How many Lugers have survived the ages?

Quentin · 04-22-2007, 10:00 PM

I've read that approximately 2.5+ million Lugers were made. Of course we know many (most?) were destroyed or lost so I'm curious what the educated guesses are how many of them exist today. Any ideas?

Hopefully a million of them are still around but that could be optimistic.

pipeman45 · 04-23-2007, 03:20 AM

My guess would be it's a much lower number.

wlyon · 04-23-2007, 09:47 AM

Many years ago some of us collectors were discussing this. Here is our WAG. 35% lost in war, 20 % destroyed, 10% to other countries, of the remaining 35% 10% are matching,except mag.,in 95%+ condition. Bill

Steinar · 04-23-2007, 10:35 AM

..with a little modification, we europeans found out that the Lugers can easily become razorblades or paperweights..

Anyway, what's with the "10% to other countries"?

Quentin · 04-23-2007, 02:06 PM

10% to me! (I've just legally renamed myself to "other countries")

Glad to hear you have found ingenious workarounds, MK, what an interesting paperweight!

wlyon · 04-23-2007, 03:59 PM

Steinar The 10% to other countries was countries which would probably never release the war captures such as Russia. Bill

Steinar · 04-23-2007, 04:37 PM

ahh.. well, it makes sense.
handling down military firearms from arsenals to private hands can be a political/legal issue in some countries.

Alx · 04-25-2007, 08:03 PM

This info about the British destroying 1500 Lugers pisses me off.
De-acts might as well be counted as destroyed too, as far as I'm concerned. This stupidity is criminal. Why didn't they find a market for them overseas and sell them ? GRrrrrrrrrrr.

04-22-2007, 10:00 PM	#1
Quentin User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 124 Thanks: 59 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	How many Lugers have survived the ages? I've read that approximately 2.5+ million Lugers were made. Of course we know many (most?) were destroyed or lost so I'm curious what the educated guesses are how many of them exist today. Any ideas? Hopefully a million of them are still around but that could be optimistic.

04-23-2007, 03:20 AM	#2
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My guess would be it's a much lower number. __________________ Dave

04-23-2007, 09:47 AM	#3
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,655 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 2,619 Times in 971 Posts	Many years ago some of us collectors were discussing this. Here is our WAG. 35% lost in war, 20 % destroyed, 10% to other countries, of the remaining 35% 10% are matching,except mag.,in 95%+ condition. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

04-23-2007, 10:35 AM	#4
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	..with a little modification, we europeans found out that the Lugers can easily become razorblades or paperweights.. Anyway, what's with the "10% to other countries"? __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

04-23-2007, 03:59 PM	#6
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,655 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 2,619 Times in 971 Posts	Steinar The 10% to other countries was countries which would probably never release the war captures such as Russia. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

04-23-2007, 02:06 PM	#5
Quentin User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 124 Thanks: 59 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	10% to me! (I've just legally renamed myself to "other countries") Glad to hear you have found ingenious workarounds, MK, what an interesting paperweight!

04-23-2007, 04:37 PM	#7
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	ahh.. well, it makes sense. handling down military firearms from arsenals to private hands can be a political/legal issue in some countries. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

04-25-2007, 08:03 PM	#8
Alx User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nashville, Tennessee area Posts: 263 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	This info about the British destroying 1500 Lugers pisses me off. De-acts might as well be counted as destroyed too, as far as I'm concerned. This stupidity is criminal. Why didn't they find a market for them overseas and sell them ? GRrrrrrrrrrr.