Custom Made .45 Lugers?

[Timthinker]

While browsing through some old THR threads, I noticed one of our members mentioned that some .45 Lugers had been custom manufactured in recent years. This reference surprised me since I thought the only .45 Lugers in existence had been those produced for U.S. Army trials in the early 20th century. Are these new Lugers still in production? If so, then who produces them? Thanks.

Timthinker

 

[buzz_knox]

I believe these were produced by Mike Krause some years ago by cutting two 9mm Lugers and using the parts to build one .45 Luger. The cost was . . . prohibitive.

 

[Jim Watson]

John Martz made some .45 Lugers by cutting and welding.
There was a shop (Krause, probably) that was going to run off 100 scratch built .45 Lugers for $10,000+ a copy.
In the 1950s the Wyatt - Imthurn .45 Luger got a lot of ink. They did not build many, based on 9mms with the action opened up and using the magazine well as a top loading magazine with no detachable clip.

 

[briansp82593]

there was 2 actual german 45 lugers, one was destroyed in testing and the other (#2) no one knows

 

[only1asterisk]

"there was 2 actual german 45 lugers, one was destroyed in testing and the other (#2) no one knows"

I think there were 3, and I know where one is for certain and could likely find the other one.

David

 

[Timthinker]

I had no idea that these Lugers would cost so much. I thought they might be expensive, but I never imagined they would break the bank. Thanks for the info.

Timthinker

 

[Jim K]

Any limited production custom made gun will "break the bank." That is why folks who wonder why "they" don't make a complex gun like the Krag or Luger "like they used to" (no castings or MIM) and sell it for $200 are likely to go on wondering.

Jim