Swiss model 1900 #1

drbuster · 12-29-2006, 04:18 PM

Albert, Thanks again for your comments. Luger #33, pictured on page 51 of "Lugers At Random" and page 67 in Kenyon's "Luger, The Multinational Pistol", is the same pistol and is in the possession of Ralph Shattuck. It has a single firing pin spring and a rounded rear toggle joint. And Pete, the reason the grips are different is that Ralph, in the older Datig book, had replaced the original borderless grips with bordered Swiss grips that he had because he thought they looked better! He had no idea that it would stir the controversy that is still ongoing. The original grips (borderless) are now on the pistol. Whether this #33 is a pre-production model or a later prototype model like that sent to Britain, or just a very well made fake is up for grabs. It depends on who you read or talk to. What really puzzles me is why some talented booster, or faker, would spend a large sum of money to weld a 1900 frame, or use a real unrelieved frame, engrave the chamber like the real pre-production pieces, make up the rest of the luger and sell it for a fraction of what it cost to make. Ralph Shattuck told me that he bought it for much less than it would have taken to fabricate with 1990's or later dollars.

12-29-2006, 04:18 PM	#28
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Albert, Thanks again for your comments. Luger #33, pictured on page 51 of "Lugers At Random" and page 67 in Kenyon's "Luger, The Multinational Pistol", is the same pistol and is in the possession of Ralph Shattuck. It has a single firing pin spring and a rounded rear toggle joint. And Pete, the reason the grips are different is that Ralph, in the older Datig book, had replaced the original borderless grips with bordered Swiss grips that he had because he thought they looked better! He had no idea that it would stir the controversy that is still ongoing. The original grips (borderless) are now on the pistol. Whether this #33 is a pre-production model or a later prototype model like that sent to Britain, or just a very well made fake is up for grabs. It depends on who you read or talk to. What really puzzles me is why some talented booster, or faker, would spend a large sum of money to weld a 1900 frame, or use a real unrelieved frame, engrave the chamber like the real pre-production pieces, make up the rest of the luger and sell it for a fraction of what it cost to make. Ralph Shattuck told me that he bought it for much less than it would have taken to fabricate with 1990's or later dollars.