Why no Luger replicas?

BCRider

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I'm just curious about why what seems to be such a popular style of pistol doesn't seem to have anyone making replicas of it.

I've always liked the look of them and the way the toggle works. And last week I got to actually finally shoot a buddy's very pristine Luger for a magazine worth. I found it to be a very nice gun to shoot. And certainly something that I'd like to have in my own collection. But not having a 12.6 ticket I'm stuck with maybe one day finding a rather expensive and what seems to be rare restricted version with the longer barrel.

All of which makes me wonder why one of the Italian companies or some other arms company isn't making a somewhat lesser cost replica.

I know of the Erma but from all I've seen so far it only came in .22LR. Is there a more faithful replica in the proper 9mm chambering out there?
 
sometimes you can find Finnish Lugers with restricted 5" barrels original installed by Finnish arsenal after WWII
check this site from time to time, I almost bought a restricted one 3 month ago.

http:// w w w.collectorssource.com/category.asp?catid=12
 
I wondered that myself for the Broomhandle and Luger. I love those two so much... we can find some restricted but they tend to be more expensive, replicas (read not chinese) would be sweet.

Trade Ex has a bunch of restricted swiss Luger, and Sig 210 :eek: (see banner up top) they are pricey tho.
 
If you take a good look at the Luger drawings (There are a few scans floating around online) you will find that they are an incredibly detailed, complicated firearm to make.

Very much a product of a detail driven manufacturing process. Very much un-economical to make, compared to stuff like a Colt 1911 clone, as far as potential sales and profits go.

Cheaper to just buy a 'shooter' grade one and be done with it.

Cheers
Trev
 
Interarms arranged to have a run made quite a few years ago by Mauser. It was not cost effective.
In the US, Mitchell made some for a while. Never shot one, they didn't look bad.
The Luger was a very complex firearm to manufacture. If new ones were to be made, the cost would be substantial.
Mauser pistols were made in China for years. The Mauser could be made more easily than a Luger. But would there be a sufficient market to justify manufacture?
 
The Luger design is expensive to produce properly and I doubt if there is a market large enough to sustain the cost. There were P-08s manufactured up until the 1970s marked with the post war Mauser or prewar DWM logo. IIRC, this was the Swiss Police version without the flair at the front base of the grip frame, which I didn't find as aesthetically pleasing as the German original.
 
I have a very good advise for you.

If you like Luger pistol, buy a Swiss Luger. They are right now available on the market at cheap price, and they are very well made.

No new production Luger can be made at a cheaper price.;)

They are very well made (Swiss quality), they shot very well and restricted only.
 
The guys have it right. Prohibitively expensive to manufacture - that is one major reason the German military went to the P-38 as it is LOTS cheaper to make. If you really, really want one, arrange for a "shooter grade" mixed parts gun to have one of the 6" barrels from Numrich Arms put on, and enjoy.
Dr J
 
Having pulled my 1914 Erfurt apart to look at the internals, I can vouch for the complexity of the early Lugers.

Modern production processes will come close, but I doubt it will match the feel and look of the vintage guns. Matching the machining and handfitting of the parts, plus the surface finish is where the money will have to be spent. Toss on a set of nice wood grips and you've there. It then becomes a very exclusive club to join.....

Yes someone with deep pockets could "re-issue" them but the cost would well and above a excellent, numbers matching pre-WWII firearm you could buy on EE or elsewhere.

Nope....mines not for sale.
 
Yeah, when that Collector Source outlet has the real things for under $1K and given the complex nature of their design I suppose those prices are darn decent.

The Tradex Swiss versions are just way too pricey to consider though.

Thanks to all for the information.
 
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