Hello and questions, questions, questions

4 Scale · 05-14-2015, 09:41 AM

Lots of good advice in this thread. I am relatively new to Lugers and started by seeking a matching WWII era shooter as well. My experience:

-Knowledge and patience are key. If you are short on either you are at risk to overpay, buy a poorer specimen or both.
-Knowledge sources: books, visit shows, talk to collectors, read the forum(s).
-Matching WWII (Mauser) shooters are a bit of a tricky proposition. These are desirable and therefore tend to cost a bit more than other eras. A matching WWII (Mauser) Luger with good or better everything (bore, finish, grips, function) costs $1,100-$1,500 between collectors, higher if purchased from a dealer. As finish, bore, grip quality declines or parts begin to mis-match, price declines. But there is a range. It takes some combination of work, patience and luck to find good weapons toward the lower end of the range.
-I would counsel get a relatively inexpensive shooter, enjoy it for a few months and go from there. My first Luger was an all-matching WWII Mauser with significant finish loss but an excellent bore. I learned that it makes me very nervous and detracts a bit from enjoying the shooting experience to fire an all-matching gun due to the risk of breakage. I still have the gun and shoot it a little, but have since acquired a mis-matched WWII Mauser in good to very good cosmetic condition that I find more satisfying to shoot. I don't worry about breaking parts and it addresses my personal preference to shoot a nice-looking pistol. My point is, start with an inexpensive shooter and you will learn a lot about both Lugers and what you really want.

Good luck to you in your search.

kurusu · 05-14-2015, 12:01 PM

"Matching" and "shooter" are seldom used in the same sentence in the collecting world.

A good shooter would be an almost all matching late Mauser (from 1939 to 1942) with a good bore.

Lugers are not fragile. They are even quite tough (maybe more than the 1911). But things do break and in a Luger most of those things are numbered.

Sonofeugene · 05-21-2015, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurusu

"Matching" and "shooter" are seldom used in the same sentence in the collecting world.

I've got one of those "seldom" shooters. It's an all numbers matching '42 (except the mag) that has seen some polishing and re-bluing.

kurusu · 05-21-2015, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonofeugene

I've got one of those "seldom" shooters. It's an all numbers matching '42 (except the mag) that has seen some polishing and re-bluing.

That makes it one of the best possible shooters one can get.

boogieman · 05-21-2015, 12:36 PM

Not sure if I asked this or not. I am under the impresion that the best of the Lugers (as far as function and durability) are those made just prior to and at the beginning of WWII. Would that be Mauser "42 marked Lugers only?

kurusu · 05-22-2015, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogieman

Not sure if I asked this or not. I am under the impresion that the best of the Lugers (as far as function and durability) are those made just prior to and at the beginning of WWII. Would that be Mauser "42 marked Lugers only?

Mauser marked S/42; 42 and BYF from 1937 to 1942 any of them would be a good choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

I'm pretty comfortable with the later S/42, 42, and BYF guns myself. They say the metallurgy was at it's peak toward the end.
dju

And I didn't see your post that said pretty much the same thing I did.

05-14-2015, 09:41 AM	#1
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 490 Times in 251 Posts	Lots of good advice in this thread. I am relatively new to Lugers and started by seeking a matching WWII era shooter as well. My experience: -Knowledge and patience are key. If you are short on either you are at risk to overpay, buy a poorer specimen or both. -Knowledge sources: books, visit shows, talk to collectors, read the forum(s). -Matching WWII (Mauser) shooters are a bit of a tricky proposition. These are desirable and therefore tend to cost a bit more than other eras. A matching WWII (Mauser) Luger with good or better everything (bore, finish, grips, function) costs $1,100-$1,500 between collectors, higher if purchased from a dealer. As finish, bore, grip quality declines or parts begin to mis-match, price declines. But there is a range. It takes some combination of work, patience and luck to find good weapons toward the lower end of the range. -I would counsel get a relatively inexpensive shooter, enjoy it for a few months and go from there. My first Luger was an all-matching WWII Mauser with significant finish loss but an excellent bore. I learned that it makes me very nervous and detracts a bit from enjoying the shooting experience to fire an all-matching gun due to the risk of breakage. I still have the gun and shoot it a little, but have since acquired a mis-matched WWII Mauser in good to very good cosmetic condition that I find more satisfying to shoot. I don't worry about breaking parts and it addresses my personal preference to shoot a nice-looking pistol. My point is, start with an inexpensive shooter and you will learn a lot about both Lugers and what you really want. Good luck to you in your search.

05-14-2015, 12:01 PM	#2
kurusu User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 2,679 Thanked 930 Times in 509 Posts	"Matching" and "shooter" are seldom used in the same sentence in the collecting world. A good shooter would be an almost all matching late Mauser (from 1939 to 1942) with a good bore. Lugers are not fragile. They are even quite tough (maybe more than the 1911). But things do break and in a Luger most of those things are numbered.

05-21-2015, 12:36 PM	#5
boogieman User Join Date: May 2015 Location: S. NJ Posts: 38 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Not sure if I asked this or not. I am under the impresion that the best of the Lugers (as far as function and durability) are those made just prior to and at the beginning of WWII. Would that be Mauser "42 marked Lugers only?