First Luger

4 Scale · 03-14-2017, 08:39 PM

As I recall that 1940 Mauser is a very nice collectible and the general rule is don't shoot nice collectibles due to the value decline if a part breaks or the finish is marred; rather, buy a shooter. A shooter being defined as a pistol that either due to cosmetic issues or parts not matching will not be seriously devalued if a part breaks and that costs less than a collectible.

I do have a couple mid-range collectibles that I shoot on occasion, and when I do I replace the left grip, extractor, firing pin, hold open, toggle pin and ejector. I have a shooter as well and often simply put the shooter toggle in the nicer collectible. Raising the question of what exactly am I shooting....

Of course it is possible for other parts (toggle, barrel, receiver) to be damaged so there is no way to avoid all risk when you shoot a collectible.

Like Eugene, I bought extra parts but as I really enjoy shooting Lugers I also wound up with a couple shooters - arguably wasting money on the parts. Also sometimes substitute parts fit, sometimes they don't as manufacturing tolerances were much wider +75 years ago than today. To avoid this whole dilemma most new collectors are advised to start with a shooter.

Before buying more parts consider perhaps field strip it, inspect it and operate the action with dummy rounds "snap caps" and overall get familiar with it.

Personally I would not change springs especially on a Mauser unless and until function indicated the need.

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03-14-2017, 08:39 PM	#3
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 490 Times in 251 Posts	As I recall that 1940 Mauser is a very nice collectible and the general rule is don't shoot nice collectibles due to the value decline if a part breaks or the finish is marred; rather, buy a shooter. A shooter being defined as a pistol that either due to cosmetic issues or parts not matching will not be seriously devalued if a part breaks and that costs less than a collectible. I do have a couple mid-range collectibles that I shoot on occasion, and when I do I replace the left grip, extractor, firing pin, hold open, toggle pin and ejector. I have a shooter as well and often simply put the shooter toggle in the nicer collectible. Raising the question of what exactly am I shooting.... Of course it is possible for other parts (toggle, barrel, receiver) to be damaged so there is no way to avoid all risk when you shoot a collectible. Like Eugene, I bought extra parts but as I really enjoy shooting Lugers I also wound up with a couple shooters - arguably wasting money on the parts. Also sometimes substitute parts fit, sometimes they don't as manufacturing tolerances were much wider +75 years ago than today. To avoid this whole dilemma most new collectors are advised to start with a shooter. Before buying more parts consider perhaps field strip it, inspect it and operate the action with dummy rounds "snap caps" and overall get familiar with it. Personally I would not change springs especially on a Mauser unless and until function indicated the need.