Quote:
That whole story was a lesson in not believing market surveys. Every survey Interarms ran showed enthusiasm for a "new" Luger; but when the guns proved to cost as much as original guns (naturally, they were literally "made the old-fashioned way"), all that enthusiasm for a modern Luger dried up. Sales were not bad but the investment never paid off and all concerned took a hit.
|
You left out one important thing. Mauser made the wrong Luger! What they gave us was the long barreled Swiss pattern. THis model does not have the "lump" at the front bottom of the grip. It has a different look than the P.08 that everyone (besides Luger enthusiasts) recognises as the "Luger". It looked...funny...
SO, a funny looking Luger at a stiff market price just missed the mark of what people wanted. The market for Lugers is basically three different segments, and none of them is mainstream defensive handgun.
Luger collectors. Real Luger fans, who are buying real history. Many would buy a new Luger just to have, and compare with. Others would scoff, and stay with their collectables.
Shooters who always wanted a Luger, just to check it out, and a new one will do as well as a refinished one. Availability and price are big factors here.
And those who would find an interest in a Luger sparked by the availabilty of new ones, price would be big here also.
All niche markets. The biggest potential market back in the 70s when Mauser made them was WWII Vets, who always wanted to get a Luger in the war, and never got one. Trouble was, Mauser's gun didn't look right. It wasn't the one they fought against back then. And it was expensive. So sales were...slow. And that particular market is long gone today.
Lugers are a design from the dawn of the auto pistol age. They are one of the world's most recognized firearms. There is always a commercial interest in them, but as curios, not mainstream handguns. Not these days.
