new member

[michael grady]

Thanks guys...Sounds like very good advice. I am also restoring a 1917 Model T. I got very similar advice as I approached that hobby. I'm thinking we must be getting wisdom as we age, no?

I'll keep reading and ask for advice before buying one. I'm assuming, like model t's, there are actually quite a few out there to be had?

I'll order the other recomended books as well.

Any place you guys could suggest I go for a weekend or 1 day trip to see a lot of these guns and get more info on a one on one basis? Is there a "Luger Museum"?

Thanks again!

Michael

[guns3545]

Originally Posted by michael grady

Thanks guys...Sounds like very good advice. I am also restoring a 1917 Model T. I got very similar advice as I approached that hobby. I'm thinking we must be getting wisdom as we age, no?

I'll keep reading and ask for advice before buying one. I'm assuming, like model t's, there are actually quite a few out there to be had?

I'll order the other recomended books as well.

Any place you guys could suggest I go for a weekend or 1 day trip to see a lot of these guns and get more info on a one on one basis? Is there a "Luger Museum"?

Thanks again!

Michael

Michael,

Welcome to the Forum.

Having started collecting Lugers in 1961 and having made a lot of silly decisions, perhaps I am qualified to pass on a few words of advice before you run out and buy a lot of books.

First collecting Lugers can get very complicated. Plus expensive and prone to making mistakes if you are not "informed". There are almost 500 variations and sub-variations of the Luger.

1. First word of advice: Don't try to collect them all as I tried back in the 60s. Its truly an impossible task to do it right and effectively. You cannot be an expert in everything so specialization really helps.

2. Review the categories on this board. You see they span every era from the invention of the Luger and its early variations to the uses of the Luger in the Post World War II era. And everything else in between. Review some of the Posts. Each era has its own story and personality.

3. Find an era or theme that interests you. Buy the books that support that manufacturer or era. Become active in the sections of the Boards that support your interests and buy the books about the era and/or manufacturer in which you have an interest. You'll progress a lot lot faster and develop the expertise and experience that is required much faster.

I started trying to do everything and my collection ranges from the earliest Lugers made to the last ones. After about 25 years and about a third of the way to collecting all variations, luckily, a couple of my Luger collector friends persuaded me that trying to collect every variation was a virtually impossible task. I decided to concentrate on the Mauser era as well as Krieghoffs. I still have everything I managed to collect over almost 50 years but today only actively collect Mausers and HKs. And...most importantly, today I feel much more comfortable in what I am doing and in what I have achieved.

Bottom line: Focus is important.

You will find a lot of charlatans out there and sadly the prices of Lugers has grown to a point where it is worthwhile to create fakes or "improve" poor guns. That's the bad news.

The good news is that this board and the other Luger board are supported by many members who are truly experts in their field. After a few weeks "lurking" on the boards, it will be clear who are the true resources and who can help you.

The National Firearms Museum in Fairfax Virginia has a nice collection of guns. Visited there this summer. New Orleans has the Norton Museum and the WWII museum. Always interesting.

In Europe, there are several venues which have extensive Luger collections. The best are in Switzerland (the old museum has moved from Bern to the RUAG site and is tremendous, especially for early guns as Switzerland was the first country to adopt the Luger) and Germany.

Hope this helps and good luck collecting.

John