Opinions on my Deactivated 1936 Luger

[Martin 2]

Hello to all
This is my first post regarding my Deactivated 1936 Mauser Luger
I guess my main question would be is it an authentic Luger ?, although I guess the fact that it is now incapable of being used does take away authenticity. But you know what I mean
I think the barrel has been replaced as in a certain light it looks slightly different to the receiver and there is a crown above an N
Which I think makes it a commercial barrel ? . I guess it could have gone back to have a repair / refurb and due to war time pressure it was fitted with what was at hand ?
Also the magazine is stamped with 2/1001 which I read somewhere might make it a East German post war refurb ?
To sum up :
Is it a nice example of a ww2 era Luger that may have seen action ?
Is it a later magazine that has had the serial number put on to match?
Also strange stamping below take down leaver ?
Finally , a lack of straw parts for a 1936 example?
Any and all opinions appreciated
Best Wishes
Martin 2

[Kiwi]

What/how is it "deactivated"?

[Vlim]

It was a DDR refurbishe VoPo before it was deactivated. Looks like someone switched the bakelite VoPo grips for wooden examples.

The crown/N proofed barrel is typical for a VoPo (DDR) rework.

[spangy]

I absolutely 'hate' that this luger is deactivated !!!


"Although I guess the fact that it is now incapable of being used does take away authenticity. But you know what I mean" -Martin 2

[Martin 2]

Well spangly
I hate the fact that this Luger is deactivated also.
Since I was a young lad , I craved a Luger, iconic and an engineering revaluation of its time.
As I live in the Uk , the only way I can own one is to buy one that is deactivated.
Law of my land , simple as.
A Luger that has been trashed , YES
But it is still an iconic Piece of history
Thanks for the replies from you other guys’
Please Vlim could you explain DDR and VOPO as I do not have a clue what these abbreviations mean
And Kiwi deactivated by sticking a steel pin up the barrel , welding in place
Drilling and inserting and welding a vertical pin at the breach
Cutting off the firing pin at a 45 degree angle
And reducing the structure of the internals so that should you be daft enough to try and get it up and running ,,, it would explode in your face.
Any answers to my other questions would be gratefully received
Best wishes
Martin 2

[Martin 2]

Sorry spangy I meant spangy Not spangly
Martin 2

[schutzen-jager]

DDR = German Democratic Republic - Communist East Germany -

VOPO = Volkspolizei - peoples national police -

[spangy]

Originally Posted by Martin 2

Sorry spangy I meant spangy Not spangly
Martin 2

No worries Martin ...

I have friends all over the UK that have had their treasured heirlooms butchered by deactivation laws.

It has started in Canada now too . Our so-called Prime Minister has blindsided Canadians by hiding behind covid-19 and an undemocratic ruse called an OIC ... Order In Council ... He has Prorogued parliament due to social distancing in essence dissolving the current parliamentary session. He then passed new gun laws that affect the entire law abiding gun owner citizenry by using the Order In Council thus bypassing a democratic reading and debate by those parties in opposition. By bypassing parliament these undemocratic new gun laws turned tens of thousands of law abiding Canadian gun owners into criminals over night.

Luger's are affected because under the new law handguns with a 4" barrel or less are now classified as prohibited instead of restricted weapons. You are expected to march your guns affected by all the varying new definitions and classifications to the police who will have them destroyed.


The Criminal Code identifies “the various firearms, weapons and devices regulated by the Firearms Act.”[4] The Code classifies firearms into three categories: restricted,[5] prohibited,[6] and non-restricted.[7] Non-restricted firearms “include ordinary shotguns and rifles, such as those commonly used for hunting. But some military type rifles and shotguns are prohibited.”[8] Restricted firearms include “certain handguns and some semi-automatic long guns (not all semi-automatic long guns are restricted or prohibited). Rifles that can be fired when telescoped or folded to shorter than 660 millimeters, or 26 inches, are also restricted.”[9] Prohibited firearms “include most 32 and 25 caliber handguns and handguns with a barrel length of 105 mm or shorter. Fully automatic firearms, converted automatics, firearms with a sawed-off barrel, and some military rifles like the AK 47 are also prohibited.”[10]


Remember that these new laws would NEVER have passed into law in a democratic parliamentary session.
I could go on but it literally makes me sick to my stomach.

https://www.interior-news.com/news/r...proval-of-oic/

https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releas...style-firearms


This is why I reacted so strongly to the deactivation of your beautiful Luger Martin (I don't find it trash at all) ... i feel your pain, I honestly do.
Not only can I no longer legally purchase a <4.134" barreled Luger but I am expected to destroy any that I have.
I do have the option of having them re-barreled by a police approved gunsmith BUT they keep the old barrel for destruction.
Once re-barreled all collector value is lost of course

All this presumes that 'your papers are in order' ... sound familiar ??

Its almost too ironic ya ??

[mrerick]

Welcome to the forum.

Your magazine is also marked as being fabricated by the Thalmann organization in East Germany.

You may enjoy a copy of our Lugerforum FAQ PDF document. Just follow the link at the top of every page.

[DonVoigt]

Yes,
your luger is "authentic", makes no difference that it is a deactivated pistol,
As pointed out, it made its way through the DDR and VOPO service or inventory post WWII.

[Martin 2]

Thank you all very much for your help
I now know exactly what I have.
I’m lucky enough to own another icon , a 1942 Ford GPW.
Just waiting for some maniac to mow a load of people down with a jeep and then they will be deactivating jeeps as well!!
Just to many evil maniacs in this world .
If they wish to do harm they will with anything they can.
Anyway that’s not what this forum is about
Thanks to you all

[Kiwi]

The passing of laws to destroy historic items is identical to the Afghan Taliban destruction at Bamiyan and ISIS destroying Palmyra in Syria.

Same behavior exhibited in the US tearing down statues.
It takes creativity and time to make something and mindless minutes to destroy.

I am appalled at your description of the "deactivation" process.

[RShaw]

Since I live in the Netherlands, I know exactly what you mean!!

The deactivation process is quite drastic really.... very well designed to make the gun impossible to fire and also impossible to restore to firing condition.

However, due to these laws in this area, I have heard that there is a significant market for deactivated, but authentic weapons like your Luger. An all matching, good condition deactivated Luger can sometimes be considered of higher value than a parts gun in poor condition but fully functional.

Putting "money" and "value" aside for a moment, I began to appreciate over time the big advantage, of course, which is that anyone can purchase a properly deactivated gun without a collector's permit or shooting permit, and hang it on the wall to enjoy! If my children or granchildren are curious, I can take a gun off the wall and show them the different parts, and perhaps impart an impression of what it was like for soldiers to carry these weapons into battle. I now have a deactivated M1 Garand on my wall which will soon be joined by a K98k, also deactivated. I don't need a safe or a permit, and they will be passed to my children who can enjoy them as well.

I do have a shooting permit here, and therefore am allowed by law to own a maximum of 5 firearms no larger than .45 caliber. I have to keep these in a safe at all times, separate from ammunition (stored in a second safe), but can go to the range and shoot as much as I like. A collector's permit allows one to own as many guns (functional) as one wishes, but they cannot be taken to the range and fired without properly registering them in advance to be fired. (a bit complicated) All functional weapons must be in a safe at all times. Police to show up unannounced at your house, asking to see your weapons, to check if they are registered to you, and properly stored. A gun left on a shelf, or a box of ammo left out is a good way to have everything confiscated on the spot. I've heard some very sad stories along those lines...

I know it's not the same as going out and shooting a tin can off a post with a special vintage firearm, but European legislators just look at gun ownership differently than do the Americans. Ahhh well.... I miss the USA sometimes......

I like your gun! You have a piece of history! You did well!!

[Martin 2]

Thanks for reply and opinions Mr Shaw.
I guess if I had owned my Luger back in the day when in the Uk you could legally have one and go out and shoot it at a range , and then had to hand it in or have it deactivated, I would be really jarred off.
But I bought it deactivated so it is what it is.
Thank you
Martin

[RShaw]

Well, I had the exact same reaction when I first came here to the Netherlands - the idea of deactivating a beautiful piece of engineering felt similar to the carnage one would cause to a classic 1965 Mustang by hotrodding it on a potholed dirt road in the middle of a snowstorm!

But here I am 29 years later....... I bought my M1 Garand deactivated, and actually had a K98k deactivated for the wall in my "mancave." Never would have thought of doing that 30 years ago! You're welcome to come here for a visit and go to the range!!

[Vlim]

As licensed collectors of fully functional firearms, we are always careful with embracing deactivated guns. We do not want to give any authorities the impression that collecting deactivated guns is a serious alternative to having access to fully functional firearms. From a research point of view, a deactivated gun is pretty much useless.

I have some cutaways in the collection that help to illustrate the inner workings, but a welded up gun with no access to it's former functionality does not add much other than a visual reference to how it once looked.

[Martin 2]

Hi Vlim
Well , here in the Uk , we don’t have the worry of giving the authorities the impression that collecting deacts is second best as we have no first best.
What I own is a ww2 Luger pistol that is no longer capable of discharging a round.
I totally get that you guys in locations allowing the ownership and use of firearms , are shocked by the Uk laws , but for me , that’s all I’m used to .
Having said that , Mr Shaw your offer of a trip to the range is very generous and VERY tempting
Thank you
Best wishes to all
Martin

[hayhugh]

I hope the UK never has to go begging to the world for firearms again like they did back in the 1930/40's......

[Martin 2]

Think they should have it covered now with the military services being well equipped and prepared unlike WW2. We are only a little island

[Martin 2]

Anyway, we digress from The fact that this is a forum focused on the Luger pistolen 08
( or something like that )