WW1 Luger found on Somme battlefields on Saturday - Page 2

tomaustin · 03-01-2010, 10:36 PM

you kept the shell casing? why not the luger? it must have had a terrific story to tell........tom

Vlim · 03-02-2010, 05:17 AM

Long story, local laws

suum cuique · 03-02-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

Long story, local laws

You are right, not worth getting a fine of several $K or doing time for this find.

Macadoon · 03-04-2010, 04:54 PM

Looking at post number 5 in this thread, would anyone hazard a guess on whether the extractor of this pistol is sitting proud, or not, indicating that it is loaded, or not? I'm not sure how high this piece of metal sits with the word 'geladen' on it when a pistol is loaded.
Macadoon

John Sabato · 03-02-2010, 07:13 AM

I would use the 50/50 ATF and acetone to soak and use with a stiff plastic bristle brush to clean it as much as possible. Soak a day at a time, then use the brush in the solution, and repeat until the gun is as clean as it will get.

Once the dirt has been removed, you could try removing some quantity of rust using the electrolosis method, but check it frequently because the gun is mostly rust now.

Neither of these methods should pose any danger to you... even if there is a cartridge in the chamber.

I doubt you will successfully dismantle this gun without destroying what is left... so once it has all the dirt off of it, I would mount it on a plaque with an inscription of where it was found with your name and date.

Please do elaborate on how the gun was found after all this time... metal-detector?

Welcome to the Lugerforum and thanks for sharing your historical find.

Macadoon · 03-02-2010, 04:00 PM

For me the key thing is to see whether the ejector is sitting proud or not and whether there is a bullet in the chamber. Secondly, I want to know how many, if any, bullets are in the chamber. If there are any, I plan to have them removed.
I originally suspected the luger was fully loaded, but as I learn more about this type of gun from this forum, the more I think this may not be the case.
Of course, it is early days as yet, and I very much regard the luger as fully loaded until proven otherwise. That in mind, I have left it for safe keeping with an appropriately qualified person rather than break any laws or take any undue risks. Safety, caution, legality are my rules.
Actually, there appears to be quite a bit of metal, as opposed to rust, still left in the frame. The photo doesn't show it, but a pin test revealed the uminstakable shine of metal under some dirt.
Macadoon

Douglas Jr. · 03-02-2010, 01:48 PM

Very interesting topic! Please keep us informed about your progress.

Good luck,
Douglas

alanint · 03-02-2010, 07:14 PM

There will be only one bullet in the chamber, as the chamber only will hold a single round. There may be more in the magazine, which is inside the frame. I would not worry too much of the safety of rounds found in the magazine. More dangerous, perhaps, would be to try to remove them than to let them be where they currently are.

alvin · 03-02-2010, 07:50 PM

One of my grandma's story was that a neighbor found a bottle-like object full of rust and mud in a pond (grenade), and the peasant did not recognize this thing and throwed it into kitchen stove... it indeed exploded and damaged the house. I forgot he's killed or not in the story. That's in 1940s.

alanint · 03-02-2010, 10:22 PM

What would posses anybody to throw an unknown object into a kitchen stove??

alvin · 03-03-2010, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanint

What would posses anybody to throw an unknown object into a kitchen stove??

That behavior was unexplainable. I had the same question. There were a few possibilities and let's put this guy being totally insane aside.... he might try to 'bake' this wet object dry? or he thought this might be an eatable? Hard to guess....

John Sabato · 03-02-2010, 11:46 PM

Another method of removing the dirt not previously discussed would be high pressure water such as a car wash or pressure washer used for cleaning the exterior of houses or car engines... It should not cause any damage whatsoever, removing only dirt. High pressure water directed into the barrel would also eat through any accumulation of dirt and expose whether or not there is a cartridge in the chamber. Let us know how you proceed and which method works for you.

Steinar · 03-03-2010, 06:49 AM

..perhaps to hide it? Some stoves back then was on all the time. Just a though..

Another silly thing to do with a couple of grenades, is to use them as weight for a grandfather clock. But that's a story that doesn't end with a boom, just a really bad idea from one of my relatives.

Perhaps this Luger is a job for Kroil and compressed air. There are many roads to Rome

alanint · 03-03-2010, 09:07 AM

True on the average person's unfamiliarity with ordnance.

I frequented a hotel in France for many years, which used an old artillery shell to prop open the front outer door. I never really gave it a second thought as into the 1970's the presence of WW2 objects was not that uncommon in Europe.
One year I visited and it was gone. When I inquired at the front desk, they told me someone realized the shell was a live HE and had it removed!!

LugerVern · 03-03-2010, 09:28 AM

I think I would have it x-rayed, before doing anything to it. You would then know exactly what you’re dealing with.

Properly done you might also discover who produced it.

Does the gun have a slot for attaching a shoulder stock?

Just a thought

Vern

alanint · 03-04-2010, 05:30 PM

Not very high. It would be difficult to say with all the debris covering the bolt. One thing you may check, however, when unloaded, the extractor sits flush, or at the same level as the bolt. If you detects ANY rise in this area, then there is likely something in the chamber

03-01-2010, 10:36 PM	#1
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	Vlim, what did you do with the luger you showed above?? you kept the shell casing? why not the luger? it must have had a terrific story to tell........tom

03-02-2010, 07:13 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I would use the 50/50 ATF and acetone to soak and use with a stiff plastic bristle brush to clean it as much as possible. Soak a day at a time, then use the brush in the solution, and repeat until the gun is as clean as it will get. Once the dirt has been removed, you could try removing some quantity of rust using the electrolosis method, but check it frequently because the gun is mostly rust now. Neither of these methods should pose any danger to you... even if there is a cartridge in the chamber. I doubt you will successfully dismantle this gun without destroying what is left... so once it has all the dirt off of it, I would mount it on a plaque with an inscription of where it was found with your name and date. Please do elaborate on how the gun was found after all this time... metal-detector? Welcome to the Lugerforum and thanks for sharing your historical find. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

03-02-2010, 11:46 PM	#12
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Another method of removing the dirt not previously discussed would be high pressure water such as a car wash or pressure washer used for cleaning the exterior of houses or car engines... It should not cause any damage whatsoever, removing only dirt. High pressure water directed into the barrel would also eat through any accumulation of dirt and expose whether or not there is a cartridge in the chamber. Let us know how you proceed and which method works for you. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

03-03-2010, 06:49 AM	#13
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	..perhaps to hide it? Some stoves back then was on all the time. Just a though.. Another silly thing to do with a couple of grenades, is to use them as weight for a grandfather clock. But that's a story that doesn't end with a boom, just a really bad idea from one of my relatives. Perhaps this Luger is a job for Kroil and compressed air. There are many roads to Rome __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

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03-02-2010, 05:17 AM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Long story, local laws

03-04-2010, 04:54 PM	#4
Macadoon User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Looking at post number 5 in this thread, would anyone hazard a guess on whether the extractor of this pistol is sitting proud, or not, indicating that it is loaded, or not? I'm not sure how high this piece of metal sits with the word 'geladen' on it when a pistol is loaded. Macadoon

03-02-2010, 04:00 PM	#6
Macadoon User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	For me the key thing is to see whether the ejector is sitting proud or not and whether there is a bullet in the chamber. Secondly, I want to know how many, if any, bullets are in the chamber. If there are any, I plan to have them removed. I originally suspected the luger was fully loaded, but as I learn more about this type of gun from this forum, the more I think this may not be the case. Of course, it is early days as yet, and I very much regard the luger as fully loaded until proven otherwise. That in mind, I have left it for safe keeping with an appropriately qualified person rather than break any laws or take any undue risks. Safety, caution, legality are my rules. Actually, there appears to be quite a bit of metal, as opposed to rust, still left in the frame. The photo doesn't show it, but a pin test revealed the uminstakable shine of metal under some dirt. Macadoon

03-02-2010, 01:48 PM	#7
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Very interesting topic! Please keep us informed about your progress. Good luck, Douglas

03-02-2010, 07:14 PM	#8
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	There will be only one bullet in the chamber, as the chamber only will hold a single round. There may be more in the magazine, which is inside the frame. I would not worry too much of the safety of rounds found in the magazine. More dangerous, perhaps, would be to try to remove them than to let them be where they currently are.

03-02-2010, 07:50 PM	#9
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	One of my grandma's story was that a neighbor found a bottle-like object full of rust and mud in a pond (grenade), and the peasant did not recognize this thing and throwed it into kitchen stove... it indeed exploded and damaged the house. I forgot he's killed or not in the story. That's in 1940s.

03-02-2010, 10:22 PM	#10
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	What would posses anybody to throw an unknown object into a kitchen stove??

03-03-2010, 09:07 AM	#14
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	True on the average person's unfamiliarity with ordnance. I frequented a hotel in France for many years, which used an old artillery shell to prop open the front outer door. I never really gave it a second thought as into the 1970's the presence of WW2 objects was not that uncommon in Europe. One year I visited and it was gone. When I inquired at the front desk, they told me someone realized the shell was a live HE and had it removed!!

03-03-2010, 09:28 AM	#15
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	I think I would have it x-rayed, before doing anything to it. You would then know exactly what you’re dealing with. Properly done you might also discover who produced it. Does the gun have a slot for attaching a shoulder stock? Just a thought Vern

03-04-2010, 05:30 PM	#16
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Not very high. It would be difficult to say with all the debris covering the bolt. One thing you may check, however, when unloaded, the extractor sits flush, or at the same level as the bolt. If you detects ANY rise in this area, then there is likely something in the chamber