number, by type, by manufacturer? The second question is how many have survived? FGR

07-08-2001, 09:38 PM	#2
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: How many Lugers were made? The only lugers that survived are the ones that I own. Thats why they are so pricy. All the rest are stainless steel. Are you any relation to FDR? SORRY! I am just a little giddy about getting my artillery stock. Big Norm

07-09-2001, 09:37 AM	#3
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: How many Lugers were made? I am still on a high from getting my artillery stock. This giddiness has lead me to think of a stupid question. So here goes... My understanding is that some of the stainless steel lugers were blued somehow. OK. But how do you straw stainless steel? Big Norm

07-09-2001, 10:26 AM	#4
BCC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: How many Lugers were made? Jan Still does an excellent job, IMO, of breaking down the production of the Luger by year and make. I do not know off the top of my head the number of total estimated production, but I would guess around 2 and 1/2 million. The survival rate varies based on year, and type (military, commercial, or contract). for most German military variations many say around 20% or so survive today....I really don't know as the data is so circumstaceial and incomplete. My research would indicate that the total number of Lugers used by Germany in WWII would have been in the area of 1.1 million or so, this included earlier imperial and Weimar examples that would have survived in German service or private officer ownership. I would guess that most of these by far were lost or destroyed and maybe one hundred thousand were brought back by GI's, maybe another hundred thousand were imported after the war....this is just a guess.

07-09-2001, 05:55 PM	#5
REB Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Eight Million? Per Michael Reese II (Luger Tips Revised) approximately eight million Luger were manufactured between 1898 to 1945. Best Regards

07-09-2001, 06:24 PM	#6
BCC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Eight Million? I don't question your reading of that number, but I would again refer anyone to look at the detailed serial information compiled by Jan Still in his three volumes. As I said earlier, I have never carefully added up all the production numbers for the makers, but it could hardly have exceeded 3 million, and I think that it was closer to 2.5 million. The production from, DWM, Erfut, Simsom, Mauser and Kregoff is well documented (at this date).