a new Luger <img BORDER="0" src='http://forum.rennlist.com/luger/pic.gif'>

Dwight Gruber · 04-21-2002, 03:50 AM

Picked up a new Luger today, so I have to show it off. After accumulating several shooter/project guns, I finally bought one which I am going to consider strictly a collector piece--its the first Luger I've managed to buy which has all original finish.

Its an S/42, 1936 chamber date, vet bringback (no papers). It retains quite a bit of blue, I wouldn't begin to try to estimate a percentage, and some rust spots which have been carded off pretty harshly. Although you can't tell from the scans, the strawed parts retain at least a trace of straw.

The grips...well, they're unfortunate, but at least that can be remedied. At least they give the gun evidence of being owned--sometimes it seem like high-dollar, pristine collector guns have always existed in a realm outside of human interaction.

--Dwight

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/S42newFORUM.jpg

Dwight Gruber · 04-21-2002, 04:05 AM

So, I picked up this Luger out of layaway on the way to the range today. Its my collector gun. Well, I'm at the range with my S/42 shooter and my Frankenartillery, and decide that I should at least put a magazine through the new gun, just because it is there. So, I slip five rounds of 9mm into the magazine, seat it into the pistol, rack the action...and proceed to shoot the eyes out of the target!

I am amazed. This gun shoots groups a full third tighter than my shooter S/42, and even shoots tighter than my Artillery, hand-held.

So now I am really in a quandry. Do I go against my intentions and shoot this gun regularly? It certainly isn't in such pristine shape that I will seriously hurt the value if something breaks. And it really does shoot tighter--consistently, through a 200-round afternoon test--than any other gun I own, Luger or no.

I started on this Luger collector journey with a decision that I would only own Lugers I could shoot. After the rush of buying several shootable guns, I thought I was over that phase, and could now buy collector guns with a clear mind.

So much for good intentions, I guess the future will see how it all turns out.

--Dwight

04-21-2002, 10:07 AM

will shoot better than the other guns!

Interesting quandry, I think that as a low end collector (so to speak, no offense), that I would shoot it every now and then.

ed

Roadkill · 04-21-2002, 11:07 AM

Now you have shooters, almost but not quite but could possibly be a collector OR a shooter that shoots very well so shoot it sometimes but not always, and now you need a true collector but don't shoot it but once cause it might end up as ........ oh well, you get the message. Speaking of shooting, not a bad idea. Be back later. Nice gun. Congrats.

Roadkill

Orv Reichert · 04-21-2002, 12:42 PM

Are those grips IVORY or just plastic? Normally, when I see grips with a logo and turning yellow, they are real ivory...If so, they are fragile and should be protected, too.

Considering the external condition, I would not hesitate to shoot that gun!

Orv Reichert

Dwight Gruber · 04-21-2002, 02:29 PM

Plasstic, I'm afraid, although they feel different than most plastic I'm familiar with, and they have a slight marble pattern which doesn't show up well in the scan. And, frankly, they may be paart of the reason the gun shoots so well for me. These grips are way too thick; I have large hands, and they are much more 'hand-filling' than proper Luger grips.

--Dwight

Kyrie · 04-21-2002, 09:03 PM

Hi Dwight,

I agree with Orv concerning shooting this one. But if those are real ivory grip panels IÃ¢??d suggest taking them off and putting them someplace safe before shooting the pistol. Given the current (and likely future) ban on ivory, they are very probably worth more than the pistol, and will continue to appreciate in value as the years pass.

Best regards,

Kyrie

Roadkill · 04-21-2002, 09:17 PM

I saw a dealer on Antiques Roadshow determine if an object was ivory or plastic, seems very diffcult to tell in the collecting business, he scraped a tiny amount off the bottom and burned it. If it smells like oil & smokes its plastic. If it smells like burning hair then its ivory. Might want to try.

Roadkill

Dwight Gruber · 04-21-2002, 10:07 PM

I have a set of ivory grips. Side-by-side, there's no comparison--the yellow ones are definitely not ivory. For that matter, it is clear just from looking at them or holding them--its ambiguous from the scan, there is no question in reality.

--Dwight

04-21-2002, 03:50 AM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,312 Times in 430 Posts	a new Luger Picked up a new Luger today, so I have to show it off. After accumulating several shooter/project guns, I finally bought one which I am going to consider strictly a collector piece--its the first Luger I've managed to buy which has all original finish. Its an S/42, 1936 chamber date, vet bringback (no papers). It retains quite a bit of blue, I wouldn't begin to try to estimate a percentage, and some rust spots which have been carded off pretty harshly. Although you can't tell from the scans, the strawed parts retain at least a trace of straw. The grips...well, they're unfortunate, but at least that can be remedied. At least they give the gun evidence of being owned--sometimes it seem like high-dollar, pristine collector guns have always existed in a realm outside of human interaction. --Dwight http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/S42newFORUM.jpg

04-21-2002, 04:05 AM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,312 Times in 430 Posts	and a quandry So, I picked up this Luger out of layaway on the way to the range today. Its my collector gun. Well, I'm at the range with my S/42 shooter and my Frankenartillery, and decide that I should at least put a magazine through the new gun, just because it is there. So, I slip five rounds of 9mm into the magazine, seat it into the pistol, rack the action...and proceed to shoot the eyes out of the target! I am amazed. This gun shoots groups a full third tighter than my shooter S/42, and even shoots tighter than my Artillery, hand-held. So now I am really in a quandry. Do I go against my intentions and shoot this gun regularly? It certainly isn't in such pristine shape that I will seriously hurt the value if something breaks. And it really does shoot tighter--consistently, through a 200-round afternoon test--than any other gun I own, Luger or no. I started on this Luger collector journey with a decision that I would only own Lugers I could shoot. After the rush of buying several shootable guns, I thought I was over that phase, and could now buy collector guns with a clear mind. So much for good intentions, I guess the future will see how it all turns out. --Dwight

04-21-2002, 10:07 AM	#3
66mustang Guest Posts: n/a	Never check to see if it will shoot better than the other guns! Interesting quandry, I think that as a low end collector (so to speak, no offense), that I would shoot it every now and then. ed

04-21-2002, 11:07 AM	#4
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Never check to see if it Now you have shooters, almost but not quite but could possibly be a collector OR a shooter that shoots very well so shoot it sometimes but not always, and now you need a true collector but don't shoot it but once cause it might end up as ........ oh well, you get the message. Speaking of shooting, not a bad idea. Be back later. Nice gun. Congrats. Roadkill

04-21-2002, 12:42 PM	#5
Orv Reichert RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SW Washington State Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Grips Are those grips IVORY or just plastic? Normally, when I see grips with a logo and turning yellow, they are real ivory...If so, they are fragile and should be protected, too. Considering the external condition, I would not hesitate to shoot that gun! Orv Reichert

04-21-2002, 02:29 PM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,312 Times in 430 Posts	Re: Grips Plasstic, I'm afraid, although they feel different than most plastic I'm familiar with, and they have a slight marble pattern which doesn't show up well in the scan. And, frankly, they may be paart of the reason the gun shoots so well for me. These grips are way too thick; I have large hands, and they are much more 'hand-filling' than proper Luger grips. --Dwight

04-21-2002, 09:03 PM	#7
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Grips Hi Dwight, I agree with Orv concerning shooting this one. But if those are real ivory grip panels IÃ¢??d suggest taking them off and putting them someplace safe before shooting the pistol. Given the current (and likely future) ban on ivory, they are very probably worth more than the pistol, and will continue to appreciate in value as the years pass. Best regards, Kyrie

04-21-2002, 09:17 PM	#8
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Grips I saw a dealer on Antiques Roadshow determine if an object was ivory or plastic, seems very diffcult to tell in the collecting business, he scraped a tiny amount off the bottom and burned it. If it smells like oil & smokes its plastic. If it smells like burning hair then its ivory. Might want to try. Roadkill

04-21-2002, 10:07 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,312 Times in 430 Posts	Re: Grips I have a set of ivory grips. Side-by-side, there's no comparison--the yellow ones are definitely not ivory. For that matter, it is clear just from looking at them or holding them--its ambiguous from the scan, there is no question in reality. --Dwight