Talking to an older Luger collector - Page 2

sheepherder · 02-09-2017, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...$.02 (I accept PayPal)...

Hey! I finally have money in my PayPal account! Thanks, appreciative forum member!

Zonaken · 02-12-2017, 01:58 PM

Interesting debate...

So, as a newbie to this whole Luger world, I am frankly stumped!
I am reading & studying everything I can get in front of me, but am having a tough time figuring out which way I should go.
Do I buy an affordable collector or a nice shooter?
I definitely want to shoot the firearm, not thousands and thousands of rounds, but certainly want to get it out to the range several times a year.
But I'd never forgive myself if I ruined something historical.
...and I do want something reasonably faithful to the iconic nature of this firearm.

In general, how fragile are these Lugers?
What kind of failure rate can one realistically expect out of a 70+/- year old Luger?
Finally, how difficult is it to swap parts and still have a good functioning pistol?
Thanks - in advance.
Zk

rhuff · 02-12-2017, 02:47 PM

Sounds to me as though you will "need" two(2) Lugers. (1) for fondling and looking at, (1) one for the range= 2 Lugers. Lugers tend to multiply in many folk's safes anyway.

If you want to shoot your Luger and have no remorse if an extractor, breechblock, etc. breaks, then own a nice good shooter. I have shot mine over the years quite a bit(regularly), and have broken 2-3 extractors, and one breechblock. These guns are old, some over 100 years, and there is no determining if/when a part is going to break.....but it can/does happen.

Perhaps you should focus on a nice clean shooter, and enjoy and learn about it while shooting it. The "Luger Bug" will likely bite, and you will want at least one more. It happens fairly regularly.

4 Scale · 02-12-2017, 08:35 PM

For a newer collector the advice to get a shooter is sound. You'll learn about the pistol and it will help you discover where your interests lie. Re: affordable collectible or nice shooter, I'd lean in the shooter direction for a first Luger.

Lugers are not fragile. Like anything mechanical they may require adjustment and parts replacement at times.

On parts swapping -sometimes things fit and sometimes they don't. While Lugers were finely machined for their time, in general manufacturing is far more precise nowadays. Luger parts were hand-fitted at the factory to accommodate the manufacturing variances. I wouldn't advise a new collector to swap parts.

Zonaken · 02-12-2017, 10:12 PM

That's good advice.
Perhaps best to get the feel of things with a "shooter" and not have too much remorse if something goes south...
Thanks rhuff & 4 Scale
...going back to study some more... LOL
Narrowing in on something framed in WWII but perhaps some mixed parts.
Hey, maybe I'll pick up one that taught someone else the hard way!
Sorry, if that's kind of mean spirited...

Edit to add: Apologize for highjacking this thread - I found another thread more applicable...

RShaw · 02-12-2017, 11:25 PM

Hello Zonaken,
I read your post with interest because I am in the same position as you are. The first Luger I ever saw in real life I bought (last November). Turns out it's a collectible, and after much debate, I decided not to shoot it.

So, went in search of a nice shooter, which I found (through a forum member). Now have to wait until August to bring home my shooter (Dutch law). For me, breaking a serial numbered part and destroying a piece of history as well as taking a financial hit is not worth it. I now prefer to wait for the shooter, and fire away without being constantly nervous.

In the meantime, I'm reading books, asking questions, going through threads here and having fun. And shooting my shooter P38 (refinished ac43) which I acquired as part of the deal for my collectible Luger. (1917 DWM)

Details in earlier threads- "new collector forum" and "general discussions"

BTW- Tucson is a wonderful place- I went to the U of A for three years. Left to get married in the Netherlands in 1979.

Zonaken · 02-12-2017, 11:48 PM

RShaw - Small world huh?
UofA excellence spans the globe!!! Go Cats!

So much good info on here.
I've learned so much already but have a ton more to absorb.
Thanks to all for being patient with us rookies.

RShaw · 02-13-2017, 12:14 AM

True what you say. There's a wealth of information and experience here- unmatched anywhere else I think. In many ways this forum exists for rookies! You will do very well to consult the experts here when considering a purchase. Better- to buy from a forum member.

02-12-2017, 01:58 PM	#22
Zonaken User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Tucson Posts: 26 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Interesting debate... So, as a newbie to this whole Luger world, I am frankly stumped! I am reading & studying everything I can get in front of me, but am having a tough time figuring out which way I should go. Do I buy an affordable collector or a nice shooter? I definitely want to shoot the firearm, not thousands and thousands of rounds, but certainly want to get it out to the range several times a year. But I'd never forgive myself if I ruined something historical. ...and I do want something reasonably faithful to the iconic nature of this firearm. In general, how fragile are these Lugers? What kind of failure rate can one realistically expect out of a 70+/- year old Luger? Finally, how difficult is it to swap parts and still have a good functioning pistol? Thanks - in advance. Zk

02-12-2017, 02:47 PM	#23
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	Sounds to me as though you will "need" two(2) Lugers. (1) for fondling and looking at, (1) one for the range= 2 Lugers. Lugers tend to multiply in many folk's safes anyway. If you want to shoot your Luger and have no remorse if an extractor, breechblock, etc. breaks, then own a nice good shooter. I have shot mine over the years quite a bit(regularly), and have broken 2-3 extractors, and one breechblock. These guns are old, some over 100 years, and there is no determining if/when a part is going to break.....but it can/does happen. Perhaps you should focus on a nice clean shooter, and enjoy and learn about it while shooting it. The "Luger Bug" will likely bite, and you will want at least one more. It happens fairly regularly.

02-12-2017, 08:35 PM	#24
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 489 Times in 251 Posts	For a newer collector the advice to get a shooter is sound. You'll learn about the pistol and it will help you discover where your interests lie. Re: affordable collectible or nice shooter, I'd lean in the shooter direction for a first Luger. Lugers are not fragile. Like anything mechanical they may require adjustment and parts replacement at times. On parts swapping -sometimes things fit and sometimes they don't. While Lugers were finely machined for their time, in general manufacturing is far more precise nowadays. Luger parts were hand-fitted at the factory to accommodate the manufacturing variances. I wouldn't advise a new collector to swap parts.

02-12-2017, 10:12 PM	#25
Zonaken User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Tucson Posts: 26 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	That's good advice. Perhaps best to get the feel of things with a "shooter" and not have too much remorse if something goes south... Thanks rhuff & 4 Scale ...going back to study some more... LOL Narrowing in on something framed in WWII but perhaps some mixed parts. Hey, maybe I'll pick up one that taught someone else the hard way! Sorry, if that's kind of mean spirited... Edit to add: Apologize for highjacking this thread - I found another thread more applicable...

02-12-2017, 11:25 PM	#26
RShaw User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Venlo, the Netherlands Posts: 350 Thanks: 160 Thanked 170 Times in 90 Posts	Hello Zonaken, I read your post with interest because I am in the same position as you are. The first Luger I ever saw in real life I bought (last November). Turns out it's a collectible, and after much debate, I decided not to shoot it. So, went in search of a nice shooter, which I found (through a forum member). Now have to wait until August to bring home my shooter (Dutch law). For me, breaking a serial numbered part and destroying a piece of history as well as taking a financial hit is not worth it. I now prefer to wait for the shooter, and fire away without being constantly nervous. In the meantime, I'm reading books, asking questions, going through threads here and having fun. And shooting my shooter P38 (refinished ac43) which I acquired as part of the deal for my collectible Luger. (1917 DWM) Details in earlier threads- "new collector forum" and "general discussions" BTW- Tucson is a wonderful place- I went to the U of A for three years. Left to get married in the Netherlands in 1979.

02-12-2017, 11:48 PM	#27
Zonaken User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Tucson Posts: 26 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	RShaw - Small world huh? UofA excellence spans the globe!!! Go Cats! So much good info on here. I've learned so much already but have a ton more to absorb. Thanks to all for being patient with us rookies.

02-13-2017, 12:14 AM	#28
RShaw User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Venlo, the Netherlands Posts: 350 Thanks: 160 Thanked 170 Times in 90 Posts	True what you say. There's a wealth of information and experience here- unmatched anywhere else I think. In many ways this forum exists for rookies! You will do very well to consult the experts here when considering a purchase. Better- to buy from a forum member.