The "Million Dollar Gun" - .45 Caliber Luger

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  • Опубліковано 27 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 106

  • @CameronMcCreary
    @CameronMcCreary 10 місяців тому +27

    When I was younger I worked for John Martz and made parts, grips and magazine bases for his .45 Lugers. I was able to fire the Martz .45 and the Krausewerke .45 and enjoyed both of them. I found the Krausewerke .45 to be the most accurate. Also, there is a German citizen who I wrote to a few years ago who built a few .45 Lugers.

  • @alandfrazier
    @alandfrazier 10 місяців тому +16

    I'm clueless as to where Luger numbers 2 through 6 may be found. But Lugerman rebuilt my C96 broomhandle ex Chinese warlord/army pos, and sent back a very tight shooter. Kudos to Lugerman!

  • @TreyWait
    @TreyWait 10 місяців тому +29

    Gun Jesus loved Lugerman's repro, it's pretty cool that a high quality .45 Luger is being produed right here in the US.

  • @kl0wnkiller912
    @kl0wnkiller912 10 місяців тому +8

    Pretty impressive quality for a reproduction. I have owned two military issued lugers. The first my dad loaded and dropped the slide in our house and it proceeded to empty the clip through our roof (firing pin stuck). My mom was pissed. I acquired it from my dad some years later and eventually sold it. The second I got in a trade and it was in rough shape so I traded it for a Government issue 1911. One thing about them, they are built like wrist watches and except for some later military models, are exceptionally high quality. The gun I always wanted was the broomhandle. Love the look.

  • @giovannipotenza123
    @giovannipotenza123 10 місяців тому +15

    Tom, nice video. That B/W photo fo the 45 luger came from me when I was stationed at Leavenworth KS CGSG school library. The Library gave me a copy of the negative they had on file during the US test in 2007-8-9. I give it to Jan Still to use in his book. He said he would give me a credit. He did not do that:(. Mark Rendina

    • @tonyridestrails
      @tonyridestrails 9 місяців тому +1

      what a dick he is for not giving you credit. shame on him.

  • @LS1007
    @LS1007 10 місяців тому +30

    I found on the internet that the no. 2 .45 Luger was in the Sidney Aberman collection in the 1950’s and was sold in 1989 and is in a private collection. After reading more, the California dealer who acquired it after Abermans death, sold it to an Indonesian billionaire, Yani Haryanto for one million dollars. The gun changed hands several times and was last sold at a Greg Martin auction in 2010 for $494,500 dollars to a celebrity who has a huge gun collection. It will always be known as the million dollar Luger.

    • @Nick_B_Bad
      @Nick_B_Bad 10 місяців тому +3

      James Earl Jones?

    • @wolfgangemmerich7552
      @wolfgangemmerich7552 10 місяців тому

      This .45 Cal Lugers was made in China . Chinese made copys of allmost every famous western guns. You can find .45 Cal Mauser C 96 ,, Bromhandel " aswell as Mauser BOLO - C 711 with rapidfire switch. The 45. Cal Lugers China made in Long Barrel ,, Marine " or ,, Artillerie " Version incl. shoulderstock Holsters ! The german gunmagazin ,, Visier" made very nice reports incl. testing this China made Lugers & Mausers in the 1980s !

    • @LS1007
      @LS1007 10 місяців тому +6

      @@wolfgangemmerich7552 This is NOT about Chinese made replicas.

    • @katana258
      @katana258 10 місяців тому

      so this clown can not even get on the internet ..wow

  • @billsteele495
    @billsteele495 10 місяців тому +11

    Recently picked up a Savage 1907 .45 test gun. Also saw a .45 Luger at Ralph Shattuck’s house before he passed.

    • @Nick_B_Bad
      @Nick_B_Bad 10 місяців тому +3

      Wow!

    • @CameronMcCreary
      @CameronMcCreary 10 місяців тому +6

      I remember Mr. Shattuck; he would visit John Martz' shop and I met him there. He was a very nice man respectful and interested in how the Lugers were built.

  • @mutantfmj
    @mutantfmj 10 місяців тому +15

    while on active duty as a Marine, I went to Foriegn weapons school at Aberdeen proving MD. They have two of the original test .45 cal. Lugers , in the historical collection, (Not Open to public) .

    • @slim864gvg6
      @slim864gvg6 Місяць тому +1

      That's what I always thought as well. Plus, I thought that the US Army was given more than 2 for testing. It seems like I remember a show, on the History Channel, years ago that told this story and that Aberdeen has 2 of the pistols, another is supposedly 8:34 in the hands of a private collector, and the rest are unaccounted for. If memory serves me right, William Atwater was the curator at Aberdeen Proving Ground and told the story of the Lugers. I wish I could remember which show it was on. Maybe "Mail Call w R.Lee Ermey rip" or "Modern Marvels", but I am not really sure. I know that it was made in the late 90s or early 2000s. Anyway, I agree with your account, as i have heard the same, and I am pretty sure that Aberdeen still has at least 1, maybe 2.

    • @mutantfmj
      @mutantfmj Місяць тому +1

      @ yes William Atwater was still curator there when I was in Foriegn weapons school he taught several of the classes. He also brought in weapons for the classes. We learned to identify, break down, operate 100s of weapons. I believe he hosted History of the gun series. In 90s. But I was busy in North Africa then Balkans, then Middle East.

    • @slim864gvg6
      @slim864gvg6 Місяць тому +1

      @mutantfmj I believe that you are correct regarding the show that he contributed to along with many others. I have to admit my tinge of jealousy over having him as an instructor! Lol I hope it was great listening to his interesting stories and anecdotes. Didn't he serve in Vietnam as well? Anyway, I can't even imagine how vast your knowledge is and the events you must have experienced. I have to thank you for your service and sacrifice to our great nation. There are so many jerks out there that have no idea nor appreciation for what people like yourself do to fulfill that role of national guardian, but I do and I say, with utmost sincerity, thank you for what you have done.

  • @bradschroeder809
    @bradschroeder809 10 місяців тому +11

    My late father Joseph J Schroeder Jr was hired to appraise the collection in Louisiana. It was probably the mid to late 70s. I remember him talking about examining a 45 Lugar there. My dad had a number of the 45 caliber US test pieces in his collection at one time, including a Savage, a Bergmann and a Webley.
    Have you ever discussed the “baby Lugar” prototype pocket pistol, on your channel? My dad sold it on consignment for his friend Carl Wilson in the early 80s. I remember he sold it for $50,000, he let me hold it and I was scared to touch it, as $50,000 seemed like all the money in the world to me then!
    In the mid 90s I joined my dad on a working vacation to UK and we visited a prominent gun collector friend of his there. In the collection, there was the baby Lugar, the UK collector now owned it!
    I can’t recall his name now, I remember my dad telling me the collector, who owned a pharmaceutical company as I recall, later moved to Switzerland when UK got stricter with gun laws.
    Which is rarer, and which is more valuable now, the 45 test piece Lugar or the baby Lugar?

    • @chrisdooley1184
      @chrisdooley1184 10 місяців тому

      Do you remember how that Webley was to fire?? Any thoughts on it at all would be great to hear 😊

  • @dbelex
    @dbelex 10 місяців тому +7

    I remember as a kid in the 70s, you could get matching number Lugers for $200. Today 2000+

    • @pagamenews
      @pagamenews 2 місяці тому

      Those were the daze! I recall gun shows where a person could buy a genuine US Civil War cap n ball revolver for two hundred. Today they are two grand.

  • @danielnewman134
    @danielnewman134 10 місяців тому +4

    Thanks for a very interesting video. I also recall an Article in the American Rifleman in the 1990s about the 45ACP Luger. But I no longer have that issue. The first Wall Street Movie also had a scene where Gordon Geko opened his gun cabinet at a dinner party and showed off the 45 Acp Luger that he had just gotten. Of course, it was a prop gun. Thank God the US Army adopted the 1911 and 1911 A-1. It was a fair superior combat handgun.

  • @whitetiana3022
    @whitetiana3022 10 місяців тому +10

    switzerland adopted the 7.65 parrabellum luger as their military pistol for 46 years.
    seemed to be strong enough for them.
    PS: the swiss variant was made by Waffen Fabrik Bern. so no, you didn't have to import them from germany to adopt them for your military.

    • @wolfgangemmerich7552
      @wolfgangemmerich7552 10 місяців тому

      Yes , this Luger 7.65 Parabellums was also ,,made in germany oberndorf am neckar " and this 7.65 Cal. was similar powerful as the mauser 7.62 & 7.63 tokarev .

  • @normvw4053
    @normvw4053 10 місяців тому +2

    I remember a Gun Digest article stating that seven of these firearms were made for the US. Army. If I recall the article stated that there were four that their locations are known. That leaves three that are out there somewhere. Six figures for them, or so they say.

  • @philhubbard2001
    @philhubbard2001 19 днів тому

    I think back in the 80’s American Handgunner magazine did an article on that .45 Luger and fired it. I remember them saying it was $50 a shot. They might have the pictures in their archive.

  • @TheWozWizard
    @TheWozWizard 10 місяців тому +7

    "We Shoot the Million$$ Luger" by Garry James "Guns & Ammo" June 1994.

    • @TheWozWizard
      @TheWozWizard 10 місяців тому

      Got my original magazine. No need for ebay.@user-lp2ck1yt9b

    • @donwyoming1936
      @donwyoming1936 10 місяців тому +1

      I still have that issue, somewhere, in my collection. 🤠

  • @henryturnerjr3857
    @henryturnerjr3857 10 місяців тому +12

    I vaguely remember a magazine article from years ago where the private owner allowed a gun writer to handle and possibly fire the .45 Luger. It may have been Garry James and may have been a reproduction.

    • @901ronnie
      @901ronnie 10 місяців тому +1

      I remember reading the article he wrote about it. It was in one of the Gun Magazines that was published in Peoria Illinois. I thought there was a picture in there. Garry and the owner fired it once or twice and in the article he said they looked at each other and said what are we doing? If a part breaks we will never get another original part to replace it. I think it was after the sale you mentioned to a private owner. The title I believe was shooting a million dollar gun. Hope this helps.

  • @TheWozWizard
    @TheWozWizard 10 місяців тому +5

    "Return of the .45 Luger" by Garry James "Gun & Ammo" March 1998. The Krausewerke .45 Luger

  • @kenibnanak5554
    @kenibnanak5554 10 місяців тому +1

    What I always found interesting about those is when DWM declined to make more of them for the US Army claiming it would be disruptive to current contracts to make 9mm versions, no one suggested they link up and build a factory to make licensed versions in the US.

  • @pauliedweasel
    @pauliedweasel 10 місяців тому

    I actually got to hold that Luger back in 2010 at the gun store that was acting as the agent for the buyer, the gun sold for $575k but the previous owner had supposedly paid $1.6 million for the gun just four years before.

  • @williammccaslin8527
    @williammccaslin8527 10 місяців тому

    Back in the early 80's, Guns an Ammo did an big article on these, with lots of info an really nice closeup pics. An I believe ( SEE I DIDN'T SAY I HEARD) they alluded to a # 7 pistol if my memory serves me right, an I think it do's. Throughly enjoyed the vid, as its my hope to bump into an original .45 acp Luger somewhere, we all have to have a dream, lol. Hell of a piece of german engineering in my book tho, but I'm a german weapons fanboy fom way back in the 60's. Thx for the vid

  • @zillsburyy1
    @zillsburyy1 10 місяців тому +1

    it was featured in WALLSTREET 1987 too!

  • @troyshort5916
    @troyshort5916 10 місяців тому +2

    I might know where a P38 ""short barrel " might be. Serial number under 200. If my memory serves me right. It's been a while. His grandpa left it to him. His grandfather was brought over to the us under operation paperclip.

  • @deaconblue949
    @deaconblue949 10 місяців тому +2

    Thanks for showing us that beautiful pistol along with the standard ones for comparison Tom! Any chance you can get your hands on a Remington Model 53? I've only ever seen some black and white photos like the one you showed of the Luger. Not sure of how many test pistols were made but I believe that at least one survives.

  • @Nick_B_Bad
    @Nick_B_Bad 10 місяців тому +2

    Tales of the Gun TV show had an episode on The Luger and I believe they showed one of the .45’s in the episode. It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen the show tho.

    • @mikenstien1861
      @mikenstien1861 10 місяців тому +1

      I have that on VHS! IN it I think is where they stated that 5 were made for the US test. I also said that two were purposely destroyed during testing and that only 3 remained of the 5. And I THOUGHT they said that only 2 were known to still exist. But those shows were made in the 80s... So the other one may have surfaced. But My memory may be failing. LoL 😂

  • @johnsweeney5946
    @johnsweeney5946 10 місяців тому +6

    A 1st model Colt dragoon in .45 caliber must be worth about a million dollars too. Since there were none.

  • @johncornell3665
    @johncornell3665 10 місяців тому +4

    Very interesting history, thanks!

  • @mikenstien1861
    @mikenstien1861 10 місяців тому +2

    If you can find the Tales of the gun that covers the .45 lugars. My memory may be failing, but IT was fascinating to me so I remember much. They said that 5 were made for the US army test. Two were purposely destroyed as part of the test. So only 3 remained. And at that time only 2 were known to remain, but a third was supposed to still exist but no one knows where it is. I thought you said 6 were made. If I'm wrong could you supply a Link Please, I'm a World War I & II enthusiast. And would love to know more about these 45s.

  • @DANTHETUBEMAN
    @DANTHETUBEMAN 10 місяців тому

    I herd Hans Kammler carried the million dollar gun as a wonder weapon, and still has it to this day. 🤠💥

  • @billlexington5788
    @billlexington5788 10 місяців тому

    The history channel had number 2 on there some years ago when they filmed a firearms show with an episode involving a Luger collector, may have been around 2006 or 2008.

  • @RogersGirl88
    @RogersGirl88 5 місяців тому

    In the novelization of the resident evil videogame The Umbrella Conspiracy, the STARS team gun-nut Barry Burton has a poster of a “rare gold-plated .45 luger” in his locker.

  • @patrickbuechel2599
    @patrickbuechel2599 10 місяців тому

    In 1975 that .45acp luger was in edwardsville illinois.

  • @keithcalhoun2308
    @keithcalhoun2308 10 місяців тому

    I have pictures of the one in the Norton Gallery I took while it was still in the case. Not very clear but as good as I could get. The only marks on the gun visible from the left side are nitro proof on the receiver and some type of stamp under the barrel. No serial number or makers stamp are visible. There are no markings to denote “safe”. It also has very little wear showing.

  • @Myhandlenagluho
    @Myhandlenagluho 10 місяців тому +2

    Thanks for doing these videos man!

  • @keithmoore5306
    @keithmoore5306 10 місяців тому

    Tom there were 1127 walkers made! the issue with them was idiots loading conical bullets backwards causing an over pressure actually blew the chamber out of the cylinder!! ! and i heard 5 45ACP Luger's were made 2 for army trials and 3 on private orders buyers unknown! none were made for south american samples although DWM did offer them to south American govts for a short time!

  • @heyimchris6452
    @heyimchris6452 10 місяців тому +1

    Another great video with some girthy info on lugers!!

  • @denisripley8699
    @denisripley8699 10 місяців тому

    Excellent coverage - it would be interesting to compare size of .45 Luger with 1911 (and the two magazines)

  • @VinnyS9143101982
    @VinnyS9143101982 10 місяців тому

    I saw a picture of it on Tales of the Gun Luger. They also showed the guy that made your gun

  • @freddobbs4437
    @freddobbs4437 10 місяців тому

    I got to admit that Im not a Fan of Lugers, don't dislike them either. That 45cal weapon looks like a keeper to me. Bigger abd more powerful than the 9mm and has the look and feel of a 'war gun' in addition to providing protection against banditos and carnivorous cryptids!

  • @CaseySimpsonJD
    @CaseySimpsonJD 10 місяців тому

    There is definitely one in the Norton collection here in Shreveport, Louisiana.

    • @atomicwedgie8176
      @atomicwedgie8176 10 місяців тому

      Or so they say... no proof. if they had one they would be displaying it/bragging.

    • @CaseySimpsonJD
      @CaseySimpsonJD 10 місяців тому

      @@atomicwedgie8176 No. the place is primarily an art gallery displaying Norton’s art. The guns are a small part of the museum. Frederick B. Remington original bronze, for example. The curator likely is not aware of the significance of the piece. A treasure.

  • @TheWonderman1964
    @TheWonderman1964 10 місяців тому

    Awesome presentation.

  • @P46345
    @P46345 9 місяців тому

    It was in Wall Street and Gordon Gekko shows off his "45 Luger", claiming there were only six made.

  • @TheWozWizard
    @TheWozWizard 10 місяців тому

    Get hold of the Collector Grade Publications three volume book "Pistole Parabellum History of the "Luger System" " by Joachim Gortz and Geoffrey L. Sturgess. In volume 1 there is a full chapter (Chapter 18) on "The US .45 M1907 Parabellum".

  • @MGB-learning
    @MGB-learning 10 місяців тому +2

    Great video!

  • @jeromegrunwald9564
    @jeromegrunwald9564 10 місяців тому +1

    Awesome. Thx for sharing.

  • @fortnex9972
    @fortnex9972 10 місяців тому

    One of those ended in Argentina, in the hands of one of A.H. ex bodyduards. He gave as a present to a friend. Later that gun was stolen, who knows, maybe is now in USA where the market is bigger

  • @walkercustoms
    @walkercustoms 10 місяців тому +1

    Thank you

  • @Love_rainy_days
    @Love_rainy_days 10 місяців тому

    Tom, I think I saw "the million dollar Luger" in the back of one of your GUN safes? I think you bought it several years ago and forgotten it. Welcome to the retirement life. 😎😎

  • @prebaned
    @prebaned 10 місяців тому +1

    The US was never going to adopt a Luger. It was all a show. Look at the history before those trials and see what was adopted in the past and what countries manufactured those arms.

  • @rj4590
    @rj4590 10 місяців тому +3

    There were no Lugers in 9mm in 1900 as Mr.Luger didn't develop the 9x19mm until 1902.

  • @adamcullen7177
    @adamcullen7177 10 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for the excellent information

  • @gertgilich3508
    @gertgilich3508 10 місяців тому

    What is it it with the love of german equipment? I lo ve the sexyness of the old german kit!

  • @ralphcurran8147
    @ralphcurran8147 10 місяців тому +2

    Great content

  • @stevedavis3527
    @stevedavis3527 10 місяців тому

    Another interesting video. Thanks.

  • @dbdbdb1111111
    @dbdbdb1111111 10 місяців тому

    I also like scotch. Yay a friend

  • @red9man2130
    @red9man2130 10 місяців тому

    .29 in do not tell me it is a John Martz Luger!

  • @g54b95
    @g54b95 10 місяців тому

    You: a normal Luger P08 in 7,65. No. 2: the P08 your woman told you not to worry about.

  • @tolarpowell5069
    @tolarpowell5069 10 місяців тому

    I'd break my piggy bank for that.

  • @stans977
    @stans977 7 місяців тому

    #2 its under my pillow

  • @jamesfairmind2247
    @jamesfairmind2247 10 місяців тому +1

    There were a lot more than two test units made, one military establishment, Aberdeen Proving ground in MD historically held two of the originals on its own. No one knows how many were made but it makes sense that they would have produced at least 10 to 20 for their own testing and to potentially offer to other countries that liked 45 calibre handguns like Britain and all the armies of its Empire. No gun manufacturer on Earth would go the massive expense of all that tooling just to make two units, they would literally have cost the historical equivalent of a quarter of a million bucks each to build at that rate! Don't be fooled by the hype, think of the practical manufacturing economics involved. My bet is that most simply "disappeared" into the private collections of a few of the high ranking Military brass involved in the testing procedure and cannot therefore ever come to light because their descendants are still holding stolen Government property which they know would be seized. How am I doing so far?

  • @robertramesy2759
    @robertramesy2759 10 місяців тому

    Luger made ten became over for the military test watch tail of the gun

  • @philgiglio7922
    @philgiglio7922 10 місяців тому

    The Army went with the 1911 .45 ACP because the Philippino's were amped up on betel nut and would keep advancing even after being struck by multiple. 38 caliber rounds. The. 38 revolver was the standard issue for both the army and multiple police forces as well.
    The ejected cases are pretty well distorted when they are, barely, extracted.

  • @bigdave6447
    @bigdave6447 10 місяців тому

    How much is a Staness 1907 .45 test Luger made by Lugerman 1 of11 ever made or will,ever be made ??
    E

    • @philipnoble2395
      @philipnoble2395 10 місяців тому +2

      I also own one of the 11 stainless 1907 Lugers made by Lugerman

  • @razieldrakis
    @razieldrakis 10 місяців тому

    I heard . . . 😅

  • @silverhammer7779
    @silverhammer7779 10 місяців тому +1

    You misspelled "caliber" in the thumbnail.

  • @g54b95
    @g54b95 10 місяців тому +5

    Long, boring story, but the actual #2 is located in the cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, in Ethiopia, and is contained inside the Ark of the Convenant.

  • @ParanoydYT
    @ParanoydYT 10 місяців тому +9

    Bots in the comments

  • @hippomanjp
    @hippomanjp 4 місяці тому

    少なくとも日本国内には存在しないだろう。
    かつてこの世に存在していた物は必ず今も存在している。
    惜しみない拍手と心からの応援をトムに。

  • @gregkollaeg2365
    @gregkollaeg2365 10 місяців тому

    Lol and nowadays the US uses SIG SAUER M17 pistols. SIG SAUER IS GERMAN!. And HK416 is GERMAN to.

  • @brittakriep2938
    @brittakriep2938 10 місяців тому

    A few days ago, i , german, met a Mr. Luger, but he is not intressted in firearms, and doesn' t know, if he is related to pistol inventory.

  • @skyd8726
    @skyd8726 10 місяців тому

    *Calibre*. Alternatively "caliber" (still incorrect spelling though), but never "calibur".

  • @ianmangham4570
    @ianmangham4570 10 місяців тому

    Colts Dragoon ,straight up club 😅 maddie /lucky Ned pepper/Rooster 🐈 General Lee 😺

  • @Aron-79
    @Aron-79 10 місяців тому +1

    🍸🍸🍸🍸⚓️

  • @hwoods01
    @hwoods01 10 місяців тому

    its not a gun.. It is a pistol, or firearm, or weapon.

  • @vinniedayhikerb4977
    @vinniedayhikerb4977 10 місяців тому

    So I shared this video on my FB page and I got spanked HARD because of it. DONT POST THIS TO YOUR FB PAGE!

  • @NotRobloxianRblx
    @NotRobloxianRblx 10 місяців тому +1

    First

    • @bobmahnamahknob
      @bobmahnamahknob 10 місяців тому +1

      Congratulations on your amazing feat of skill and intelligence. Your prize will arrive on the second Tuesday of next week. Tell the other big winner that was first.

  • @katana258
    @katana258 10 місяців тому

    so you can not go to the gallery and look for yourself ..w.t.f.

  • @MoRzX3
    @MoRzX3 10 місяців тому +1

    first

  • @amend5269
    @amend5269 10 місяців тому

    Bs