Luger P08 Artillery

Hi,
I'm new on this forum, and excuse me for my poor english, I'm french.

I've bought this Luger P08 Artillery last week , and i ask you if you know this model or have information about it.

There is no mark, just "Japan" see photos below.
No box to help me.
The seller tell me 1970-1980 ...?
It is made in Zamac, I think, but of good quality, , very fine details not like Denix !
The grips are in black plastic (and had been painted after in brown), not very beautiful...

The bullets are in brass, but there are only 1 piece, you can't put caps in this gun (i think but i'm not sure).
You can fire like the original, but there is just a "click", you can eject the bullets manually.

Thanks you for your help, and i hope that this gun and these pics interesting you.

(Please use simple words and expressions in your answer, it's difficult for me )

Best regards.
Philippe

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Bonjour Peticopo.
Let me be the 1st to welcome you! Adieu!

You have a great example of a Japanese Model Gun Corporation of Tokyo (MGC) Luger Parabellum. It is made of Zinc.As you say it is of much better quality than Denix in detail and metal.
These were sold under the RMI label in the USA and Europe from the 1960's onwards.
There are no markings to avoid USA copyright laws at the time.
Your plastic grips have been painted brown. The originals were just black.

You may find this post I wrote interesting:
https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/t2417-refurbishing-an-old-mgc-rmi-p08-luger
In particular the information about how to loose parts easily!

The brass bullets you have are "dummy" cartridges - although it is possible to put a small paper cap in the hole and make it go "BANG!"
The power will not make the action work, and just leave a powder residue. Then the residue will corrode the metal.
So I don't bother with a cap!
Some other members on the forum know much more than me. I am sure they will also welcome you and add more information.
Enjoy you P08 Luger - and this forum.

A bientot!

Kiwigunner

PS: Sorry to say New Zealand's All Blacks beat the French Team(Les Bleus) at Rugby in the World Cup last night! By only 1 point. Your countrymen played very well and very hard!

Welcome to modelguns and to this forum!

Thanks to our resident kiwi you should now have pretty good idea what this model is :-)

Some more information about original manufacturer, MGC:
https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/t1963-mgc-model-gun-corporation

And RMI who imported these models to Europe/USA:
https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/t1967-rmi-replica-models-incorporated

You might also read history of modelguns, as this can help understand what is origin of the Luger you have:
https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/t1949-history-of-modelgun-industry

Smootik and Kiwigunner,
Thanks you for your welcome and for your help.
Your answers are very interesting and complete with a lot of links. I go to read them (slowly) !

I have an other question, do you think that (new repro) wood's grips for "real" luger can be used on this gun ? Some of you have already make this ? Because i find them bad, and the rest of the gun pretty good.

PS : Kiwigunner, i've seen the tournament on sunday, very beautiful and great teams, All Blacks and Blue...
Congratulation. The next time perhaps. Don't say "Adieu" it's mean goodbye for ever.

"A bientôt et sans rancune !"
Philippe

Bonjour Phillipe! Ca va?

Real wood grips can be made to fit your replica - but will need much patience.
Real wood grips are larger than the plastic ones; so quite a lot of wood has to be removed.
I used a "Dremel" to remove the wood on my grips.
http://www.dremeleurope.com/fr/fr/start/index.html

It can be "tres difficile" in places where the screws fit, and in making the edges around the grips to fit correctly.
I had great trouble around the screws AND at the top edges.
And you may have to reduce the thickness of the whole grip by 2 -3 millimetres.

But you can do it!
It takes time and patience.

Bonne chance!
Kiwigunner

PS You are right! I should have said "Bienvenue" Phillipe......my French is not very good. But I love to try when I get a chance!

Welcome to the forum.

I actually have one of these RMI Artillery Lugers and a couple of RMI "normal" Lugers, and I bought a pair of wood grips from our local surplus store who used to sell these replicas, and the grips fitted perfectly. So I am guessing that they were actually made by MGC/RMI.

I reckon if you did an online search that they might come up somewhere.

Ozzie - you were lucky. my grips were imported German replacement grips and took a bit of work!
Peticopo - let us know how you get on!

Here's my RMI MGC Luger P08 (Top) with painted plastic grips. Real wood grips on my Airsoft BB version.
I can swap the wood grips onto my RMI Luger if I wish.



Kiwigunner

Here's a pic of my Luger with the wood grips as they were bought. In other words, not sanded or finished off in any way.
They are a perfect fit.

Thanks for these informations and the pics.
So it's possible to adapt real grips.
I've made this work,at the begining i had just a piece of wood (dry branch ) for my real revolver without grips, but i have spent a lot of time. It's seem to be very difficult for the P08 (very fine)! But I'm going to think about.
For your information it's a millitary "Réglementaire français manufacture de Saint Etienne, Chamelot-Delvigne 1873, 11 mm" it's a famous gun in France, i like it.
It's a black powder gun and it is free in France.

I believe that during WW1 the french soldiers had always these revolvers in front of the P08....!

A bientôt.
Philippe


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Nice job with these! Panels and inserts look great, and revolver is very nice too!

I thought of doing Luger grip panels by hand, but did not get to it yet.
Hard part is getting the shape right, and same on both sides ;-)
Too easy to do it wrong and start over again.

Bonjour tout le monde,

Thanks for your welcome and congratulations and your "international" and friendly help.

I think that i try to make grips, i have walnut wood, and in a first time i'll make it without the "crosshatching" (?), it's seem to be the more difficult.
I'll put photos, if i do this project, but in few weeks...It takes me a lot of time.

A bientôt.
Philippe

Bonjour à tous,
i make this work this week, it's a little difficult and need a lot of precision.
I could not make the crosshatching because i have not enough thickness, and it's too difficult (for me) to have regular beautiful result.

I have to do the second grip....

A bientôt.
Philippe

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Looking good!
I shall look forward to the next part Phillipe!

A bientot

Kiwigunner

et voilà !

2 grips, the crosshatching are missing....

I completely agree with Cerwyn.
Those grips look beautiful as they are.

I also agree: your grips are every bit as good as the ones on this web site:
http://www.horstauction.com/Pix_catlgs_2010/2010_04_10_gun_sale/sale20100410_gun_listing_w_pix.htm


Formidable, n'est pas?

Kiwigunner

Hi,
thank you for your congratulation and i like it too.
I have an other project : the grips of a Mauser C96 i just went to buy. They are more beautiful than the plastic p08, but i prefer wood...
I'll post pics if i make this project.

Philippe

Great job!

Your grips look excellent for me, you have nice skill to work with wood :-)

Thank you Smootik,
there are 2 or 3 little mistakes, but shuttt...
After 4 hours of work, it's too hard to start again.
There are a lot of constraints of position in the 3D and it's difficult.

Philippe

Well done Peticopo !!
Oui vraiment du bon boulot ça Chapeau !!

Merci Momocampo and thank you all

Ca va Peticopo? To make a better finish to the Luger itself use Zebrite black leading polish (for use on old fashioned fire grates).
Be sure to polish it very well to remove the extra polish as it makes your hands black as well! Buff it with an old towel to finish. Wonderful job with the grips! How much to make a similar pair for my original 1916 Navy Luger? Regards Terry