Luger Christmas Present

mrerick · 01-04-2011, 11:01 AM

Jack, Congratulations on a beautiful Luger and Holster and welcome to the forum.

It's hard to judge finish on photographs, and particularly difficult when the pictures are taken with flash or direct light.

Looks like you have a pre WW-I imperial Luger in very good original condition.

As it's in the original finish and all matching, including the magazines, it's particularly collectible and rather valuable. The matching holster adds even more to your "rig".

Take good care of it by keeping your Luger clean and wiped down with a rust preventative gun oil. Don't store your Luger in the holster. Get one of the silicone "Gun socks" or a zipper case that allows proper air circulation.

If you take off the grips, be particularly careful with the left grip near the safety lever so that you don't chip the grip. Avoid letting oils soak into the grips.

If you fire it and break a part, you'll cut it's value down considerably. It is more risk than I'd take with this grade specimen.

It looks like mold has developed on your holster. Jerry "lugerholsterrepair" has excellent background on restoration of leather holsters. After cleaning it's likely that you'll need to treat it to prevent recurrence of the mold.

I have used "Lexol" (which is commonly available at auto parts stores) in spray form to help restore dried out leather. This is a controversial area with a wide range of experiences. I'm satisfied with the results, but others (including Jerry in particular) have more experience than I do.

Finally, I'm not well versed in Imperial German unit markings, but I think that it's possible that "B.3.J.D." refers to the Third Bavarian Jaeger-Battalion Division HQ. Again, others on this site have much deeper experience.

Marc

JTD · 01-04-2011, 11:41 AM

Jack, you have a really nice WWI era unit marked luger. It is marked to the Bavarian 3rd infantry division staff. Congrats on a very nice present. I am willing to bet a dollar to a dounought that it spent time along the river Somme under some very unfavorable conditions at one point in its life. Can you make out the ink stamp on the holster? John

jeb858 · 01-04-2011, 01:27 PM

I want to say the stamp on the inside flap of the holster is 5FAAR, I am not sure about the 3rd digit A but I am about the rest of them. Again I will take a closer look once I return home.

klaus 3338 · 01-06-2011, 03:34 PM

Hi Jack,
the unit stamp in your holster is 5FdAR 1913 that means 5. Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment. All numbers of the Lugers until 1914 are documented in German archive.
I cannot make out/ find your Luger in this list. I think that your Luger was issued to another holster.
But the 5. Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment had a great history in the Great War and I may congratulation you to both items.
I have 2 holsters of the same ragiment but it was made in 1910 and the other 1912.
Thanks for showing your nice items.

Ron Wood · 01-06-2011, 05:13 PM

You have a really nice Bavarian issue Luger. It is great to see such a well preserved piece, and the holster is equally spectacular. I have its cousin made the year before (1912) and marked to the 4th Bavarian Infantry staff. It is also a WWII bring back captured at Bastogne.

jeb858 · 01-08-2011, 07:17 PM

Home from Dallas and mag pics attached.

01-04-2011, 11:01 AM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Jack, Congratulations on a beautiful Luger and Holster and welcome to the forum. It's hard to judge finish on photographs, and particularly difficult when the pictures are taken with flash or direct light. Looks like you have a pre WW-I imperial Luger in very good original condition. As it's in the original finish and all matching, including the magazines, it's particularly collectible and rather valuable. The matching holster adds even more to your "rig". Take good care of it by keeping your Luger clean and wiped down with a rust preventative gun oil. Don't store your Luger in the holster. Get one of the silicone "Gun socks" or a zipper case that allows proper air circulation. If you take off the grips, be particularly careful with the left grip near the safety lever so that you don't chip the grip. Avoid letting oils soak into the grips. If you fire it and break a part, you'll cut it's value down considerably. It is more risk than I'd take with this grade specimen. It looks like mold has developed on your holster. Jerry "lugerholsterrepair" has excellent background on restoration of leather holsters. After cleaning it's likely that you'll need to treat it to prevent recurrence of the mold. I have used "Lexol" (which is commonly available at auto parts stores) in spray form to help restore dried out leather. This is a controversial area with a wide range of experiences. I'm satisfied with the results, but others (including Jerry in particular) have more experience than I do. Finally, I'm not well versed in Imperial German unit markings, but I think that it's possible that "B.3.J.D." refers to the Third Bavarian Jaeger-Battalion Division HQ. Again, others on this site have much deeper experience. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-04-2011, 11:41 AM	#2
JTD User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 428 Thanks: 218 Thanked 410 Times in 151 Posts	Jack, you have a really nice WWI era unit marked luger. It is marked to the Bavarian 3rd infantry division staff. Congrats on a very nice present. I am willing to bet a dollar to a dounought that it spent time along the river Somme under some very unfavorable conditions at one point in its life. Can you make out the ink stamp on the holster? John

01-04-2011, 01:27 PM	#3
jeb858 New User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I want to say the stamp on the inside flap of the holster is 5FAAR, I am not sure about the 3rd digit A but I am about the rest of them. Again I will take a closer look once I return home.