Luger lust, eye candy - Page 2

MFC · 10-02-2012, 08:42 PM

I remember reading (can't remember where) that the US ordered 1000 more .45 cal Lugers for testing. Georg thought it would be too costly to tool up for an uncertain contract.

Ron Wood · 10-03-2012, 12:55 AM

The U.S. Army placed an order for 200 additional .45 Lugers. In a final letter to the Ordnance Board, Hans Tauscher (the U.S. representative for DWM) wrote: "...I cannot accept the order for 200 Luger Automatic Pistols and 100,000 cartridges, etc...I regret all the more the withdrawal of the Luger pistol from the competition, as this pistol (cal. 9m/m and 7.65m/m) has hitherto been adopted by the German Army and Navy and six other Governments."

In other words, Tauscher speaking for DWM was telling the U.S. to 'walk West 'til you hat floats', we have plenty of other customers and we have spent enough time trying to win what we recognize is a losing battle against Colt. I am sure this was not Georg's decision but that of DWM executives (Georg was an engineer not a CEO).

Ron-E · 10-03-2012, 10:22 AM

I guess the million $ Luger is also a victim of the economy too.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar...er15-2010mar15

Douglas Jr. · 10-03-2012, 10:41 AM

This is the first time I see pictures of the famous "Norton Luger".
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Douglas.

Hugo Borchardt · 10-03-2012, 06:33 PM

Backing Mr. Wood up: Attached are some documents related to the .45 test. Several manufacturers were invited to submit a .45 for the test. DWM, Savage, and probably others resisted the .45 ammunition at the tolerances specified by the US, such that the US could produce their own ammunition.

DWM pushed a 9mm "double bullet" as an alternative to the .45. This 9mm double bullet was tested separately (Test Report and correspondence Attached).

Also attached are some of Tauscher's correspondence concerning the order for 200 .45s. I do not have a copy of the letter informing the Ordnance Department that the order was cancelled. I think a copy is in Reese's book.

I posted elsewhere Georg Luger's pursuasive letter (missing page 4 of 4) attempting to convince the US that they didn't need a .45 and can provide upon request.

The documentation leading up to 1910 and beyond verify Reese's conclusion that DWM dropped out, and that another pistol was not selected over the Luger. It was some 4 years after DWM dropped out that the US officially selected an automatic pistol, the Colt.

Apologize for poor quality. I had limited time to capture thousands of documents.

Clark

mrerick · 10-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Working with Postino who provided the scans, here's a PDF copy of the June, 1994 Guns & Ammo magazine article about shooting the .45 Luger...

Marc

10-02-2012, 08:42 PM	#21
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	I remember reading (can't remember where) that the US ordered 1000 more .45 cal Lugers for testing. Georg thought it would be too costly to tool up for an uncertain contract. __________________ Mike C.

10-03-2012, 12:55 AM	#22
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: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	The U.S. Army placed an order for 200 additional .45 Lugers. In a final letter to the Ordnance Board, Hans Tauscher (the U.S. representative for DWM) wrote: "...I cannot accept the order for 200 Luger Automatic Pistols and 100,000 cartridges, etc...I regret all the more the withdrawal of the Luger pistol from the competition, as this pistol (cal. 9m/m and 7.65m/m) has hitherto been adopted by the German Army and Navy and six other Governments." In other words, Tauscher speaking for DWM was telling the U.S. to 'walk West 'til you hat floats', we have plenty of other customers and we have spent enough time trying to win what we recognize is a losing battle against Colt. I am sure this was not Georg's decision but that of DWM executives (Georg was an engineer not a CEO). __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-03-2012, 10:22 AM	#23
Ron-E User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 13 Thanks: 4 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	I guess the million $ Luger is also a victim of the economy too. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar...er15-2010mar15

10-03-2012, 10:41 AM	#24
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	This is the first time I see pictures of the famous "Norton Luger". Thanks a lot for sharing. Douglas.