Appraising a Luger.....

Sonofeugene · 10-22-2013, 05:11 PM

Well, I just got back from a visit to Mike at Krausewerks in San Mateo. Definately an old school shop. The vibe was good and the Mike was quite personable as well as knowledgeable. I told him my father paid 35 bucks for his Luger and he said he paid the same amount for his first Luger, back in the 60's when he was a kid and first started collecting. He's got quite a collection in his shop. Not only Lugers in various forms, but other old and collectable weapons. It's just fun to poke your nose around and check them out.

Anyway, it's been refinished as you all said. I was kinda hoping for it to be original, but what the heck. Mike also had a look at the original grips which I brought along and stated they were most likely original to the gun. And everyone there got a kick out of the grips my father made. None had ever seen anything like it.

I knew that the magazine was not matching to the gun (from a number standpoint), but did not know that it wasn't even correct for the period. Mike took one look at it and pronouced it a magazine from 1920 and for a Luger made in another country. Or something like that. It's an older sheet metal design and was a little banged up, resulting in the follower sticking in the last bit of travel. It has some value, even though it's a bit beat up, so he offered to exchange it for a period correct extruded magazine. He produced 6 for me to choose from and now I know have a magazine that fits the gun properly and will feed properly as well. He also said that the late model Lugers were fitted with a stronger main spring and shoot best with a hotter load, so I bought a box of Federal HST 147 grain hollow points (a law enforcement load). I'll try them in the Luger, but they're really for my Glock 34.

Mike pronouced it a fine shooter so now I feel OK to fire the thing. 'Should be interesting.

Thanks again, all!

10-22-2013, 05:11 PM	#30
Sonofeugene User Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 157 Thanks: 1 Thanked 118 Times in 64 Posts	Well, I just got back from a visit to Mike at Krausewerks in San Mateo. Definately an old school shop. The vibe was good and the Mike was quite personable as well as knowledgeable. I told him my father paid 35 bucks for his Luger and he said he paid the same amount for his first Luger, back in the 60's when he was a kid and first started collecting. He's got quite a collection in his shop. Not only Lugers in various forms, but other old and collectable weapons. It's just fun to poke your nose around and check them out. Anyway, it's been refinished as you all said. I was kinda hoping for it to be original, but what the heck. Mike also had a look at the original grips which I brought along and stated they were most likely original to the gun. And everyone there got a kick out of the grips my father made. None had ever seen anything like it. I knew that the magazine was not matching to the gun (from a number standpoint), but did not know that it wasn't even correct for the period. Mike took one look at it and pronouced it a magazine from 1920 and for a Luger made in another country. Or something like that. It's an older sheet metal design and was a little banged up, resulting in the follower sticking in the last bit of travel. It has some value, even though it's a bit beat up, so he offered to exchange it for a period correct extruded magazine. He produced 6 for me to choose from and now I know have a magazine that fits the gun properly and will feed properly as well. He also said that the late model Lugers were fitted with a stronger main spring and shoot best with a hotter load, so I bought a box of Federal HST 147 grain hollow points (a law enforcement load). I'll try them in the Luger, but they're really for my Glock 34. Mike pronouced it a fine shooter so now I feel OK to fire the thing. 'Should be interesting. Thanks again, all!