any recommendations for books for a newbie?

[naugler]

Hi all, I am new to this forum and new to Lugers. I was hoping that you all could recommend some good resource books on the subject so that I could learn all I can about Lugers before I even begin looking for one. I want to go about my search for a Luger as a knowledgeable collector/shooter and not be taken due to my own ignorance. In Canada our gun laws do not allow most people to own the standard Luger due to barrel length (this is considered a prohibitied weapon), but handguns with a barrel length over 4 inches are legal with a proper licence. Therefore I would probably be leaning towards a Navy or Artillery Luger, but I need lots of knowledge on this fine pistol first. Can anyone suggest any books?
thanks
-Scott

[Ron Wood]

"Lugers at Random" by Charles Kenyon -easy to find copies. Gives a good overview of most Luger types, but the photography is 40 years old and not as good quality as more recent publications. Not a bad reference for the beginner as it provides large photo details and pretty comprehensive information on each type of Luger.

A series of 4 volumes by Jan Still - excellent references and great photos, but some are out of print and difficult to find.

There are older references by Fred Datig and Harry Jones that are also good. Datig provides some neat history, and Jones has a fairly good photo selection. These were some of the very early references, and while they are pioneering efforts and a valuable resource, they do have some data that have been shown to be incorrect in light of more recent information.

The "Luger Story" by John Walter is also good reading and has quite a bit of valuable information and history.

[Edward Tinker]

Scott, probably one of the main things to do is decide what era you'd like? But you are absolutely right, gettin' books is the first thing you should do.

I have a whole slew of assorted books, the ones I read and go to the most are Jan Still's books, mainly Weimar Lugers, Imperial Lugers and 3rd Reich Lugers. Specific navy books are harder to find, there is one by Walter, but I don't have it, so can't tell you if it is good or not.

Ed

[Dwight Gruber]

Scott,

Ron is right on about "Lugers at Random", that is the first recommendation I make to people. Walters's "The Luger Story" is slightly ahead of Datig and Jones, as it is a more recent book and less subject to inaccuracies.

Since you are considering Lugers with barrels longer than 4" you will want to pick up Jan Still's "Imperial Lugers," as this is the era of Navys and Artilleries, as well as 4 3/4" barrel commercial and contract Lugers.

There are specialized books along your line of interest, "The Navy Luger" by Joachim G�¶rtz and John Walter, and "La Luger Artiglieria" ("The Artillery Luger") by Mauro Baudino.

Let us know how your search progresses.

--Dwight

[mauro]

Hello Scott,
I have written a book concerning the Luger Artillery model and also I have a web site completely focalised on the Arty model.
Please have a look and let me know your opinion.
Ciao
http://lugerlp08.free.fr/

[naugler]

Many thanks for the replies. I will seek out some of the Luger sources listed above and after reading much on the issue I'll determine the era of Luger I am interested in. Here's my thinking on this issue:
While I am interested in a collectable it must be one that I can shoot at the range as it is my belief that these firearms were designed and manufactured to be shot and not to collect dust. I'm sure many people would disagree with me on that subject (and no offense intended) however I am not looking for a very expensive or rare model, just a nice original piece that I am able shoot and admire its history.
I do however have a question: Are the barrels serial numbered to match the receiver? My concern is that I would buy a Luger that had been rebarreled to say 6 inches. The seller may try to pass it off as a Navy Luger when in reality it would have little collector value as it would have been a standard Luger that had its 4 inch barrel replaced with a longer one. Is this type of switch/scam (it's not a true scam as perhaps the seller is ignorant to the fact the the barrel had been switched in the past - but I hope you get my point)common? Do the barrel/receiver numbers have to match to determine if it has its original barrel? Or are there other ways to determien this?
thanks
-Scott

[Edward Tinker]

Scott, usually they are numbered on the barrel, but not always. If you are looking for a "navy" to shoot, you are risking a lot more money, than if you look for an artillery.

So, I would look for a rebarreled 6 inch to shoot and find an artillery or Navy as a collectable piece.

Ed

[naugler]

OK, here's another question. Are rebarreled Lugers considered butchered and looked down upon? And also is the Luger such a delecate pistol that shooting it can ruin it? From the post above that is my impression. Forgive my ignorance, but why not shoot a navy or artillery model?
-Scott

[wterrell]

Army tanks are hardly fragile vehicles, but they do wear out. And parts do break.

[Dwight Gruber]

Scott,

Rebarrelling almost always removes a Luger from consideration as a collection-worthy gun.

Lugers are not "delicate" pistols, they were robust enough to be selected as the primary service pistol of many country's armys. One should remember, however, that these pistols are 50-100 years old, nearer to the end of their useful life than the beginning, and that metal can change its character over time. Check this link to see a survey of Luger parts failure in use.

One of the primary characteristics of a collection-worthy Luger is that the numbered parts all match. Breaking a numbered part while shooting will reduce a Luger's desirability, and thus lower its monetary value. In some cases the loss can be considerable.

--Dwight

[naugler]

Thanks for your input Dwight Gruber, and thanks for your sarcasm wes...

[wterrell]

naugler, it's nice to be appreciated.
If the Luger would suffer no deterioration, there would be no such thing as a 'shooter'. All would be collector pieces of the highest order.
A Rolls Royce must be restored every 10 years if driven. The accumulation of small disasters, bumps, and scrapes usually produce the effect of the Parson's One-Horse Shay.
Our Lugers are mere mortals!