My Small Luger Collection

JohnF · 01-12-2003, 11:51 AM

Having seen Dwight Gruber's post about his collection, I thought that I would like to share my own small collection with the forum too. I bought my first Luger about 18 months ago - it's the East German rework. At the time, I thought that it looked fabulous but, having spent some money on books and time reading the posts here, I know a bit better now but learn new stuff every day. I'd also like to thank all the forum members, who have taken the time and trouble to reply to my questions - it really is appreciated.

Edward Tinker · 01-12-2003, 12:26 PM

Sweet guns John!

Always nice to see,

I hate to ask, are all, uhhhhh, altered? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

JohnF · 01-12-2003, 12:32 PM

I'm afraid so. I take no personal responsibility for my country's stance on this issue but this is the only way that I can have these pistols. I would never have a weapon deactivated just so I could buy it but - if it's already done - then I am happy to give it a good home. I like to think of them as nice pieces that I wouldn't want to shoot for fear of damaging them ;-)
The only time I get to shoot is when I'm in the US and I always enjoy going to the local range wherever I am and letting rip at the targets.

Edward Tinker · 01-12-2003, 12:49 PM

I understand and appreciate the collecting, even if it is not as satisfying as being able to go outside and blast some caps,

Pete Ebbink · 01-12-2003, 01:08 PM

Hell John F,

A nice little collection in such a short time.

Can you tell us if the costs of these "de-activated" lugers in the UK is the same or less than non-modified pistols ?

If less, how much so ?

Also, do you think they will be hard to re-sell ? Or are the UK collector's just resigned to the fact that all pistols will be so ?

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

JohnF · 01-12-2003, 01:21 PM

As private citizens can't buy or own non-modified pistols it's a little difficult to make a price comparison but I don't believe that there is much difference for "collectable" items.
As for resale, I couldn't really sell them anywhere else except here as every country has different laws on what is considered as deactivated. For example, the export of UK dewats, or deacs as we call them, to the USA is banned by US law. There is a lively interest in German small arms here and Lugers - as everywhere - are at the top of the tree so I could certainly resell them if I wanted to.
I'm currently selling off my long guns to fund more Lugers and have had no problems to find buyers I also have about 25 other German and Austrian pistols from 1865 thru 1945, which will probably also be going to fund this beloved obsession of mine.

JohnF · 01-13-2003, 07:02 AM

Hi Terry,
That's very interesting as I hadn't realised that the ban did not apply to Northern Ireland. There are certainly plenty of guns there - although I would have a less than marginal interest in collecting AK47s and Armalites.
As far as I know the reason the ban doesn't apply to the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man is that neither of them are part of the United Kingdom - or the European Union for that matter. They have their own parliament and make their own laws about most things.
From the current media hype, it looks as if the UK government may now be considering a ban on deactivated weapons too. Supposedly this is to prevent them being reactivated by criminals although I can't really see some drug dealing Yardie gangster choosing to try to reactivate a temperamental old pistol when he can easily find Mac 10's and Uzis in their original condition. You wouldn't really want to find yourself in a gun battle with a 100 year old Mauser C96 that may or may not blow your hand off.

kidvett · 01-13-2003, 08:40 PM

Hello John,

Nice collection you have there...acquired in a short time....

That DUTCH M11 looks in a great shape! Same goes for the SIMSON

kidvett

Big Norm · 01-16-2003, 02:13 AM

JohnF,
such a (sob! whine!) nice collection (cry!) to be destroyed by an insensitive (Bawl!) government. I truely feel sorry for you guys.
Big Norm

01-12-2003, 11:51 AM	#1
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My Small Luger Collection Having seen Dwight Gruber's post about his collection, I thought that I would like to share my own small collection with the forum too. I bought my first Luger about 18 months ago - it's the East German rework. At the time, I thought that it looked fabulous but, having spent some money on books and time reading the posts here, I know a bit better now but learn new stuff every day. I'd also like to thank all the forum members, who have taken the time and trouble to reply to my questions - it really is appreciated.

01-12-2003, 12:26 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	Sweet guns John! Always nice to see, I hate to ask, are all, uhhhhh, altered? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-12-2003, 12:49 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	I understand and appreciate the collecting, even if it is not as satisfying as being able to go outside and blast some caps, __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-12-2003, 12:32 PM	#3
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I'm afraid so. I take no personal responsibility for my country's stance on this issue but this is the only way that I can have these pistols. I would never have a weapon deactivated just so I could buy it but - if it's already done - then I am happy to give it a good home. I like to think of them as nice pieces that I wouldn't want to shoot for fear of damaging them ;-) The only time I get to shoot is when I'm in the US and I always enjoy going to the local range wherever I am and letting rip at the targets.

01-12-2003, 01:08 PM	#5
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hell John F, A nice little collection in such a short time. Can you tell us if the costs of these "de-activated" lugers in the UK is the same or less than non-modified pistols ? If less, how much so ? Also, do you think they will be hard to re-sell ? Or are the UK collector's just resigned to the fact that all pistols will be so ? Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

01-12-2003, 01:21 PM	#6
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	As private citizens can't buy or own non-modified pistols it's a little difficult to make a price comparison but I don't believe that there is much difference for "collectable" items. As for resale, I couldn't really sell them anywhere else except here as every country has different laws on what is considered as deactivated. For example, the export of UK dewats, or deacs as we call them, to the USA is banned by US law. There is a lively interest in German small arms here and Lugers - as everywhere - are at the top of the tree so I could certainly resell them if I wanted to. I'm currently selling off my long guns to fund more Lugers and have had no problems to find buyers I also have about 25 other German and Austrian pistols from 1865 thru 1945, which will probably also be going to fund this beloved obsession of mine.

01-13-2003, 07:02 AM	#7
JohnF User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UK Posts: 167 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi Terry, That's very interesting as I hadn't realised that the ban did not apply to Northern Ireland. There are certainly plenty of guns there - although I would have a less than marginal interest in collecting AK47s and Armalites. As far as I know the reason the ban doesn't apply to the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man is that neither of them are part of the United Kingdom - or the European Union for that matter. They have their own parliament and make their own laws about most things. From the current media hype, it looks as if the UK government may now be considering a ban on deactivated weapons too. Supposedly this is to prevent them being reactivated by criminals although I can't really see some drug dealing Yardie gangster choosing to try to reactivate a temperamental old pistol when he can easily find Mac 10's and Uzis in their original condition. You wouldn't really want to find yourself in a gun battle with a 100 year old Mauser C96 that may or may not blow your hand off.

01-13-2003, 08:40 PM	#8
kidvett User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 584 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Hello John, Nice collection you have there...acquired in a short time.... That DUTCH M11 looks in a great shape! Same goes for the SIMSON kidvett

01-16-2003, 02:13 AM	#9
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	JohnF, such a (sob! whine!) nice collection (cry!) to be destroyed by an insensitive (Bawl!) government. I truely feel sorry for you guys. Big Norm