To shoot, or not to shoot my WW2 Luger

[mrerick]

Unnecessary comment withdrawn... No reason to stir up controversy over opinions... I really don't care what someone else does with their collectible firearms.

In fact, it's really fun to shoot Lugers, and gets attention at the range... I have a shooter Luger with finish issues for shooting...

I'll defer to Ed for the number of extant Simson Lugers versus the 12,000 made. His April 2017 list has 674 known, and there might well be double that number out there.

So... 12% of the Simson Lugers may still exist, and 6% are known to collectors. One more more or less doesn't change that much...

The only reason someone would ask about firing a collectible firearm on a forum like this is that they are anxious about damaging it in the first place, and are looking for some kind of support for firing it. Those that encourage shooting it have the effect of enabling this action.

I really have no objection to someone else doing it. There are photographs and stories of damaged pistols available if someone searches for them. There are probably many more instances of firing a gun a few times with no ill effect. After all, they were made for shooting...

Of course, military organizations fielded a number of armory services to repair firearms. They also did not focus on keeping matching originality in their guns.

We get the questions all the time, and consistently give both answers - shoot and don't shoot. I doubt that will change in the future.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Now Rich, be nice. This is the new collectors forum.

... ...

[Puretexan]

I say shoot because I'm not a collector.

Sorry I couldn't resist.

[mccaslyn]

I vote shoot. The curiosity would kill me very cool pieces!

[gunbugs]

As I've said on this subject before, I shoot all my Lugers. Matching guns all. But when I take one to the range, I remove the extractor and firing pin and replace those with mismatched spares. Then when I get home to clean it, the originals go back in. That way, I don't risk those 2 most commonly broken parts.

[Eugen]

I have two shooter grade Lugers and shoot'em like I hate'em. I can get my Luger "fix" with less anxiety. But, I have shot a few mags in my collectors. The temptation was too great. It's all their fault. They made me do it.

[Jshark]

Thanks all! Great information.

[Sergio Natali]

I don't claim to be an expert but your question is a perennial classic and decisions on shooting or not shooting are quite different here as in several other forums I belong to.
Personally I would NEVER shoot any of mine collectibles, especially a Simpson, but the gun is yours, so in the end the decision is only yours.

[Chichaco98]

Another option is to buy a spare toggle train. Swap the toggle train and remove the hold open latch when you want to shoot your Luger. Most of the numbered parts that are likely to break will not then be at risk.

[flydive]

Mines are guns, made to shoot, collectibles or not.

I shot my 1906, 06 Parabellum few times.

Of course I would not shoot thousands of rounds with it, but a few rounds from time to time.

But to shoot more I bought a 06/29 a month ago.

[kurusu]

Guns are made for shooting. I will never buy one that I would be too afraid to use for fear of breaking something.

Of course some of the older ones have very very limited use.

A non shooting gun is a way to expensive paperweight for me.

Couldn't resist either.

[cirelaw]

My two expensive paper weights that I would never shoot, 1900 Test or 1902 Fat Barrel! I have a specially assembled shooter to fire! Toggle marks are like luger tatoos, permanent and part of history~

[Norme]

This whole thread reminds me of Hamlet's soliloquy, "To shoot or not to shoot? That is the question".
Personally I don't give a rat's ass if someone shoots his collectible Luger, it's a free country. I don't choose to shoot mine, when I want to shoot I use a Kimber 1911, it's reliable and accurate and has only one numbered part (the frame).
Norm

[kurusu]

@ Cirelaw

I would not shoot those either.

And that is why I wouldn't buy them either.

That, and because I couldn't afford them.

[Jshark]

So, that was a fun thread! Here's another question:

Putting all other things aside, such as the history of the pistol, what sets a Simpson Luger apart from others from the same era?

[Jshark]

Darn it! "Simson" it's the iPhone autocorrect, I swear.

[Norme]

Originally Posted by Jshark

So, that was a fun thread! Here's another question:

Putting all other things aside, such as the history of the pistol, what sets a Simpson Luger apart from others from the same era?

There are no other German Military Lugers of the same era.
Norm

[cirelaw]

Ed likes them, he even wrote a book about them!! http://simsonlugers.com/index.htm

[mrerick]

During the Weimar era, SImson of Suhl Germany was the only firm officially allowed to supply the 100,000 man army and the police agencies with Luger handguns. This was imposed by the Allies after they won WW-I.

Erfurt had been taken apart, and DWM was making 7.65mm commercial pistols (and some unofficial 9mm Lugers called "Sneaks"). The Erfurt tooling and gauges went to Simson.

The DWM line was not transferred to Mauser until the early 1930's. Mauser restarted military Luger production in 1934 with the "K" date pistols.

In 1933, the Nazi government seized control from the Weimar and the third age of German government started.

Simson was Jewish owned, and the Nazis were quick to take over and shut down their operations. The tooling and gauges were removed to Krieghoff where Lugers were made for airforce use.

So... Simson was unique in history, and have a very short run during their operations. Perhaps 8-9 years (1925-1933) and just over 1,000 Lugers per year.

[Puretexan]

So the uniqueness is not because they are built better, but just less made?