Not garbage to me.

[pajh]

Having recently come into the procession of a Luger type pistol, I found your site and am impressed. The discussions seem forthright and informative.
I would like to impose upon your wisdom. I don't even know the correct caliber of my pistol.

It came to me from the small gun collection of my father-in-law who died in 1995. I do not know how long he had the Luger. His collection was not sophisticated and I suspect that the value of this pistol to him was the unique form and action. Based on my reading of past messages on your site, I believe this pistol is a replica model rather than an original Luger. Description is as follows:

Housed in wooden box with extra mag., cleaning rod and mag. loading slide tool.
Label in box lid reads: American Eagle, LUGER, A.F.Stoager, Inc., New York

The pistol color is all black, with barrel length just over 3 1/8th ins.
Regular Luger silhouette except that the toggle knob is more forward than in pictured models that I have seen on lugerforum.
Markings:
Top: crest of Am. Eagle
Right: A.F.Stoeger, Inc., New York (2 lines)

Left: LUGER, and SAFE under thumb safety.
Underside of barrel: STOEGER IND, S, HACKENSACK, NJ, U.S.A.
Front of chamber: C0545

The magazine has a white plastic slide, bottom plug is black matte plastic.
The magazines are exactly as pictured at ammoclip.com under Stoeger Luger .22LR, 10 round.

Thanks for considering my curiosity. I am intrigued by this pistol, want to fire it a few times, but mostly am enjoying the seeking of the story.

[ViggoG]

Pajh,
I certainly am glad to see you posting here on the Luger Forum.
I wish that I could give you some help with the Identification of your Luger like Pistol.
I would assume that since "Luger" is a trademark of Stoeger which they legally obtained from the prior owner, Then the pistol that you have can be called a genuine Luger in 22 cal.
This is just a guess but it may be a Post War Erfort .22 constructed for Stoeger and Imported to the US by them.
I have heard that the Erfort 22 cal Lugers were made using a Soft aluminum like Alloy metal.
And as such were subject to breakage.
If I were you I would Post pictures here on the Forum and I'm certain that you will attract many responses and learn much.
Use the private letter or post again in the help Thread above requesting help in posting Pictures.
Several members will be right there to help.
Thank you for the E-address of ammoclip.com I found there magazines for my Springfield Armory 1922 M-1, .22 cal. Rifle.
I have been looking for extra magazines for several years with no result.
Thanks again,
ViggoG

[Pete Ebbink]

Hello Peter,

Is this what your pistol might look like ?

Regards,

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

[pajh]

Yes, it looks a match.
Mine does not, however, have the red or green dots to indicate safety position. Can you confirm caliber as .22LR and give any other suggestions or concerns
Many thanks
Peter

[Ron Wood]

As posted above, Stoeger "owns" the name "Luger" in the United States and therefore is the only firm that can market a firearm with that name. Your pistol was produced by Stoeger in the US until 1985. It has an aluminum alloy frame and is in .22LR caliber. It is a fun plinking gun but unfortunately does not have much collector interest. It was rather inexpensively made approximate copy of the Luger action and intended for sport shooting. In mint condition I believe its value is around $200-$250. In the wooden box with extra mag, it may be one of the "1 of 1000" special set made in 1984-85, and therefore worth a bit more, perhaps in the $325 range.

[Johnny C. Kitchens]

Here's another one...



<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

[ViggoG]

Ron,
In as much as Stoeger is primarily a Retailer and most of their products are manufactrured for them on contract.
Do we have any idea who was the contractor for these 22 cal "Luger look alikes"?
Viggo

[Ron Wood]

Viggo,
I think it may have been produced by Navy Arms, and I think it was also marketed by them as "Navy Arms Parabellum". Chances are pretty good that Navy Arms further subcontracted the guns, but I have no idea who that might have been. Memory is a little dim (plus I really never had a lot of interest in them).
Ron

[rufe-snow]

Hate to be the rumor-monger, "BUT" years ago I was told the Stanley Tool Company was the manufacturer of the .22 caliber Lugers that were sold by Stoeger. NEVER have been able to substantiate in any way!
For some reason it was considered a deep dark secret, like the red headed step-child and no-body associated with Stoeger would talk about it?
Reason I was interested, I owned one once back in the dark ages (1970's).
Interestingly enought there are (3) different post-war manufactures of .22 caliber Luger copies. Though most people think Erma was the only one.

[rufe-snow]

Tacfoley, ESTEAMED COLLEAGUE. No offense meant, BUT your "Blowing Smoke!"

As I said in my previous post, there have been (3) manufactures of .22 replica Lugers during the post W W II era.

(1), ECHAVE & ARIZMENDI, Eibar SPAIN ( "Luger Panzer" )

(2), ERMA WERKE WAFFENFABRIK, Dachau Germany ( "KGP-68, -68A, -22, EP" etc. )

(3), UNKNOWN AMERICAN MAKER?, ( Stoeger Luger & Navy Arms Luger )

Numbers #2 & #3 are not the same pistols. To substantiate this obtain a copy of the "NRA Guide To Pistols And Revolvers" Second Printing, April 1994. The Illustrated Parts Breakdown for the Erma .22 Luger is on page 106. The Illustrated Parts Breakdown for the Stoeger .22 Luger is on page 260. Two different pistols.

[John Sabato]

Interesting Info Rufe...

I have seen examples of the #2 & #3 variations... would you happen to have a photo of the type #1 by your description? I have not experienced one with that name on it.

[rufe-snow]

John I believe the Spanish replica ( Echave & Arizmendi ) to be very uncommon in this country. I only saw (1) at a gunshow all the years I was collecting.
It's was a extremely crude potmetal sandcasting with steel liners. The "PANZER" & "LUGER" markings are actually part of the casting.
I doubt the pistol was legally imported because of the Stoeger copyright.
Don't know where I could get a picture of it?

[pajh]

Thanks one and all!
I like the idea of "Stoeger's little secret"
or , who makes what for whom and when.

Does the along-the-bottom-of-the-short-barrel inscription of
"STOEGER IND, S, HACKENSACK NJ U.S.A.",
(which of course takes up most all of the three+ ins.),
suggest that at least the barrel was made by a Stoeger company?
And is this Stoeger of NJ the same as the A.F.Stoeger of NY?

But again thanks for all the thoughts and discussion.
I'm going to plink with it, and if it falls apart will complain
mightily and buy a new stainless from TX.

[Ron Wood]

Just by coincidence, look what Bob Adams has for sale!