My last Grail Gun....well maybe ;)

[gold cup abuser]

Like many of you I have a list of Holy Grail guns that I want to add to my collection.

When I was a kid my mother worked for a judge, and in his confrence room he had a M1 Carbine. I used to stare at that rifle in awe when I was in there with my mom or the judge.

I finally found a GI M1 carbine thanks to the CMP. I had a Universal Carbine years ago, but it just didn't feel the same as a GI issued carbine.

My next Holy Grail gun was a P08 Luger. I never fired one, but in watching so many WWII movies as a kid, it just became one of those must haves. But in searching they were always out of my price range.

That was until recently........

I was having a conversation with one of my good friends who I have bought some guns from, and the conversation turned to Lugers. I mentioned that I have always wanted one, but beteween the price, fakes and just not finding one in good condition that I could shoot without fear of damage.

He smiles, and says that he just might have something that would fit the bill. A week goes by, and he gives me a call and asks me to meet him.

We get together, and he says he has something that I would be interested in. He opens up his breifcase and in there is a P08 Luger.

I ask him how much he wants, and he says $900 bucks.... I almost passed out He told me that if it was anyone else the price would be much much higher. He told me this was one of 3 P08's he has, one he will keep, and one he just gave to his son.

I took a good look at the pistol, and all of the serial numbers in the key areas match, I check out the barrel, and its showing some light pitting, but the rifling is nice and sharp. The magazine is not matching to the pistol, but the bottom has a wooden base. He also had a holster for the pistol and a belt. The holster has a waffenmark on it, but the belt was a bit small for me....lol

I got it home after we did the transfer, and began to take it apart to clean and inspect it for any damage. Markings showed it was a DWM 1916 made marked P08 with no Nazi overstamps or other commercial markings. As I took it apart I checked the numbers of all of the components and they were all matching

It was like hitting the powerball

Then I took it out to shoot it.....

Against my normal practice to use Wolf steel cased ammo, I got some Winchester 9mm NATO marked ammo. The stove pipe circus began..

Fails to feed and eject were the norm of the day at the range. The magazine seemed to be the culprit as it would only load 6 rounds.

I called CDNN and got 3 magazines from them, and after waiting 3 days they came in this friday. I got some Winchester white box 9mm ammo and hit up the range today.

Powerball time again

She ran like a champ. Well until my thumb hit the magazine release....

I was impressed with how comfortable it felt and how naturally it pointed. And it was accurate to boot It was shooting point of aim.

I promise to have pics up on her later today, just have to get the camera out and then clean her up.


Now if I could only find a plasma rifle in the 40 watt range........lol

[Pizza Bob]

I hate to disappoint you, but there will always be another "grail" gun. Just go with it.

[RickD]

Great story, can't wait to see the pictures!

[thebearpack]

Awesome. Does your friend need any more friends?!

[King 5.45]

I hate to disappoint you, but there will always be another "grail" gun. Just go with it.

One almost begins to think that Bob is an investor in a gun-safe company.

BTW, Bob, nice shooting: http://forum.pafoa.org/general-2/646...-purchase.html

[MischaBurns]

Now if I could only find a plasma rifle in the 40 watt range........lol

if you find some, i'll take a few.

[PennsyPlinker]

Congratulations! I have a possible "grail gun" sitting next to me right now, waiting to go to the range. It is definitely a fixer upper, but it may be worth it. Range time will tell.

[gold cup abuser]

beteween the circus at work, and my daughter taking and hiding the camera to take more pics of the cat, I didn't have time to post pics

But I finally got some done





Beteween

[bortle]

I hate to disappoint you, but there will always be another "grail" gun. Just go with it.

It never stops. Always something else. Garand,AK,AR,FAL,M1A....The list is endless.

[brian]

looks good, but i would bet dollars to donuts that it has been refinished.
for a pistol that was produced during the height of the great war, that toggle finish still looks fresh.
no unit or personal markings on it?