Help needed with Luger

mike c · 07-27-2007, 11:38 AM

Could I get some help with a luger please, I'm trying to find a little info on one I just got, trying to find some age,value and if it's ok to shot or not, I had no idea there was more than one type of pistol. I can try to post a picture if I'm able, if not I can send all you want thru email, thanks. Mike http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid17282358

http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid17282358

Ron Smith · 07-27-2007, 12:03 PM

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum. You have what is called a 1920 Alphabet commercial. Made circa 1923 for export sales. It is the most common variation. Is it a .30 Luger (7.65mm Parabellum) or 9mm caliber? The average value on one in that condition , which seems to be pretty nice, is around $800 - $1000.

It should be safe to shoot. If it's a .30 cal. the ammo tends to be somewhat expensive.

Ron

mike c · 07-27-2007, 12:13 PM

Thanks for the quick reply Ron, I picked up some 9mm ammo last night but the cartridge would not slip in all the way so I guess it's the 30 Lurger, I'll head into town later and try to find a box of ammo in the 30 cal. One other thing I forgot to menton is the bottom of the clip is made of wood, is this normal? Mike

Ron Smith · 07-27-2007, 12:31 PM

Mike,

Yes, the correct mag has an un-numbered wood bottom.

Happy to help...

Ron

mike c · 07-27-2007, 01:05 PM

Thanks for your time and knowledge Ron ! Mike

MFC · 07-29-2007, 01:02 AM

Hi Mike C,
From one Mike C. too another.
A (GERMANY) stamped wood bottom would also be correct.
Mike C.

mike c · 07-29-2007, 12:49 PM

Thanks again for the help and correction, one more question, I have a holster that was my uncles and was wondering if it would be correct for the pistol, there are no marks on it that I can see. As far as pricey ammo, I called a shop yesterday and was told the ammo was $37 a box, I need to calll back and see how many shells are in a box. Mike
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid17282515

Edward Tinker · 07-30-2007, 03:10 PM

If you aren't really sure of the caliber, you might want to have it checked by a competent gun smith. Your holster looks like one for a P38, but doesn't have a lot of collector value as it is. The luger "top" that is there, is a bit rough...

Ed

Karl · 07-30-2007, 07:09 PM

Mike,

30. Luger ammo is expensive but not usually THAT expensive. You might try some online sources such as Able Ammo, Outdoor Superstore, Gamaliel, etc. - do a Google search. The last time I bought a batch I think it was about $17. for 50 rounds of Fiocchi, plus shipping. I buy in fairly large quantities to save on shipping. KFS

azlaw · 07-31-2007, 01:08 PM

And avoid 7.62 x 25 mm "Tokarev" cartridges whatever you do. These are common and sometimes very inexpensive, and they will fit in you pistol as they are dimensionally essentially identical to 7.62mm Luger/Mauser. BUT they are a submachinegun gun load, too "hot" for your pistol. Some pistols, like the Tokarev and CZ-52, are designed to take these cartridges, but don't use them in your Luger (or Mauser).

H

mike c · 07-31-2007, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the info guy's, I guess I better take it into a shop. Just how many calibers was made for these gun's? i'm not up on the Lugers and thoght they were all 9mm but now it looks like they are 9mm, 7.65mm and 7.62, is there any others? Thanks again for the great help. Mike

Sieger · 07-31-2007, 05:10 PM

Dear TAC:

...although the Tokarev round WILL fit. It will also probably blow the hell out of your Luger after a few rounds.

tac [/B][/QUOTE]

The Tokarev round is very dimensionally similar to the 7.63 Mauser round used in the C-96. It is also almost identical to the original round used in DWM's C93, the parent pistol to the Luger design.

I've tried it and the Tokarev round won't chamber in a 7.65 Parabellum Pistol, nor will it fit in the magazine of a Parabellum.

Sieger

mike c · 07-31-2007, 07:32 PM

Thanks again for the advice, i'm going to a gun smith this weekend and make sure. I don't want to screw up the gun or the appendage that is holding it. Mike

Ron Wood · 08-01-2007, 01:41 AM

Some things can be made to fit with sufficient application of BFFI (pronounced "biffy" and politely translated as brute force and flipping ignorance...an old Army term). No doubt many of us have experienced bffi at the hands of auto and appliance repairmen, and I have seen more than one "gunsmith" example. By way of illustration here is a lesson in bffi gas tank repair:

07-27-2007, 11:38 AM	#1
mike c User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help needed with Luger Could I get some help with a luger please, I'm trying to find a little info on one I just got, trying to find some age,value and if it's ok to shot or not, I had no idea there was more than one type of pistol. I can try to post a picture if I'm able, if not I can send all you want thru email, thanks. Mike http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid17282358 http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid17282358

07-27-2007, 12:03 PM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Mike, Welcome to the forum. You have what is called a 1920 Alphabet commercial. Made circa 1923 for export sales. It is the most common variation. Is it a .30 Luger (7.65mm Parabellum) or 9mm caliber? The average value on one in that condition , which seems to be pretty nice, is around $800 - $1000. It should be safe to shoot. If it's a .30 cal. the ammo tends to be somewhat expensive. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

07-27-2007, 12:31 PM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Mike, Yes, the correct mag has an un-numbered wood bottom. Happy to help... Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

07-29-2007, 01:02 AM	#6
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Mike C, From one Mike C. too another. A (GERMANY) stamped wood bottom would also be correct. Mike C. __________________ Mike C.

07-30-2007, 03:10 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	If you aren't really sure of the caliber, you might want to have it checked by a competent gun smith. Your holster looks like one for a P38, but doesn't have a lot of collector value as it is. The luger "top" that is there, is a bit rough... Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

07-27-2007, 12:13 PM	#3
mike c User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the quick reply Ron, I picked up some 9mm ammo last night but the cartridge would not slip in all the way so I guess it's the 30 Lurger, I'll head into town later and try to find a box of ammo in the 30 cal. One other thing I forgot to menton is the bottom of the clip is made of wood, is this normal? Mike

07-27-2007, 01:05 PM	#5
mike c User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for your time and knowledge Ron ! Mike

07-29-2007, 12:49 PM	#7
mike c User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks again for the help and correction, one more question, I have a holster that was my uncles and was wondering if it would be correct for the pistol, there are no marks on it that I can see. As far as pricey ammo, I called a shop yesterday and was told the ammo was $37 a box, I need to calll back and see how many shells are in a box. Mike http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid17282515

07-30-2007, 07:09 PM	#9
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 519 Thanks: 0 Thanked 262 Times in 115 Posts	Mike, 30. Luger ammo is expensive but not usually THAT expensive. You might try some online sources such as Able Ammo, Outdoor Superstore, Gamaliel, etc. - do a Google search. The last time I bought a batch I think it was about $17. for 50 rounds of Fiocchi, plus shipping. I buy in fairly large quantities to save on shipping. KFS

07-31-2007, 01:08 PM	#10
azlaw User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 204 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	And avoid 7.62 x 25 mm "Tokarev" cartridges whatever you do. These are common and sometimes very inexpensive, and they will fit in you pistol as they are dimensionally essentially identical to 7.62mm Luger/Mauser. BUT they are a submachinegun gun load, too "hot" for your pistol. Some pistols, like the Tokarev and CZ-52, are designed to take these cartridges, but don't use them in your Luger (or Mauser). H

07-31-2007, 04:42 PM	#11
mike c User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the info guy's, I guess I better take it into a shop. Just how many calibers was made for these gun's? i'm not up on the Lugers and thoght they were all 9mm but now it looks like they are 9mm, 7.65mm and 7.62, is there any others? Thanks again for the great help. Mike

07-31-2007, 05:10 PM	#12
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Luger and Tokarev Round Dear TAC: ...although the Tokarev round WILL fit. It will also probably blow the hell out of your Luger after a few rounds. tac [/B][/QUOTE] The Tokarev round is very dimensionally similar to the 7.63 Mauser round used in the C-96. It is also almost identical to the original round used in DWM's C93, the parent pistol to the Luger design. I've tried it and the Tokarev round won't chamber in a 7.65 Parabellum Pistol, nor will it fit in the magazine of a Parabellum. Sieger

07-31-2007, 07:32 PM	#13
mike c User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks again for the advice, i'm going to a gun smith this weekend and make sure. I don't want to screw up the gun or the appendage that is holding it. Mike

08-01-2007, 01:41 AM	#14
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,009 Thanks: 1,088 Thanked 5,140 Times in 1,690 Posts	Some things can be made to fit with sufficient application of BFFI (pronounced "biffy" and politely translated as brute force and flipping ignorance...an old Army term). No doubt many of us have experienced bffi at the hands of auto and appliance repairmen, and I have seen more than one "gunsmith" example. By way of illustration here is a lesson in bffi gas tank repair: __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction