Albuquerque Show

[Strider]

This weekend the New Mexico Gun Collectors Association is having their an Spring show in Albuquerque. I was wondering if any forum members in the area would be attending. I plan on going Saturday morning. I will be the one drooling over the display that Mr. Eckurt usually has here. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />
Sid.

[Thor]

I am going! Probably on Saturday Morning and take my klunky old K date to market my wares.
Let's meet for breakfast before and go together?

[Strider]

Well it looks like it is just Thor and I so far. Looking forward to having breakfast with you buddy. Hope you like hot chil�©.
Sid.

[Pete Ebbink]

Guys,

I just picked up a small project in Albuquerque that will have me in town for several weeks in the June and July timeframe with a couple of weekend stay-overs...

I look forward to connecting up with guys at a local gun show then...and maybe even find a beater-luger at the show that Ted can take home and restore for me...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Thor]

Yes Sid, you know I love hot chili, remember I used to grow Habaneros and bring them into BHI to give away to folks? When I order THAI food I usually asked them to extra spice it!
Pete, looks like a gunshow here in June 5-6
(see link) Looking forward to meeting you! NM Albuquerque 2004 Gunshow Schedule-CLICK HERE

[Ron Wood]

Hey, if you guys are going to get together, count me in. Albuquerque is right next door to El Paso (as much as any place is "next door" to El Paso ).

[Thor]

Which show Ron? The February show this weekend or the June show? (hopefully both)

[Ron Wood]

Unfortunately, it will probably be the June show. I can't get away this Saturday, and Sunday is looking pretty iffy.

[Strider]

Thor, I forgot about those "hot"erneros you used to bring. Boy those sure were good. <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />

Pete, that would be great to see you in June. Just let us know when you plan to be in. I'm sure we can find something for you here. <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

Ron, it would be good to see your smiling face again. I enjoyed meeting you the last time you came up for a show. <img border="0" alt="[blabla]" title="" src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" />

Sid.

[Thor]

Had some Lugers at the show! A nice DWM Artillery (I forget the year), original but missing some bluing but overpriced by $300 IMO. Saw probably a dozen Lugers for sale which is about a dozen more than normal. Met John Eckert and really enjoyed his display and talked to him at length and we compared my K date to one he had in his collection. I was very pleased with his comments on my gun. He taught me a couple of things to look out on a variation I had never seen before. More on that later. I think Strider took good notes and might want to write about it.
Also finally got to met Bob Adams which was a real highlight to me, a quality gun dealer. We talked quite a bit about the Persian Mauser Luger he purchased that is featured on his web site, a real treasure IMO. CLICK HERE TO SEE LINK FOR Shah Presentation Luger Gave a lot of my cards away (along with Striders help) and showed off my K which was fun. One of the gun dealers asked me what it started out as, I had to laugh, he seemed to wonder if I had made it from some other Luger but I told him it was a K when I got it, just not as nice, lol! All in all a great show, but meeting those nice people and getting time to spend with Strider and the great breakfast at Pereas restaurant were the best! Did see several Lugers that could use a little Thor's TLC. I thoroughly enjoyed the show.

[Strider]

Had a great time with Thor this weekend and got to see quite a few Lugers. Like Thor mentioned the highlight would have to be the rare variation that we saw and read about. Dieter Marschall wrote about this variation in his book "Handguns of the Armed Organizations of the Soviet Zone & German Demorcatic Republic" where some of the information that I am giving came from. The one that was pictured in his book has a different serial number than the one we saw.

The pistol was a special production made in 1953 at Suhl where they had been refurbishing Lugers. Apparently as a study 100 of these pistols were made to see if it would be feasable to start production of these fine pistols again. Apparently it was not cost effective. These pistols may have been Krieghoff's (calm down John D. ). The serial numbers for these pistols were N1000 to N1100. The "N" meaning "new production". A couple of interesting things about this that you will notice is that the cam ramp is located further back than the average Luger. Also, the take down lever is shaped a bit different. Instead of a circular shape is is in the shape of a D with straight sides. Best way I could explain the description of this. I am unable to recall if this piece had any other markings on it. I am thinking that it may not have. Thor correct me if I am wrong on this.

If any of you would like to see a picture of this I would suggest getting a copy of Dieter's book. Thanks Dieter. Well I need to run. I have more to talk about that we saw at the show. Oh yeah, has any forum member seen this variation before or have any comments on this. Thanks.
Sid.

[John Sabato]

Great report Sid! Wish you had a photo of that variation to post here!

[Thor]

The frame cam ramps are a little further back to open the action a little later in the cycle and possibly shoot a hotter loaded ammo. The left side of the frame (the flat part) just in front of the safety lever is rough machined with radial cuts like a cyq P.38 but probably not as deep. No chamber date nor toggle logo. I did see a serial number on top on one of the links. Perhaps at the next show I can photograph it. Appeared to be a dark salt blue finish. I didnt handle so I dont know more. Not a real pretty Luger as Lugers go(they all are beautiful anyway arent they?) but a rare one. Strider was a good Luger student and took notes where I failed to carry a note pad.

[Strider]

To continue my report, the display that Mr. Eckert had was awesome. It had a piece from every maker of the Luger including the stainless steel models. I think I like those a lot better now that I have seen one in person. All of these were excellent examples. The neat pieces IMO was the Spandau, the Simson, and the artillery marked in Farsi including the adjustable site. John D. you would have drooled over the Krieghoffs . Could not resist a dig there. Three very nice examples of Krieghoffs. Each had a great discription of it and where it was made and what time frame. I did find several other Lugers throughout the show. Most were either Imperial or Weimar pieces. I did find one Simson stamped but it was a parts gun that had been put together. It seemed to me that the parts guns were on the high side for me. Most of the Lugers I saw had matching numbers. One table had a G, K, and 3 S/42's in good shape. The artillery that Thor mentioned was dated 1918. I believe that is correct unless my mind is still on the display. Anyway I did not buy any thing other than a Mauser stamped loading tool. I thought it was neat and could not pass it up. Well I will post anything else if I remember it. Before I forget, I had a great time with Thor. Good friends, good food, and great guns.

Sid.

[Ron Wood]

You will never find a more devoted and hard working Luger collector than John Eckert. His Lugers are outstanding, spanning a comprehensive array of types and representing some of the finest examples known. He is a long time friend and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He, Bob Adams and Warren Buxton have been kind enough to include me in several of their forays to gun shows, and every minute was delightful.

[Thor]

Ron, my impression of John Eckert was just as you said! He treated me like a long lost friend, we gabbed and gabbed for quite a while. I really enjoyed talking Luger with your friend.

[Strider]

I agree with everything Ron said about Mr. Eckert. He is one of the reasons I make sure to go to the show here. His displays and the history are amazing. He is quite helpful to the novice and always ready to help. One of the nicest persons you could meet. It would be neat if we could somehow make a permanent record of each of his displays.

Sid.

[Thor]

I agree Strider, it might be noted that he commonly attends big shows and shows his Luger display.