Sharing & Questions - Family Luger

[JohnFalc]

Thanks for the feedback fellows.

The stock does have a number stamped on the piece of steel that serves as rails to connect to the pistol. The number is 5155, and below the number is stamped something looking a bit like a cross between a lowercase "L" and a lowercase "B". Additionally, under the four screws that secure the leather holster latch strap, there is some mark stamped into the wood of the stock, this looks somewhat like a side view of a knight from a chess set.

The leather of the holster/stock is all complete and supple but dry - any advice on preserving it? I do have, in pockets of the holster, a cleaning rod, and an oddly shaped little tool as well.

I am disappointed at the advice not to shoot the pistol - I'll take that to heart but don't think I can resist going out to the range one more time. I shot about 50 rounds about six months ago and she worked really great.

John

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by JohnFalc

Thanks for the feedback fellows.
I am disappointed at the advice not to shoot the pistol - I'll take that to heart but don't think I can resist going out to the range one more time. I shot about 50 rounds about six months ago and she worked really great.

John

John:

If it were mine, I'd put a thousand rounds a week through it!!

Be that as it may, if you are not familier with reloading for a Luger or just what commercial ammo is a close approximation to the original German load, I'd take the other responder's advice and just keep it well cleaned and oiled.

After cleaning the bore and all metal surfaces with your favorite bore cleaner and a few soft cotton patches (to remove surface oxidation) I'd whip it down with some Breakfree CLP about every few months or so. Salty fingerprints will cause rust, so remember to whip it down after each examination. In the photos, the pistol does look very "dry".

Just how did your grandfather end up in the 91st in 1968?

Sieger

[Edward Tinker]

Even with reloads, or mild rounds, if you break a numbered part, value drops about in half. Yes, it is rare, but there are more than one story here on the forum of it happening.

I myself blew the breachblock on a long barrel luger about 4 months ago. It was a shooter, so I just lost the value of a breachblock; but your artillery could go from being worth $1800 (by itself) to $1000....


Ed

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Even with reloads, or mild rounds, if you break a numbered part, value drops about in half. Yes, it is rare, but there are more than one story here on the forum of it happening.

I myself blew the breachblock on a long barrel luger about 4 months ago. It was a shooter, so I just lost the value of a breachblock; but your artillery could go from being worth $1800 (by itself) to $1000....


Ed

Ed:

His rig is worth about three to four thousand!

How in the world did you blow a breachblock? What were you shooting through it? How was it "blown".

Sieger

[JohnFalc]

Re the question of my grandfather and the 91st.

He was in the 91st in WWI - was inducted out of ROTC and started training at Ft. Lewis in Washington. He wrote extensively of his wartime and training experiences (he was a lawyer) and I have all those hundreds of pages of details.

So ... he was NOT in the 91st in 1968. I am the one who was - just coincidentally I took a joint USA + CalNG commission at Ft. Sill (USA artillery school) after being trained first as a forward observer for artillery. I enlisted on Dec. 7, 1965 - got out after six years of mostly inactive duty. My unit was an artillery battalion using the motorized 175mm gun (yes, gun, not howitzer - we had HIGH muzzle velocity). So that's that.

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by JohnFalc

Re the question of my grandfather and the 91st.

He was in the 91st in WWI - was inducted out of ROTC and started training at Ft. Lewis in Washington. He wrote extensively of his wartime and training experiences (he was a lawyer) and I have all those hundreds of pages of details.

Hi:

I'm sorry, but the value of your Luger Rig has just gone up again!!

What you have just told us is priceless!; a battlefield Luger with an accompanying full history of the U.S. Officer that captured it!! What you have is of great Historical signifigance, so treat it accordingly!!

In my opinion, you have just doubled the collector value of this fine Luger Rig!

Sieger

[JohnFalc]

Fun to think of the value but, being a family piece I really would never sell it and see my care of it as just a responsibility of trust and to keep it for passing along (probably to my son). I never thought of tying my grandfather's extensive diaries from WWI to the Luger - they really stand as treasures on their own.

[Imperial Arms]

Originally Posted by JohnFalc

Thanks for the feedback fellows.

The leather of the holster/stock is all complete and supple but dry - any advice on preserving it? I do have, in pockets of the holster, a cleaning rod, and an oddly shaped little tool as well.

John

Hello John,

The simplest way to perserve the leather is to clean it with (Kiwi) Saddle Soap. I use a horse hair polish application brush to apply the saddle soap to the leather and a sponge to remove the excess lather. When the leather is dry after the cleaning, just buff it up with a shoe shine brush and a soft cloth. After wards, cherish the rig as a family heirloom.

Cheers,
Albert