Bizarre!

[Ron Wood]

About four years ago I bought a 1906 Brazilian contract Luger. It had just arrived in the USA and was a decent example. Brazilian Lugers, like Dutch Lugers, have been subject to harsh tropical conditions and less than optimum care over the years. This gun was better than the average Brazilian (in my opinion), but showed the results of use and an in-country reblue at some point in time. But for the most part, it hadnâ??t been over buffed so it had fairly intact corners and markings. The barrel and frame serial numbers were weakened but still quite legible.

Fast forward to the recent Kansas City gun show. Lots of wonderful Lugers there, but one caught my eye and held it. The nicest Brazilian contract I have seen, and it looks like it probably is original (I never say â??absolutelyâ?� anymore â?? a sad commentary on our hobby, but that is another topic). To make a long story short I bought it and waited for it to be shipped to me.

When it arrived, I placed the two Lugers side by side to admire my upgrade. Imagine my surprise when I discovered they were only two numbers apart! My first one is serial number 982 and the latest one is 984. After nearly 100 years, two Lugers that were made only minutes apart are back together againâ?¦Weird!

I apologize for the quality of the pictures. After moving, I havenâ??t found my tripod yet, so the shots are hand-held and the lighting isnâ??t as good as it should be, but perhaps later on I can add some improved shots and post them in the gallery.