Luger manual in english

[command450]

I thought the members here might get a kick out of this mint luger manual. Its still got the three tables in the back. It is fabulous shape.judging by the cover,I would assume it was sold in Berlin. perhaps picked up by a USGI durring WWII or sold in the USA,back in the 20's-30's??. I am assuming its original, man does it smell like it ! Though you guys would love the table pics! I am curious to see what you guys think.My dad got it back in the 80's at a gunshow. Perhaps year it was made and any other opinions? Do you think its safe to Zerox it?

[Kitkat041836]

I have one just like it,I got it at the Reno Gun show some years
back and it cost me $50.00. I don't know what they are worth
now but yours looks like the real thing.
Thanks George

[tomaustin]

copy ideas.........btw, why don't you email abby at the following site....she is a re-printer of vintage publications....
abby@cornellpubs.com

she has a jillion really nice pubs....i order from her frequently, including last week........... nice copy...tom

[Chuck-D]

I have one just like it. Came with a 1938 I bought about 30 years ago. First page of mine says Copyright 1963 by Shooters Bible & Distributed by Stoeger Arms Corporation.
The style of printing makes me believe it is at least in part a reprint of much earlier work.

[George Anderson]

No need to copy it as inexpensive copies are available now.

[command450]

thanks gentlemen!

[Imperial Arms]

Sorry to disappoint you, but it is a copy.

[Ron Wood]

There are a number of pretty good reproduction copies out there. Some of them are honestly marked (such as Chuck-D's example), but there are some that give no indication that they have been reproduced. I have an original and a good reproduction. An original copy will be printed on a smooth, fairly glossy, paper and unless they have been maintained with virtually no exposure to the air they will have a yellowish cast. The reproductions, on the other hand, have a dull ordinary bond paper texture and generally are very white/bright in appearance. The cover of an original will also exhibit a more faided almost orange cast. The original paper is thinner so the overall thickness of the manual is perhaps 1/3 thinner. The staples that bind the manual are closer toghether on the original, being about 2 3/8" apart at their closest dimension, while the reproduction staples are seperated by nearly 2 7/8". The original is about 1/16" taller and 1/16" narrower than the reproduction and the corners have a smaller radius. On the copy, the "Contents" page is printed on the back of the first page that shows the title and the skeletonized view of the Luger, so there is only one blank page at the rear of the booklet. On the original, the "Contents" page is on a seperate page, consequently there are two blank pages at the rear.

I regret to say that I agree with Albert that the example shown may be a reproduction. Copies have been around for a long time.

[command450]

I really appreciate your time BTW, Ron.

whats interesting, is it is meeting those criteria.

the paper is very high quality,thin and with a gloss.no texture and it does have a yellow/light brown color from age. plus like I said it smells old(thats what made me think it was original)

that pic I put up makes it look pinkish , its actually more of a dull orange

staple spread is just 2 1/2"

the contents page is on its own page 2

there are two blank pages in the back

6 1/8 tall X 4 1/4" wide

heres some more pics







My gut is telling me its an original.If its a repro, it was done along time ago and they did one helluva job. but I would not be surprised and it would not be the first time I was wrong. anyone that collects german militaria has seen some very difficult to spot items. I got burned for $600 on a rare luft badge..........that still grinds me!

[Ron Wood]

It is sounding better all the time. It is possible that you have a very excellent condition original. It is certainly a lot more authentic looking than the reproduction copy I have and the color in your latest photos is mucn closer to my original. Paper products are even more difficult to authenticate from photos than guns, and we certainly know that is a slippery slope. I think your gut may be correct.

[A.Mifsin]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

There are a number of pretty good reproduction copies out there. Some of them are honestly marked (such as Chuck-D's example), but there are some that give no indication that they have been reproduced. I have an original and a good reproduction. An original copy will be printed on a smooth, fairly glossy, paper and unless they have been maintained with virtually no exposure to the air they will have a yellowish cast. The reproductions, on the other hand, have a dull ordinary bond paper texture and generally are very white/bright in appearance. The cover of an original will also exhibit a more faided almost orange cast. The original paper is thinner so the overall thickness of the manual is perhaps 1/3 thinner. The staples that bind the manual are closer toghether on the original, being about 2 3/8" apart at their closest dimension, while the reproduction staples are seperated by nearly 2 7/8". The original is bout 1/16" taller and 1/16" narrower than the reproduction and the corners have a smaller radius. On the copy, the "Contents" page is printed on the back of the first page that shows the title and the skeletonized view of the Luger, so there is only one blank page at the rear of the booklet. On the original, the "Contents" page is on a seperate page, consequently there are two blank pages at the rear.

I regret to say that I agree with Albert that the example shown may be a reproduction. Copies have been around for a long time.

Ron, is it possible to have some varations in an Original Manual? or, all your points mentioned have to be correct to be Original ?
Thanks
Aff.

[Ron Wood]

Alf,
I would expect that there are variations. After all, it was printed in 4 languages and probably more than one printing during the time the Model 1906 was produced. I have not seen a great many manuals, but generally they are of the format and construction I outlined. I would be very wary of any copy printed on modern bond paper. Also, generally reproductions are photo copies. So unless the copied original was really mint you probably will encounter images and text that not as crisp since they needed to be "photoshopped" to remove stains, creases, etc.
With the item in hand, a good archivist or conservator can spot immediately if a document is original. Unfortunately, I make no claim to that level of expertise.

[George Anderson]

Here are some to look at. First an original early English language copy.

[George Anderson]

Another early one but perhaps a little later. I might mention that the first also includes the stamping regarding the Naval set

[George Anderson]

Next a 1964 copyright of Stoeger's copy.

[George Anderson]

Nexy a later and cheaper copy of Stoegers' copy with price of $1.95. Both this version and the one above include a bit of Stoeger's history with the marketing of Parabellums.

[George Anderson]

Last a recent German language copy. This version does not include the fold-outs but does include those illistrations on single pages

[Norme]

Thanks George, for your wonderful and informative post, it should be made a sticky. Best regards, Norm

[command450]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

It is sounding better all the time. It is possible that you have a very excellent condition original. It is certainly a lot more authentic looking than the reproduction copy I have and the color in your latest photos is mucn closer to my original. Paper products are even more difficult to authenticate from photos than guns, and we certainly know that is a slippery slope. I think your gut may be correct.

Yeah its original,IMO. It has that ambiance thats hard to describe,without having in hand. Like you described,the paper is from a time when things were printed much differently. the smell is something else too.

I think what throws it for a loop, is because its in such great shape. It sat on a book shelf or desk all of its life,would be my hunch(its spent almost 30 years in my dads safe,since he had it)

Thanks,

Mike

[command450]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

It is sounding better all the time. It is possible that you have a very excellent condition original. It is certainly a lot more authentic looking than the reproduction copy I have and the color in your latest photos is mucn closer to my original. Paper products are even more difficult to authenticate from photos than guns, and we certainly know that is a slippery slope. I think your gut may be correct.

Originally Posted by George Anderson

Another early one but perhaps a little later. I might mention that the first also includes the stamping regarding the Naval set

Thanks, george.

Nice collection and I have a feeling those originals are worth quite a bit

any chance we could see a pic of,how the tables are folded and attached in the back?