New member, First Luger, Your opinions?

[RShaw]

Eugen, Jerry....
Many thanks for the comments- would take years to learn this kind of thing on my own. I will look for a Mauser shooter and keep this one safe. I would really like to shoot a Luger some day though. The friend from whom I acquired this DWM got it from a collector who shot it only once or twice- was then stored it for 15 years until now. I would like to do a simple strip just to be more familiar with this gun, clean and lube it and then reassemble it and store.
I do not have a holster, but would not store it in the holster anyway because of moisture collection issues. I store it in a safe on a stand, rather than placing it flat on the cloth mat on the floor of the safe.
One other reason for buying this firearm is because I worked in Germany for 27 years and have come to know the German people quite well. Ingenious craftsmanship and engineering! It's the first Luger I have seen in real life, and when I understood it was for sale..... I could not pass it up.

[Eugen]

Originally Posted by RShaw

... know the German people quite well. Ingenious craftsmanship and engineering! It's the first Luger I have seen in real life, and when I understood it was for sale..... I could not pass it up.

You said that well. In fact just this past April I encountered my first Luger P.08. I never held one before. Once I held it, it was impossible to not see the obvious quality, craftsmanship and other superlatives of the German design and engineering so well know of the German people. I have never been to Germany but appreciate what the German's make based on their engineering fame.

I had to own that Luger. I couldn't put it down. Then I acquired another one a month later

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by RShaw

...I would like to do a simple strip just to be more familiar with this gun, clean and lube it and then reassemble it and store...

A good tool for helping you to understand all the mechanical relationships involved would be to buy a copy of Gerard Henrotin's "Luger Mechanical Features." http://users.skynet.be/pro1258/ It may be the best $7.95 you ever spend. The Luger system is explained very well, which aids in understanding the design and function of our favorite pistol!

Your first step, acquiring this top-notch example, indicates that you are off to a very good start. Welcome, and enjoy!