1902 Carbine

[Imperial Arms]

NEWS FLASH

Ouch - 'flaws'? My esteemed friend Ron seems to be disagree with me regarding Luger Carbines in caliber 9 mm. Well, to accommodate his views, maybe I can come up with another thought/possibility which could be reasonable.

As I have mentioned before, I have reservations about a M1902 Luger Carbine being MANUFACTURED in caliber 9 mm, however, there could be a small possibility that after WWI the DWM factory could have decided to use old inventory (including barrels re-bored to caliber 9 mm) with new breech blocks (having the new stronger extractors) in caliber 9 mm to ASSEMBLE some carbines in caliber 9 mm. As I have mentioned in previous discussions, German weapon factories never discard old inventory which they tried to put to use in order to sell more product. In view of the fact that DWM was very careful about physical forces/tolerances in their designs and manufacturing of weapons, I reckon that they would have not supplied a M1902 Luger Carbine with an old-type extractor for use with a 9 mm cartridge.

If we were to assume that a Luger carbine was manufactured in caliber 9 mm, should it have a leaf spring or the stronger coil spring? If we relate this same question to the changes that occurred from the M1904 to the M1906 Navy Luger, there was a reason for these improvements and I would assume that the same principles would be applied to a carbine in a large caliber instead of just 'throwing parts together'.

Therefore, to summarize, I continue to have reservations about the early M1902 Luger Carbines being PRODUCED in caliber 9 mm before 1910, but I 'may leave the door slightly open' for situations that could have occurred after WWI. It is also possible for a firm such as Pacific Arms to assemble a Luger Carbine in caliber 9 mm after the 1920's. If I had a choice between a Luger Carbine in caliber 7,65 mm and 9 mm, I would take the former.

Ron, you can stop 'sucking your thumb' and put the teddy bear away!!!

Cheers,
Albert