1917 Artillery Luger

AKstranger · 08-27-2011, 10:50 PM

I just bought my first luger the other day. its a 1917 artillery with all matching serial numbers except for the clip and stock( which i dont believe to be a original stock although it has a serial number on it as well). It is in really good shape and i got a great deal on it. Im hoping to make this gun last for generations as it has some sentimental value. My great grandfather fought in WW1 and one night spotted a candle light in no mans land. He went to check it out and found a German man reading the bible in his fox hole alone. he spoke to the man and said hed spare his life if he handed over his luger. Thanking my great g-pa he greatfully handed over the gun. Unfortunately that gun got lost over the years but this is the same year and model and it means a great deal to me. My main question is how should i care for the gun in order to make it last forever. I know how to clean guns and such but im concerned about the wood and also wondering what i should put on the metal to protect it.
Thanks a million

Ron Wood · 08-27-2011, 11:08 PM

Looks like a very nice example. The stock is beautiful, but unfortunately does not go with the gun and is illegal to use with it. You should try to find someone that has an original artillery stock for sale (sometimes see them on eBay) that has had the stock attacment iron removed and use the iron from this stock to make a correct, and legal, stock.
More photos of the gun showing some of the detail would be appreciated.

AKstranger · 08-27-2011, 11:44 PM

what do the symbols on the right side of the gun mean?

AKstranger · 08-27-2011, 11:46 PM

also i was aware the stock wasnt correct and basically got it for free however i didnt know it was illegal. Why is this?

Ron Wood · 08-27-2011, 11:58 PM

The symbols are individual inspector's marks and were applied as the gun went through the production process.
The stock is illegal because under BATFE rules only the proper stock may be attached to this Luger, i.e. an original or reproduction stock of the proper dimensions and configuration. Otherwise it is considered a "short barreled rifle" and subject to restrictions and licensing.
Free is good

. Take the iron off and store it away until you come up with the appropriate wood.

AKstranger · 08-28-2011, 12:01 AM

cool thanks for the info, i'm real new to this hope i made a decent choice!

Ron Wood · 08-28-2011, 12:13 AM

From what I can see (the photos have a lot of glare so it is hard to tell) it looks like you did well (depending upon what you paid

)

AKstranger · 08-28-2011, 02:10 AM

I got it for 1400 i wasnt positive it was a good price, the guy inherited over 1000 guns and had over 53 lugers by the time i got there when 3/4s of his collection was already sold. He was selling them for good prices as far as i know because of the amount of guns he had and how they had become somewhat of a burden to him. I bought it with admittedly little knowledge. The pieces with the most glare (which i believe are supposed to be a brown color) are almost silver with wear but the blue is in good shape in comparison to all the others i saw there except 2 beautiful 1902 carbines. if you could help guide me to what i might put on the metal to preserve it i would greatly appreciate it

lugerholsterrepair · 08-28-2011, 05:43 AM

Taylor..a frequent application of oil will do nicely to preserve your pistol. I use a shaving brush to lightly coat my pistols every time they are handled. I just use a common household/sewing machine type oil. It's not the fancy gun oils that do the trick, it's using any type of oil fairly often. Storage is key..keep it in a safe dry area and check it often. Look under the grips for corrosion and get rust off whereever you see it.
You can search the Forum for commonly asked questions..There is a ton of information on here.
Now you can find all the accessories that go along with your pistol! There are a lot of them for an Artillery!

hgreer2 · 08-28-2011, 01:27 PM

PM sent.

Harry

cirelaw · 10-19-2011, 10:57 PM

Very good solid recommendations especially the sewing machine oil. I have sccrewed up using WD-40 until you corrected me!

08-27-2011, 10:50 PM	#1
AKstranger User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1917 Artillery Luger I just bought my first luger the other day. its a 1917 artillery with all matching serial numbers except for the clip and stock( which i dont believe to be a original stock although it has a serial number on it as well). It is in really good shape and i got a great deal on it. Im hoping to make this gun last for generations as it has some sentimental value. My great grandfather fought in WW1 and one night spotted a candle light in no mans land. He went to check it out and found a German man reading the bible in his fox hole alone. he spoke to the man and said hed spare his life if he handed over his luger. Thanking my great g-pa he greatfully handed over the gun. Unfortunately that gun got lost over the years but this is the same year and model and it means a great deal to me. My main question is how should i care for the gun in order to make it last forever. I know how to clean guns and such but im concerned about the wood and also wondering what i should put on the metal to protect it. Thanks a million Attached Thumbnails

08-27-2011, 11:08 PM	#2
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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Looks like a very nice example. The stock is beautiful, but unfortunately does not go with the gun and is illegal to use with it. You should try to find someone that has an original artillery stock for sale (sometimes see them on eBay) that has had the stock attacment iron removed and use the iron from this stock to make a correct, and legal, stock. More photos of the gun showing some of the detail would be appreciated. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

08-27-2011, 11:44 PM	#3
AKstranger User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	these are some more pictures what do the symbols on the right side of the gun mean? Attached Thumbnails

08-27-2011, 11:58 PM	#5
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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	The symbols are individual inspector's marks and were applied as the gun went through the production process. The stock is illegal because under BATFE rules only the proper stock may be attached to this Luger, i.e. an original or reproduction stock of the proper dimensions and configuration. Otherwise it is considered a "short barreled rifle" and subject to restrictions and licensing. Free is good. Take the iron off and store it away until you come up with the appropriate wood. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

08-28-2011, 12:13 AM	#7
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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	From what I can see (the photos have a lot of glare so it is hard to tell) it looks like you did well (depending upon what you paid ) __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

08-27-2011, 11:46 PM	#4
AKstranger User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	also i was aware the stock wasnt correct and basically got it for free however i didnt know it was illegal. Why is this?

08-28-2011, 12:01 AM	#6
AKstranger User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	cool thanks for the info, i'm real new to this hope i made a decent choice!

08-28-2011, 02:10 AM	#8
AKstranger User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I got it for 1400 i wasnt positive it was a good price, the guy inherited over 1000 guns and had over 53 lugers by the time i got there when 3/4s of his collection was already sold. He was selling them for good prices as far as i know because of the amount of guns he had and how they had become somewhat of a burden to him. I bought it with admittedly little knowledge. The pieces with the most glare (which i believe are supposed to be a brown color) are almost silver with wear but the blue is in good shape in comparison to all the others i saw there except 2 beautiful 1902 carbines. if you could help guide me to what i might put on the metal to preserve it i would greatly appreciate it

08-28-2011, 05:43 AM	#9
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,931 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Taylor..a frequent application of oil will do nicely to preserve your pistol. I use a shaving brush to lightly coat my pistols every time they are handled. I just use a common household/sewing machine type oil. It's not the fancy gun oils that do the trick, it's using any type of oil fairly often. Storage is key..keep it in a safe dry area and check it often. Look under the grips for corrosion and get rust off whereever you see it. You can search the Forum for commonly asked questions..There is a ton of information on here. Now you can find all the accessories that go along with your pistol! There are a lot of them for an Artillery! __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

08-28-2011, 01:27 PM	#10
hgreer2 Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 309 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	PM sent. Harry

10-19-2011, 10:57 PM	#11
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Very good solid recommendations especially the sewing machine oil. I have sccrewed up using WD-40 until you corrected me!