Are Luger collectors interested in Lahtis?

alex · 09-23-2002, 10:11 PM

I have been looking through firearms books of late. The Finnish/Swedish Lahti has a remarkable resemblance to the Luger. I'm curious...does this make it attractive to Luger collectors? Was the similarity an intentional design characteristic, and if so why? Is it a "better" Luger? (perish the thought!).

Just curious as to your opinions.

Regards, Alex

Thor · 09-23-2002, 10:17 PM

Lugers=31 ounces +- Lahtis=44 ounces +-
Lahtis "Crack me up"

unspellable · 09-23-2002, 10:19 PM

I have a half formed interest in the Lahti. As for better, that's an open ended argument. It's certainly built like a you know what. Much as it looks like a Luger, the design probably owes more to the Broomhandle. I guess you can say it's what you'd get if you tried to make a Broomhandle look like a Luger.

Hugh · 09-23-2002, 11:18 PM

shore wuda bin nice ifn Georg hada put a big ole nut lik thet on his Looger barels to mak thim esy ta tak off <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

AGE · 09-23-2002, 11:26 PM

The Luger is neeeat--the Lahti is ughhhly. Who could get excited by the Lahti?

Ron Wood · 09-24-2002, 12:12 AM

Hugh,
Once upon a time I bought a box full of Luger parts in Albuquerque. Had enough to build a Luger! One of the receivers was an American Eagle with a Lahti barrel, or at least a barrel made like a Lahti. It was easy to remove.

George Anderson · 09-24-2002, 06:21 AM

If one studies the Lahti stock lug closely, he may be on to where all the unmarked "original" Luger stock irons sold come from. One dealer I know, told me the irons he offered were Norwegian.

Lugerdoc · 09-24-2002, 09:46 AM

George, The stock iron in question were more likely Finnish and may be "SA" marked. I have a theory, that since the Finns purchased 5000 7.65x98mm commerical lugers from DWM in 1923 WITH LPO8 stocks, that the later design of the Finnish Lahti stock lug, was to accept these surplus stocks, as the "true" Finnish made broom type stocks, were only made as prototypes, and never went into large scale production. You'll also find Finnish Lahti holsters with straps on the back, for carrying a flat board type stock. Tom H.

Mark A · 09-24-2002, 11:43 PM

That 7.65x98mm has got to be a butt-kickin pistol cartridge

Aaron · 09-25-2002, 02:13 AM

Comparing the Lahti to the Luger is apples and oranges. We love the Luger for its toggle action and workmanship, while the Lahti is a really rugged gun with a conventional action. Anyway, the Lahti has a nice balance and is quite under rated for what it is. Here is my Lahti that I got from Fred Datig, a very rare commercial model which had a production of only a few hundred pistols. These commercials are recognized by the three digit serial number preceded by the letter "H". There is a new book on the Lahti coming out soon and I look forward to it with great anticipation.

Hugh · 09-25-2002, 07:36 AM

Is it true that the Husky versions were prone to a crack developing somewhere, but that the VKT versions did not? [img]confused.gif[/img]

Dwight Gruber · 09-25-2002, 10:20 AM

Hogg & Weeks (p. 190) has it that the Swedes modified the design of the pistol slightly (it is implied that they eliminated the recoil accellerator, among other things), and used different steel from that spec'ed in the original Finnish design. That, and the designation of a high-power 9mm smg round as the standard service ammunition, which started the serious cracking problems.

--Dwight

09-23-2002, 10:11 PM	#1
alex User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Are Luger collectors interested in Lahtis? I have been looking through firearms books of late. The Finnish/Swedish Lahti has a remarkable resemblance to the Luger. I'm curious...does this make it attractive to Luger collectors? Was the similarity an intentional design characteristic, and if so why? Is it a "better" Luger? (perish the thought!). Just curious as to your opinions. Regards, Alex

09-23-2002, 10:17 PM	#2
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Lugers=31 ounces +- Lahtis=44 ounces +- Lahtis "Crack me up" __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

09-23-2002, 11:18 PM	#4
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	shore wuda bin nice ifn Georg hada put a big ole nut lik thet on his Looger barels to mak thim esy ta tak off <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

09-23-2002, 11:26 PM	#5
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Luger is neeeat--the Lahti is ughhhly. Who could get excited by the Lahti? __________________ Al Eggers (AGE) NRA Life Member

09-24-2002, 12:12 AM	#6
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	Hugh, Once upon a time I bought a box full of Luger parts in Albuquerque. Had enough to build a Luger! One of the receivers was an American Eagle with a Lahti barrel, or at least a barrel made like a Lahti. It was easy to remove. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-23-2002, 10:19 PM	#3
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	I have a half formed interest in the Lahti. As for better, that's an open ended argument. It's certainly built like a you know what. Much as it looks like a Luger, the design probably owes more to the Broomhandle. I guess you can say it's what you'd get if you tried to make a Broomhandle look like a Luger.

09-24-2002, 06:21 AM	#7
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	If one studies the Lahti stock lug closely, he may be on to where all the unmarked "original" Luger stock irons sold come from. One dealer I know, told me the irons he offered were Norwegian.

09-24-2002, 09:46 AM	#8
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	George, The stock iron in question were more likely Finnish and may be "SA" marked. I have a theory, that since the Finns purchased 5000 7.65x98mm commerical lugers from DWM in 1923 WITH LPO8 stocks, that the later design of the Finnish Lahti stock lug, was to accept these surplus stocks, as the "true" Finnish made broom type stocks, were only made as prototypes, and never went into large scale production. You'll also find Finnish Lahti holsters with straps on the back, for carrying a flat board type stock. Tom H. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-24-2002, 11:43 PM	#9
Mark A User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Wheat Ridge, CO Posts: 105 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That 7.65x98mm has got to be a butt-kickin pistol cartridge __________________ Mark

09-25-2002, 02:13 AM	#10
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Comparing the Lahti to the Luger is apples and oranges. We love the Luger for its toggle action and workmanship, while the Lahti is a really rugged gun with a conventional action. Anyway, the Lahti has a nice balance and is quite under rated for what it is. Here is my Lahti that I got from Fred Datig, a very rare commercial model which had a production of only a few hundred pistols. These commercials are recognized by the three digit serial number preceded by the letter "H". There is a new book on the Lahti coming out soon and I look forward to it with great anticipation.

09-25-2002, 07:36 AM	#11
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Is it true that the Husky versions were prone to a crack developing somewhere, but that the VKT versions did not? [img]confused.gif[/img] __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

09-25-2002, 10:20 AM	#12
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Hogg & Weeks (p. 190) has it that the Swedes modified the design of the pistol slightly (it is implied that they eliminated the recoil accellerator, among other things), and used different steel from that spec'ed in the original Finnish design. That, and the designation of a high-power 9mm smg round as the standard service ammunition, which started the serious cracking problems. --Dwight