Pics of my first Luger

alex · 09-21-2002, 04:35 PM

Based on all the info I have read on this site...here goes.

The pics are self-explanatory. When I picked up the pistol yesterday it was very dry, stiff and dirty. It had a sort of brown color to it. Last night I stripped it and removed the grips. They were a little sticky to remove and there was rust on the frame where the wood had been touching. I coated the metal parts with CLP and put it aside. I cleaned the grips as per the forum info and left then overnight to dry. Today I tackled the rust spots with OOOO steelwool and CLP. The worst was the grip area. The rust is gone however there are small patches of discoloration where the rust was. I don't intend to scrub harder in fear of removing the blue. After soaking in oil overnight the "brown" hue came off. I assume it was old dried out oil. I used a lot of Q-tips, a toothbrush and rags to clean it.
I found more #97's on the trigger bar, firing pin (It is unfluted as a poster mentioned) both portions of the safety and inside the grips (there was also a "K" on the grip just visible in the upper right of the picture) The toggle cross pin would not come out despite soaking overnight. I resorted to a hammer and brass punch (I am aware it is a flanged pin and only comes out in one direction) it was covered in the same brown residue once I got it out. After cleaning it slides in and out smoothly. I applied a little bit of lemon oil (that's all I have) to the grips and reassembled it. I hope you enjoy the photos.

Regards, Alex

Joe KY · 09-21-2002, 05:14 PM

Alex,

Absolutely beautiful, ya did realllll good!

Congrats, Joe [img]smile.gif[/img]

Heydrich · 09-21-2002, 05:20 PM

I've used lemon oil to finish a stock before, it does a great job, especially after using the scrubbing bubbles trick. You did a great job cleaning it. What a steal for under $200 bucks.

Hugh · 09-21-2002, 07:09 PM

<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> Alex,

You must realise that this beautiful Luger is probably the most expensive "bargain" that you will ever buy! Because it is impossible to own just one. By purchasing this gun, you have sentenced yourself to a life of searching for that next "bargain". I predict that it will not be very long before you will be showing us pictures of your "new prize", a second Luger that you had to have to make a "pair". etc, etc, etc, ad nasium. There is no escaping the "bug", once you have yielded to the first temptation. In fact you have already admitted it by the title to your post above: "Pics of my FIRST Luger". Welcome to the club. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

lugerholsterrepair · 09-21-2002, 07:30 PM

Very nice pistol Alex, We are all jealous. Jerry Burney

Doubs · 09-21-2002, 08:52 PM

Alex, that's a BEAUTIFUL Luger! You've done as well as anyone could possibly hope to do. Find a correct period magazine to complete it and you'll be set. A Mec-Gar mag to use when actually shooting would be a good idea.

Congratulations on a super find!

Heinz · 09-21-2002, 09:21 PM

Awesome. When you buy the MecGar mag also buy a "shooter" luger to go with it. This is too nice to see much use!

Aaron · 09-21-2002, 09:27 PM

I expect Alex will have to pay almost as much for the proper mag as he did for the pistol. But with his luck he may find one for $10 or so!

Lonnie Zimmerman · 09-21-2002, 09:32 PM

What a beauty!! Cleaning them the first time is a lot of fun for me. Congratulations!!
Lonnie

Ron Wood · 09-21-2002, 09:44 PM

Alex,
You have hit home run first time at bat! The only problem is that you will have a hard time finding another Luger as nice to add to your collection at anywhere near the price you paid. Congratulations on a really spectacular find. Much good luck in the future.

alex · 09-21-2002, 10:02 PM

Gentlemen, thank you for your kind comments. I was determined to get it cleaned up and post some pictures. I find the pics the most interesting part of this forum.

I will attempt to find the proper magazine to make it complete. From the feedback I have received I am having second thoughts about shooting it. Replacing the grips, firing pin and extractor with "shooting parts" to protect the numbered originals is beyond my means at this time. I think I will save my money for a shooting Luger in the future.

Rest assured I will treat this one with the care it deserves. I would like to think that I have saved it from neglect and misuse.

Regards, Alex

Edward Tinker · 09-21-2002, 10:45 PM

Very nice Alex, awful nice after you clean it up. One I bought last year was okay... then I did as you did cleaner her up and the pretty came through. [img]smile.gif[/img]

hermit · 09-21-2002, 10:49 PM

Congrats Alex. It's in great shape! Even better than mine is. I too am now looking for the next "great deal" out there. Godd luck with your next. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Pete Ebbink · 09-22-2002, 09:02 PM

Hello Alex,

Congratulations on your $ 175.00 luger buy !!! And for sticking around after getting that "baptism" from a few folks...

<img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> Most of us are all green with envy !!! <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

Enjoy your luger. Now your big decision is "...to shoot or not to shoot...".

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

G.T. · 09-22-2002, 11:02 PM

That is a real nice gun! Congrats Alex!.... but I'm afraid what Hugh said will be all too true! You'll be hooked for life! Remember, nice Lugers are, "Rare and elusive, but ever present!" till....later...G.T. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

saxman · 09-23-2002, 11:42 AM

Excellent work! The pistol looks great. I know you don't want to break any original parts by shooting it, but realistically, there's very little chance of that. I think you have to shoot it at least once to really bond with it and appreciate it for what it is.

Lugerdoc · 09-23-2002, 02:02 PM

Alex, Your a man of similar taste. I'd much rather find a gem hidden under years of caked on grease, than one ready to go at the gun show at some inflated price. I even got a charge, upon finding a few Simson or KH proofed parts on some of the recent import lugers that I parted out. What a thrill. Good hunting. Tom H.

09-21-2002, 04:35 PM	#1
alex User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pics of my first Luger Based on all the info I have read on this site...here goes. The pics are self-explanatory. When I picked up the pistol yesterday it was very dry, stiff and dirty. It had a sort of brown color to it. Last night I stripped it and removed the grips. They were a little sticky to remove and there was rust on the frame where the wood had been touching. I coated the metal parts with CLP and put it aside. I cleaned the grips as per the forum info and left then overnight to dry. Today I tackled the rust spots with OOOO steelwool and CLP. The worst was the grip area. The rust is gone however there are small patches of discoloration where the rust was. I don't intend to scrub harder in fear of removing the blue. After soaking in oil overnight the "brown" hue came off. I assume it was old dried out oil. I used a lot of Q-tips, a toothbrush and rags to clean it. I found more #97's on the trigger bar, firing pin (It is unfluted as a poster mentioned) both portions of the safety and inside the grips (there was also a "K" on the grip just visible in the upper right of the picture) The toggle cross pin would not come out despite soaking overnight. I resorted to a hammer and brass punch (I am aware it is a flanged pin and only comes out in one direction) it was covered in the same brown residue once I got it out. After cleaning it slides in and out smoothly. I applied a little bit of lemon oil (that's all I have) to the grips and reassembled it. I hope you enjoy the photos. Regards, Alex

09-21-2002, 07:09 PM	#4
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> Alex, You must realise that this beautiful Luger is probably the most expensive "bargain" that you will ever buy! Because it is impossible to own just one. By purchasing this gun, you have sentenced yourself to a life of searching for that next "bargain". I predict that it will not be very long before you will be showing us pictures of your "new prize", a second Luger that you had to have to make a "pair". etc, etc, etc, ad nasium. There is no escaping the "bug", once you have yielded to the first temptation. In fact you have already admitted it by the title to your post above: "Pics of my FIRST Luger". Welcome to the club. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

09-21-2002, 07:30 PM	#5
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,134 Times in 1,439 Posts	Very nice pistol Alex, We are all jealous. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-21-2002, 09:44 PM	#10
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	Alex, You have hit home run first time at bat! The only problem is that you will have a hard time finding another Luger as nice to add to your collection at anywhere near the price you paid. Congratulations on a really spectacular find. Much good luck in the future. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-21-2002, 10:45 PM	#12
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,608 Times in 2,123 Posts	Very nice Alex, awful nice after you clean it up. One I bought last year was okay... then I did as you did cleaner her up and the pretty came through. [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-21-2002, 05:14 PM	#2
Joe KY User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Near the US Bullion Depository Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alex, Absolutely beautiful, ya did realllll good! Congrats, Joe [img]smile.gif[/img]

09-21-2002, 05:20 PM	#3
Heydrich Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've used lemon oil to finish a stock before, it does a great job, especially after using the scrubbing bubbles trick. You did a great job cleaning it. What a steal for under $200 bucks.

09-21-2002, 08:52 PM	#6
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,742 Thanks: 826 Thanked 1,788 Times in 590 Posts	Alex, that's a BEAUTIFUL Luger! You've done as well as anyone could possibly hope to do. Find a correct period magazine to complete it and you'll be set. A Mec-Gar mag to use when actually shooting would be a good idea. Congratulations on a super find!

09-21-2002, 09:21 PM	#7
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 411 Times in 180 Posts	Awesome. When you buy the MecGar mag also buy a "shooter" luger to go with it. This is too nice to see much use!

09-21-2002, 09:27 PM	#8
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	I expect Alex will have to pay almost as much for the proper mag as he did for the pistol. But with his luck he may find one for $10 or so!

09-21-2002, 09:32 PM	#9
Lonnie Zimmerman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 523 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What a beauty!! Cleaning them the first time is a lot of fun for me. Congratulations!! Lonnie __________________ Lonnie Zimmerman

09-21-2002, 10:02 PM	#11
alex User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gentlemen, thank you for your kind comments. I was determined to get it cleaned up and post some pictures. I find the pics the most interesting part of this forum. I will attempt to find the proper magazine to make it complete. From the feedback I have received I am having second thoughts about shooting it. Replacing the grips, firing pin and extractor with "shooting parts" to protect the numbered originals is beyond my means at this time. I think I will save my money for a shooting Luger in the future. Rest assured I will treat this one with the care it deserves. I would like to think that I have saved it from neglect and misuse. Regards, Alex

09-21-2002, 10:49 PM	#13
hermit User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: canada Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Congrats Alex. It's in great shape! Even better than mine is. I too am now looking for the next "great deal" out there. Godd luck with your next. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

09-22-2002, 09:02 PM	#14
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Hello Alex, Congratulations on your $ 175.00 luger buy !!! And for sticking around after getting that "baptism" from a few folks... <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> Most of us are all green with envy !!! <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> Enjoy your luger. Now your big decision is "...to shoot or not to shoot...". Regards, Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

09-22-2002, 11:02 PM	#15
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,540 Thanks: 1,342 Thanked 3,735 Times in 1,019 Posts	That is a real nice gun! Congrats Alex!.... but I'm afraid what Hugh said will be all too true! You'll be hooked for life! Remember, nice Lugers are, "Rare and elusive, but ever present!" till....later...G.T. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

09-23-2002, 11:42 AM	#16
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Excellent work! The pistol looks great. I know you don't want to break any original parts by shooting it, but realistically, there's very little chance of that. I think you have to shoot it at least once to really bond with it and appreciate it for what it is. __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.

09-23-2002, 02:02 PM	#17
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Alex, Your a man of similar taste. I'd much rather find a gem hidden under years of caked on grease, than one ready to go at the gun show at some inflated price. I even got a charge, upon finding a few Simson or KH proofed parts on some of the recent import lugers that I parted out. What a thrill. Good hunting. Tom H. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net