WW1 vs. WW2 Luger

[lundbaek]

I looking about for a "garden variety" military Luger, it appears to me that WW2 Lugers have greater value and are more desirable than WW1 Lugers, all other things like condition being equal. This seems strange to me since I think of the Luger as a WW1 pistol. Am I imagining this or is there a reason for it?

[Edward Tinker]

it is too simple of a question (no offense).

There were several manufacturers, and many, many variations.

There is a mysteique about the nazi's and it is not so long ago as WW1.


WW1
DWM and Erfurt

Weimar era, DWM, Simson (soem reworks and special orders)


Nazi
(early and otherwise)

DWM at the end; then Krieghoff and then Mauser

Each has their own variations, their own proofs, accetpance, while having seperate variations of army, navy, police and commericial


Then, are you looking for long term 'value" or something to shoot?

I always tell folks, figure your era, then what type you want.

Ed

[lundbaek]

Thanks, Ed. I think you answered my question with the comment "There is a mystique about the nazi's..." As I have looked closely at a couple of dozen Lugers at gun shows over the past year, the sellers always called my attention to the Nazi markings on the WW2 pistols as a big selling point that made the pieces more valuable than my 1916 Erfurt in better condition.

[Ron Wood]

If you look at my "signature" you will see what my collecting recommendation would be. I agree with tac, a 1916 Erfurt is a highly preferred Luger!

[Ron Smith]

The dealer's also hype the Nazi marked Lugers. We have a generation of people who have never heard of the Korean war and some who are not even sure of where Vietnam is, but everybody knows who Hitler was and what the Nazi's did. They were the true "Evil Empire" perpetuated by "Star Wars".

The sad part is that the generation that grew up with "Star Wars" considers the evil to be cool. In actuality it was the most repulsive endeavor ever perpitrated by members of the human race.

[lundbaek]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I'm glad to note someone who calls 'em as he sees 'em Re. the Nazi markings and Nazi memoribilia. I have a 1942 P-38 made at Walther that has some of those Nazi stamps, and as much as I treasure the gun for a special reason, I never let my wife see the markings. She lived in occupied Denmark under the war, during which time a family member was executed for underground activities and a neighbor was shot dead for stepping out the front door after curfew to call one of his kids home, among other things that she was less aware of.

[Tobruk42]

For me it has always been WWI. Listening to my granfathers stories of being "over there" in 1918 stirred an interest in Lugers from that era at an early age. Give me an Erfurt and a "coal bucket" helmet any day! I have a few Lugers from the '30s but I swear the older boys just seem to shoot a little better somehow.

[beachbaker]

A lot of collectors like the strawing found on the WWI Lugers which give the guns that extra finished look. When I first started collecting Lugers I started with the WWII BYF's thinking I had to have that Nazi connection. Now my last 6 Lugers have all been WWI and I do not collect WWII anymore. I think ones interest will take them where their interest lies and fortunately with all the different era's and models there is something for everyone. Curt

[alvin]

Very subjective. In my imagination, the prettiest handgun should look like Luger 1900, Papa Nambu (or Grandpa Nambu? I've never figured out the delta between Papa and Grandpa). They have something in common: racked grip + exposed pencil-like barrel (that's one reason I love 7,65, 9 barrel looks a little bit too fat and short). Just a personal taste.

[beachbaker]

Yes that is a nice look and for me that is where the Swiss Lugers come in. My taste has recently taken me to them as my last two purchases have been Bern's as I find all the Swiss Lugers with that thin barrel beautiful pieces of art (if a gun can be a piece of art).

[alvin]

Of course it's a piece of art. Gun art. Swiss is sweet. But I cannot get use to their later ones with weird grip. Early ones are great.

[beachbaker]

If you refer to to the 29's I also can find no interest with the straight grips with the cheesy looking safety, and no strawing.

[lundbaek]

I never considered any gun a piece of art, but I have to admit some guns have more or added appeal to me due to their appearance. Although engaving detracts from a gun's appearance for me. Practical, functional reliability, strength, and accuracy come first. I think outer surface cutting tool marks and lower quality or damaged blueing or plating detract from a gun's value for anybody. Then I consider a gun's usefulness (ie I don't consider .44 magnums and above useful other than for bear). So for me the Luger was a classic in its day. And I did notice at least one Luger being carried as late as 1977 by an Israeli soldier.

[alvin]

Originally posted by lundbaek
engaving detracts from a gun's appearance for me

No engraving. Thought that's interesting, not anymore.

Originally posted by lundbaek
Practical, functional reliability, strength, and accuracy come first.

Sure. My wife keeps questioning this: "How many hands you have? One hand holds one, two functional guns should be enough". So, IMO, a couple of modern guns like Glock, SIG, etc are still needed. But I don't collect them.

[lundbaek]

OK, Alvin, 2 for you, 2 for your wife, and how many kids and grandchildren to you have?

BTW, does anybody like the Finnish & Swedish Lahti pistols, which have lines similar to the Luger?

[alvin]

Heeee... If she likes .... may Sun rise from west one day?

Lahti is interesting. Especially the Finnish one. It's very unusual to see bolt accelerator on a handgun, and Finnish Lahti has such an accelerator. Lloyd on gunboards.com sold a nice rig last year, but I missed it. Swidish one simplified the accelerator out. It's short-recoil operated, but the action is totally different from that of Lugers.

[alvin]

tac -- Thanks. A little thought here, you mentioned "issue Browning HP35", Inglis Mk I* No. 2, correct? Glad to meet you here in the cyberspace!

[Tim Reynolds]

IMO Cannot beat a full rig WWI artillery luger for awesome looks.

[383 magnum]

There is more interest in World War II than the Great War, so that's probably why values are sometimes a little higher for WWII Lugers. The Civil War and the Second World War seem to be the most studied wars in U.S. history.

[Went Blakely]

i'm a WW2 man myself, but i can really appreciate some of the early models and my extend my collection to them once i have a few WW2 examples.