1st Luger - Is this one OK?

Redbone311 · 08-29-2011, 03:36 PM

Hello all,
My name is Dave and I'm looking to buy my first Luger. A guy offered this one up for sale at $575 as a shooter.
I would appreciate anyone and everyone's opinion on it.
It's a 1920 DWM all number match - except the toggle. Believed to be reblued, and I don't see any strawing. No rust - and very nice bore.
I'm not looking for a super collecter. Just a some time shooter and interesting gun to own.
Is it OK to shoot these quite a bit or am I risking not being able to get parts later if something breaks.
Or buy something better? OR... ?????
Is it a fair price?
Thank you all for any and all help.
Dave

Edward Tinker · 08-29-2011, 03:47 PM

oh, I hate photobucket

welcome to the forum Dave

$575 is a good price for a reblued 9mm luger, this one looks very nice and yes it should be strawed, but what the heck.

Shooters aren't always dependable, can be a mixture of magazines or parts being weird.

Ask if its been shot?

That said, I would buy most lugers that look nice like this for $500-$600 most any day

Ed

DavidJayUden · 08-29-2011, 03:50 PM

I think that it looks like a nice shooter and worth that money. And FYI you can do the straw coloring in your own kitchen quite easily. 9mm or .30 cal?
Parts are available. You might ask for a 3 day shooting inspection period to make sure that it functiuons correctly, or have him meet you at a range.
Welcome.
dju

CptCurl · 08-29-2011, 04:17 PM

I'm curious about doing straw colors in the kitchen.

Nice shooter and worth the price, I think.

Curl

DavidJayUden · 08-29-2011, 04:43 PM

If you search the archives, you will find a how-to on strawing. Basically it amounts to stripping the bluing off (toilet bowl cleaner works well), then polishing the parts. Clean the parts well, then heat the oven to a certain specified temp, and put them in until the correct shade of color is reached.
And your wife will love you for using her oven to bake gun parts...
dju

Edward Tinker · 08-29-2011, 05:44 PM

David, i have never attempted this before, and I think i will, i have a shooter that was reblued and it would be a good test subject.

Ed

sheepherder · 08-29-2011, 07:41 PM

Stock lug has been ground off...Grips are new repros...Mag is a repro...$575 is IMO high for this Luger...but I'm sure you could part it out and get your money back...I know; I'm prejudiced against lugless lugers...It's my upbringing...Everybody else is buying these up as fast as they can...I'm just a Luger Lug Snob...

Redbone311 · 08-29-2011, 07:48 PM

Lug???? What and where is the lug? What does it do? etc???

Thanks for all your input guys. I'm learning.

I was just about to buy it. ON the fence now. Any more OP's?

Edward Tinker · 08-29-2011, 09:07 PM

Good catch Postino, but to me, a shooter is a shooter

The stock lug is on the back strap and most lugers have them, you can put on a stock and make it a mini rifle, HOWEVER that said, it is only allowed on artillery, navy and a few other lugers, NOT 4 inch ones. It is illegal in the USA to attach a stock to a pistol. Why did the germans put stock lugs on? did they use stocks on 4 inch lugers? No, it is highly doubtful if they ever did that.

but, you could use that as a means of possibly getting the price down.

It doesn't change the view I have of its value, the only thing is if the lug was ground down too far and goes into the handle / through the handle, I have seen that, but it would be obvious.

Finding lugers for less than 600 is possible, if you want to look around and wait. Personally I would write down what was said here and talk to the shop or owner or whatever, also ask to check the bore condition.

Ed

calibrator · 08-29-2011, 10:11 PM

I re-straw parts quite nicely with an electric paint stripper and some 3 in 1 oil for quenching. Strip parts with white vinegar and re-polish with 320 grit wet or dry. I also use a jewlers file to sharpen the grooved and checkered parts,

"What the Hey", it's a refinished shooter anyway, right?

Redbone311 · 09-01-2011, 01:22 PM

Thank you all for all your help. It was very much appreciated.
I had never actually even seen a Luger until a day before I came across this one. Total co-incidence. And then stumbled onto the one I got.
I have bought the gun, and am now anxiously awaiting it's arrival!
Looks like I'm another guy hooked on Lugers.
I've been spending some time reading and learning about Lugers on this forum. I had not idea there was so much to it. Very interesting for sure.
Looking forward to learning more and conversing with you all.
Thanks again,
Dave

08-29-2011, 03:36 PM	#1
Redbone311 User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1st Luger - Is this one OK? Hello all, My name is Dave and I'm looking to buy my first Luger. A guy offered this one up for sale at $575 as a shooter. I would appreciate anyone and everyone's opinion on it. It's a 1920 DWM all number match - except the toggle. Believed to be reblued, and I don't see any strawing. No rust - and very nice bore. I'm not looking for a super collecter. Just a some time shooter and interesting gun to own. Is it OK to shoot these quite a bit or am I risking not being able to get parts later if something breaks. Or buy something better? OR... ????? Is it a fair price? Thank you all for any and all help. Dave Last edited by Redbone311; 08-29-2011 at 07:49 PM. Reason: restore 3rd photo

08-29-2011, 03:47 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	oh, I hate photobucket welcome to the forum Dave $575 is a good price for a reblued 9mm luger, this one looks very nice and yes it should be strawed, but what the heck. Shooters aren't always dependable, can be a mixture of magazines or parts being weird. Ask if its been shot? That said, I would buy most lugers that look nice like this for $500-$600 most any day 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

08-29-2011, 07:41 PM	#7
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Stock lug has been ground off...Grips are new repros...Mag is a repro...$575 is IMO high for this Luger...but I'm sure you could part it out and get your money back...I know; I'm prejudiced against lugless lugers...It's my upbringing...Everybody else is buying these up as fast as they can...I'm just a Luger Lug Snob... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

08-29-2011, 09:07 PM	#9
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	Good catch Postino, but to me, a shooter is a shooter The stock lug is on the back strap and most lugers have them, you can put on a stock and make it a mini rifle, HOWEVER that said, it is only allowed on artillery, navy and a few other lugers, NOT 4 inch ones. It is illegal in the USA to attach a stock to a pistol. Why did the germans put stock lugs on? did they use stocks on 4 inch lugers? No, it is highly doubtful if they ever did that. but, you could use that as a means of possibly getting the price down. It doesn't change the view I have of its value, the only thing is if the lug was ground down too far and goes into the handle / through the handle, I have seen that, but it would be obvious. Finding lugers for less than 600 is possible, if you want to look around and wait. Personally I would write down what was said here and talk to the shop or owner or whatever, also ask to check the bore condition. 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

08-29-2011, 03:50 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I think that it looks like a nice shooter and worth that money. And FYI you can do the straw coloring in your own kitchen quite easily. 9mm or .30 cal? Parts are available. You might ask for a 3 day shooting inspection period to make sure that it functiuons correctly, or have him meet you at a range. Welcome. dju

08-29-2011, 04:17 PM	#4
CptCurl User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Botetourt County, Virginia Posts: 120 Thanks: 93 Thanked 140 Times in 46 Posts	I'm curious about doing straw colors in the kitchen. Nice shooter and worth the price, I think. Curl

08-29-2011, 04:43 PM	#5
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	If you search the archives, you will find a how-to on strawing. Basically it amounts to stripping the bluing off (toilet bowl cleaner works well), then polishing the parts. Clean the parts well, then heat the oven to a certain specified temp, and put them in until the correct shade of color is reached. And your wife will love you for using her oven to bake gun parts... dju

08-29-2011, 05:44 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	David, i have never attempted this before, and I think i will, i have a shooter that was reblued and it would be a good test subject. Ed

08-29-2011, 07:48 PM	#8
Redbone311 User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lug???? What and where is the lug? What does it do? etc??? Thanks for all your input guys. I'm learning. I was just about to buy it. ON the fence now. Any more OP's?

08-29-2011, 10:11 PM	#10
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 315 Thanks: 55 Thanked 244 Times in 93 Posts	I re-straw parts quite nicely with an electric paint stripper and some 3 in 1 oil for quenching. Strip parts with white vinegar and re-polish with 320 grit wet or dry. I also use a jewlers file to sharpen the grooved and checkered parts, "What the Hey", it's a refinished shooter anyway, right?

09-01-2011, 01:22 PM	#11
Redbone311 User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you all for all your help. It was very much appreciated. I had never actually even seen a Luger until a day before I came across this one. Total co-incidence. And then stumbled onto the one I got. I have bought the gun, and am now anxiously awaiting it's arrival! Looks like I'm another guy hooked on Lugers. I've been spending some time reading and learning about Lugers on this forum. I had not idea there was so much to it. Very interesting for sure. Looking forward to learning more and conversing with you all. Thanks again, Dave