Advice on first Swiss Luger

water witch · 12-13-2007, 10:20 PM

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and new to Lugers. I'm wondering if anyone could provide an opinion on either of the two Swiss Lugers located at this retailer: http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/pistol.html

Any advice?

thanks from Canada

Pete Ebbink · 12-14-2007, 05:46 PM

Hi Scott,

Both Swiss M1929 Lugers look like nice guns, but the glare of the photos and lack of details makes it difficult to tell if either gun has been refinished or not.

Swiss Lugers routinely got refinished by the Bern arsenal during the service life of their pistols.

The little serial numbers stamped along the shoulder of the barrel where it screws into the receiver and the Bernerprobe stamp are seen applied after bluing...so that might be one way to tell if original finish or rework.

One of the Lugers along its right side has a "P" stamp...just above the trigger on the frame. It this "P" has bluing applied in the groves of the "P", that might tell you the gun has been refinished after it was released from Military service in Switzerland as well.

Not sure if you get "importer stamps" on guns coming into Canada or not. Something to ask and look for.

Price for these later-M1929's run $ 1700-1900 USD here in the USA...usually with an old holster.

Based on the two serial numbers of the Lugers, they were made at the Bern arsenal in :

SN 75976 - Made in 1944 ( a date stamp inside the front frame well will tell you the month in 1944 the gun was made).

SN 75455 - Also made in 1944. That year Bern made 5,800 of these Lugers usually with black plastic grips and magazine bottoms.

BTW...this same web site has some nice Swiss revolvers for sale at decent prices as well. Those revolvers are well-made and are fun to shoot.

Hope this info. is of some help...

water witch · 12-14-2007, 06:16 PM

Thanks very much, it does help.

We don't apply "importer stamps" to imported guns yet in Canada (although this may change). The only exception is when we import from the US and get the US (Century arms,etc) stamps that were applied when these guns were originally imported to the US.

Your info was very good, thanks again. Many of us Canadians (with some exeptions) don't have the option of owning an original P08 due to the barrel length (4" barrels are prohibited in this country) so if we want an original (non-rebarrelled luger) our options are limited (the Swiss is one option).

Thanks again. I'd like to pick up a few books on these Swiss Lugers before making a decision.

regards
Scott (in Canada)

Pete Ebbink · 12-14-2007, 06:23 PM

Scott,

The best book you could pick up is the big one by Italian author V. Bobba. Brand new it is a bit pricy but worth every penny.

Here is what is looks like :

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...oducts_id=2967

It is written in Italian and English side-by-side on the same page.

He has a second smaller book out in Italian only...about Lugers in general. But you want his first big book on the Swiss Lugers...

Here are a couple of used sources for less money...

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...ts=t&x=54&y=20

water witch · 12-15-2007, 01:16 AM

many thanks

12-13-2007, 10:20 PM	#1
water witch New User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Advice on first Swiss Luger Hi all, I'm new to the forum and new to Lugers. I'm wondering if anyone could provide an opinion on either of the two Swiss Lugers located at this retailer: http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/pistol.html Any advice? thanks from Canada

12-14-2007, 05:46 PM	#2
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hi Scott, Both Swiss M1929 Lugers look like nice guns, but the glare of the photos and lack of details makes it difficult to tell if either gun has been refinished or not. Swiss Lugers routinely got refinished by the Bern arsenal during the service life of their pistols. The little serial numbers stamped along the shoulder of the barrel where it screws into the receiver and the Bernerprobe stamp are seen applied after bluing...so that might be one way to tell if original finish or rework. One of the Lugers along its right side has a "P" stamp...just above the trigger on the frame. It this "P" has bluing applied in the groves of the "P", that might tell you the gun has been refinished after it was released from Military service in Switzerland as well. Not sure if you get "importer stamps" on guns coming into Canada or not. Something to ask and look for. Price for these later-M1929's run $ 1700-1900 USD here in the USA...usually with an old holster. Based on the two serial numbers of the Lugers, they were made at the Bern arsenal in : SN 75976 - Made in 1944 ( a date stamp inside the front frame well will tell you the month in 1944 the gun was made). SN 75455 - Also made in 1944. That year Bern made 5,800 of these Lugers usually with black plastic grips and magazine bottoms. BTW...this same web site has some nice Swiss revolvers for sale at decent prices as well. Those revolvers are well-made and are fun to shoot. Hope this info. is of some help...

12-14-2007, 06:16 PM	#3
water witch New User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks very much, it does help. We don't apply "importer stamps" to imported guns yet in Canada (although this may change). The only exception is when we import from the US and get the US (Century arms,etc) stamps that were applied when these guns were originally imported to the US. Your info was very good, thanks again. Many of us Canadians (with some exeptions) don't have the option of owning an original P08 due to the barrel length (4" barrels are prohibited in this country) so if we want an original (non-rebarrelled luger) our options are limited (the Swiss is one option). Thanks again. I'd like to pick up a few books on these Swiss Lugers before making a decision. regards Scott (in Canada)

12-14-2007, 06:23 PM	#4
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Scott, The best book you could pick up is the big one by Italian author V. Bobba. Brand new it is a bit pricy but worth every penny. Here is what is looks like : http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...oducts_id=2967 It is written in Italian and English side-by-side on the same page. He has a second smaller book out in Italian only...about Lugers in general. But you want his first big book on the Swiss Lugers... Here are a couple of used sources for less money... http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...ts=t&x=54&y=20

12-15-2007, 01:16 AM	#5
water witch New User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	many thanks