Swiss Luger

Orv Reichert · 02-06-2002, 09:55 PM

I am going to try to post two at once..below. [If this does not work, check the next message]

This gun belongs to a German friend...just acquired!

Orv Reichert

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/30169,R.jpg

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/30169.jpg

02-06-2002, 10:07 PM

02-06-2002, 10:33 PM

Far too pretty!

Very nice Luger!

Ed

Thor · 02-07-2002, 12:37 AM

They are nice....huh!! Thorman

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/DSCN1816.JPG

Ron Wood · 02-07-2002, 01:14 AM

Love those Swiss! I have seen a picture of one other Swiss with the leather strap attached to the lanyard staple, and my Cross in Shield also has one. It is a strip of leather about 1/2" wide and 12" long folded into a loop so that the resultant strap is 6" long. I have been told that this was used to steady the pistol during aimed fire. Evidently it was not considered "proper" to hold the weapon with both hands so the thumb of the off hand was used to cinch down the strap on the wrist of the shooting hand to provide a secure hold. Anyone else have any info on the purpose/use of these straps?

02-07-2002, 09:08 AM

I've always though the these lanyards just assisted in removing the pistol from a tight holster and prevented loss in combat conditions. Tom

Ron Wood · 02-07-2002, 09:24 AM

Removing the pistol from a tight holster makes sense, but these straps are not lanyards, or remnants of lanyards, used to prevent loss in combat conditions. They are too short to be attached to anything. Perhaps they could be attached to a lanyard, but then why bother, just use a lanyard. I like the tight holster explanation. Thanks

lugerholsterrepair · 02-07-2002, 11:22 AM

I have to agree with Ron here. This could not be called a lanyard. The only lanyard I have come accross in five years of searching that does not have a swivel is the Dutch lanyard. I would be interested to know how this strap is attached? It looks to be sewn on. To my knowledge the Swiss never oficially adopted the use of a military lanyard. The Germans did and it was used most extensively during WW1. The Dutch did as well and theirs was issued with the Dutch equiptment and was standard issue. The portugese lanyard was so dainty as to be a joke and would not have held up in combat conditions. What most people believe to be the Portugese lanyard is in fact German. There were almost no Portugese lanyards surviving and as much research as I have done over the years I have never actually seen a genuine Portugese lanyard in person. The theory about ease of removal from the holster is a good one and the one about steadying the pistol is too. I would think for a military arm , particularly with a grip safety this would prove to be cumbersome. Jerry Burney

Ron Wood · 02-07-2002, 12:21 PM

My Luger's strap is sewn on, and in the photos I have seen they also appear to be sewn.

Thor · 02-07-2002, 09:47 PM

Interesting Swiss! This should prompt some questions! hahahah The Thor knows!

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/SwissTop.jpg

02-08-2002, 09:49 AM

In my last posting, I was refering to the 12 inch long strap mentioned by Ron Wood not the normal 2 to 3" strap normally associated with Swiss lugers. Tom h

Ron Wood · 02-08-2002, 04:08 PM

Tom - Sorry if I confused things. I said that the strap was 12" long but had been folded into a loop so that it ends up being only 6", too short for a lanyard.

Ron Wood · 02-11-2002, 02:51 AM

Great picture Thor! Believe it or not, I've got one of those Lugers. Hope your posting generates a lot of info, because I have no idea of the origin of a Luger with cross in suburst on the toggle. My best guess is a 1920's era private manufacture. Let's see where this one goes!

Thor · 02-11-2002, 03:32 AM

Very Beautiful Guns, they have the most unique bluing (not really shown well here) This one has a very distinct Matt/blue/black rust blue! AMAZING! Crosses all over it! ~Thor~

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/DSCN1817.JPG

Ron Wood · 02-12-2002, 02:00 PM

My Luger isn't as pretty as yours, but it ain't bad. Mine is in 9mm and it has been made up from probably a 1908 commercial. There is no evidence of a stock lug being ground off, but metal has been added to the bottom inside of the grip frame to accommodate a grip safety and spring. It has a Germany marked barrel and no proof marks anywhere. Guess my guy didn't have any cross stamps. It is a well done conversion, either by a good gunsmith or an outfit similar to VoNo that turned out reworks. The toggle looks exactly like yours.

02-06-2002, 09:55 PM	#1
Orv Reichert RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SW Washington State Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Swiss Luger I am going to try to post two at once..below. [If this does not work, check the next message] This gun belongs to a German friend...just acquired! Orv Reichert http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/30169,R.jpg http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/30169.jpg

02-06-2002, 10:07 PM	#2
Viggo G Dereng Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Swiss Luger--- VERY NICE !!! (EOM)

02-06-2002, 10:33 PM	#3
66mustang Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Swiss Luger Far too pretty! Very nice Luger! Ed

02-07-2002, 12:37 AM	#4
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Swiss Luger They are nice....huh!! Thorman http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/DSCN1816.JPG

02-07-2002, 01:14 AM	#5
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	Re: Swiss Luger Love those Swiss! I have seen a picture of one other Swiss with the leather strap attached to the lanyard staple, and my Cross in Shield also has one. It is a strip of leather about 1/2" wide and 12" long folded into a loop so that the resultant strap is 6" long. I have been told that this was used to steady the pistol during aimed fire. Evidently it was not considered "proper" to hold the weapon with both hands so the thumb of the off hand was used to cinch down the strap on the wrist of the shooting hand to provide a secure hold. Anyone else have any info on the purpose/use of these straps?

02-07-2002, 09:08 AM	#6
tom h Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Lanyard I've always though the these lanyards just assisted in removing the pistol from a tight holster and prevented loss in combat conditions. Tom

02-07-2002, 09:24 AM	#7
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	Re: Lanyard Removing the pistol from a tight holster makes sense, but these straps are not lanyards, or remnants of lanyards, used to prevent loss in combat conditions. They are too short to be attached to anything. Perhaps they could be attached to a lanyard, but then why bother, just use a lanyard. I like the tight holster explanation. Thanks

02-07-2002, 11:22 AM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	Re: second that motion I have to agree with Ron here. This could not be called a lanyard. The only lanyard I have come accross in five years of searching that does not have a swivel is the Dutch lanyard. I would be interested to know how this strap is attached? It looks to be sewn on. To my knowledge the Swiss never oficially adopted the use of a military lanyard. The Germans did and it was used most extensively during WW1. The Dutch did as well and theirs was issued with the Dutch equiptment and was standard issue. The portugese lanyard was so dainty as to be a joke and would not have held up in combat conditions. What most people believe to be the Portugese lanyard is in fact German. There were almost no Portugese lanyards surviving and as much research as I have done over the years I have never actually seen a genuine Portugese lanyard in person. The theory about ease of removal from the holster is a good one and the one about steadying the pistol is too. I would think for a military arm , particularly with a grip safety this would prove to be cumbersome. Jerry Burney

02-07-2002, 12:21 PM	#9
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	Re: second that motion My Luger's strap is sewn on, and in the photos I have seen they also appear to be sewn.

02-07-2002, 09:47 PM	#10
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Swiss Luger Interesting Swiss! This should prompt some questions! hahahah The Thor knows! http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/SwissTop.jpg

02-08-2002, 09:49 AM	#11
tom h Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Lanyard In my last posting, I was refering to the 12 inch long strap mentioned by Ron Wood not the normal 2 to 3" strap normally associated with Swiss lugers. Tom h

02-08-2002, 04:08 PM	#12
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	Re: Lanyard Tom - Sorry if I confused things. I said that the strap was 12" long but had been folded into a loop so that it ends up being only 6", too short for a lanyard.

02-11-2002, 02:51 AM	#13
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	Re: Swiss Luger Great picture Thor! Believe it or not, I've got one of those Lugers. Hope your posting generates a lot of info, because I have no idea of the origin of a Luger with cross in suburst on the toggle. My best guess is a 1920's era private manufacture. Let's see where this one goes!

02-11-2002, 03:32 AM	#14
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Swiss Luger Very Beautiful Guns, they have the most unique bluing (not really shown well here) This one has a very distinct Matt/blue/black rust blue! AMAZING! Crosses all over it! ~Thor~ http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/DSCN1817.JPG

02-12-2002, 02:00 PM	#15
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	Re: Swiss Luger My Luger isn't as pretty as yours, but it ain't bad. Mine is in 9mm and it has been made up from probably a 1908 commercial. There is no evidence of a stock lug being ground off, but metal has been added to the bottom inside of the grip frame to accommodate a grip safety and spring. It has a Germany marked barrel and no proof marks anywhere. Guess my guy didn't have any cross stamps. It is a well done conversion, either by a good gunsmith or an outfit similar to VoNo that turned out reworks. The toggle looks exactly like yours.