Swiss cheese Luger

Mauser9x57 · 03-16-2020, 06:29 PM

I named this Swiss cheese because I thought some of you knowledgeable people might shoot holes in what I was told when I bought this pistol.
The story was that this is a 1920 rework that was sent to Switzerland, The 7.65mm barrel was then installed by the Swiss and has no proof marks.
The numbers match but some parts have no number. The magazine is unnumbered with a wooden bottom. I had a 1920 rework before with the typical 3.75" barrel, and the chamber date and stock lug ground off. I know if this is a 1920 it is not typical.
So is this as I was told or something put together by Billy Bob and associates? I bought it for a shooter price. I am sure I don't need to say I am new here and am no photographer. Thank you.
I am somewhat of a weirdo because I am only interested in 7.65's with 4.75" or longer barrels. They are beautiful to me.
Dave

Mauser9x57 · 03-16-2020, 08:54 PM

I forgot to switch magazines. My son and I took it shooting, and I put in a Mecgar and forgot to change back. I had some Fiocchi and this pistol hated it. I saw PPU was recommended here so I ordered some but haven't tried it yet.

Major Tom · 03-17-2020, 05:35 AM

Good looking pistol!

DonVoigt · 03-17-2020, 09:58 AM

It is truly a mixmaster.

A grip safety with a lug almost has to be an ex-Navy pistol; commercial grip safety pistols had no lug at all- they were "slick backs". There appears to be evidence of previous safety markings that have been altered, which could indicate a modified first type Navy frame.

The 1915 dated receiver is military and would have been in 9mm when made.

When or who put it together is not likely to every be known with any certainty; I'd discount completely the Swiss story; though anything is possible.

JMHO.

Stucki · 03-17-2020, 02:07 PM

It‘s possible that the pistol was converted to „Swiss standard“ sometime in Switzerland. I know e.g. from byf 42, which was converted in a similar way. The grip safety was added in the Waffenfabrik Bern and the barrel was changed in a gun shop in Bern.

Sergio Natali · 03-18-2020, 10:40 AM

A bit of a mixmaster but it's quite nice.

Yakman · 03-18-2020, 04:55 PM

I'm going agree with Stucki's reply as being the most plausible. Had the frame been from a Navy with a stock lug and grip safety it would have been a long frame. This frame is short to fit the short 1915 receiver. I agree it's most likely Swiss modified with the grip safety added. The non-military Swiss barrel doesn't have to be proofed.

I'd like to see beneath the safety lever to see if it is now an up-safety with the lower area marked or polished.

Jack

Mauser9x57 · 03-18-2020, 10:09 PM

The safety is on with lever up and lower area of frame is polished just like the rest of the pistol. I thought it must be a P08 reworked, but I definitely don't qualify as an authority. Anyway it sounds like the story could be true, even if we don't know for certain.
I actually wish the stock lug was ground off when the rest of the modifications were performed. The ones without just point better. Don't worry, I'm not planning any alterations. I have a 06/73 in 7.65 with a 6" barrel and one of these days I'm going to get a "real" 1906. They are the ultimate to me.
Thank you all for your help and kind words and thank you so much for the great directions which allowed me to post pictures my first try.
Dave

DonVoigt · 03-18-2020, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakman

I'm going agree with Stucki's reply as being the most plausible. Had the frame been from a Navy with a stock lug and grip safety it would have been a long frame. This frame is short to fit the short 1915 receiver. I agree it's most likely Swiss modified with the grip safety added. The non-military Swiss barrel doesn't have to be proofed.

I'd like to see beneath the safety lever to see if it is now an up-safety with the lower area marked or polished.

Jack

The 1916/1917 navy frames were short; many long frames have been shortened over the years also.
Of course if the frame was modified by the Swiss by adding a grip safety it could just as easily be any P 08 type frame and not necessarily a Navy frame with original grip safety.

Close examination of the grip safety installation should discern whether it was added or not.

03-16-2020, 06:29 PM	#1
Mauser9x57 User Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 15 Thanks: 27 Thanked 11 Times in 2 Posts	Swiss cheese Luger I named this Swiss cheese because I thought some of you knowledgeable people might shoot holes in what I was told when I bought this pistol. The story was that this is a 1920 rework that was sent to Switzerland, The 7.65mm barrel was then installed by the Swiss and has no proof marks. The numbers match but some parts have no number. The magazine is unnumbered with a wooden bottom. I had a 1920 rework before with the typical 3.75" barrel, and the chamber date and stock lug ground off. I know if this is a 1920 it is not typical. So is this as I was told or something put together by Billy Bob and associates? I bought it for a shooter price. I am sure I don't need to say I am new here and am no photographer. Thank you. I am somewhat of a weirdo because I am only interested in 7.65's with 4.75" or longer barrels. They are beautiful to me. Dave Attached Thumbnails

03-17-2020, 05:35 AM	#3
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	Good looking pistol! __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

03-17-2020, 09:58 AM	#4
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	It is truly a mixmaster. A grip safety with a lug almost has to be an ex-Navy pistol; commercial grip safety pistols had no lug at all- they were "slick backs". There appears to be evidence of previous safety markings that have been altered, which could indicate a modified first type Navy frame. The 1915 dated receiver is military and would have been in 9mm when made. When or who put it together is not likely to every be known with any certainty; I'd discount completely the Swiss story; though anything is possible. JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-18-2020, 10:40 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	A bit of a mixmaster but it's quite nice. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

03-16-2020, 08:54 PM	#2
Mauser9x57 User Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 15 Thanks: 27 Thanked 11 Times in 2 Posts	I forgot to switch magazines. My son and I took it shooting, and I put in a Mecgar and forgot to change back. I had some Fiocchi and this pistol hated it. I saw PPU was recommended here so I ordered some but haven't tried it yet.

03-17-2020, 02:07 PM	#5
Stucki User Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 84 Thanks: 1 Thanked 130 Times in 34 Posts	It‘s possible that the pistol was converted to „Swiss standard“ sometime in Switzerland. I know e.g. from byf 42, which was converted in a similar way. The grip safety was added in the Waffenfabrik Bern and the barrel was changed in a gun shop in Bern.

03-18-2020, 04:55 PM	#7
Yakman User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 119 Thanks: 881 Thanked 81 Times in 40 Posts	I'm going agree with Stucki's reply as being the most plausible. Had the frame been from a Navy with a stock lug and grip safety it would have been a long frame. This frame is short to fit the short 1915 receiver. I agree it's most likely Swiss modified with the grip safety added. The non-military Swiss barrel doesn't have to be proofed. I'd like to see beneath the safety lever to see if it is now an up-safety with the lower area marked or polished. Jack

03-18-2020, 10:09 PM	#8
Mauser9x57 User Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Eastern Washington State Posts: 15 Thanks: 27 Thanked 11 Times in 2 Posts	The safety is on with lever up and lower area of frame is polished just like the rest of the pistol. I thought it must be a P08 reworked, but I definitely don't qualify as an authority. Anyway it sounds like the story could be true, even if we don't know for certain. I actually wish the stock lug was ground off when the rest of the modifications were performed. The ones without just point better. Don't worry, I'm not planning any alterations. I have a 06/73 in 7.65 with a 6" barrel and one of these days I'm going to get a "real" 1906. They are the ultimate to me. Thank you all for your help and kind words and thank you so much for the great directions which allowed me to post pictures my first try. Dave