Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns John Dewey custom Luger

Here's an unusual gun I traded for a number of years back. It's a custom 9mm Luger, work done by master gunsmith John Dewey, father and grandfather of the Dewey cleaning rod folks. I contacted Dewey, talked to the grandson who related that his grandfather wasn't a good record keeper. Thus, there are no records of when he did the work. The barrel inscription says "barrel by J. Dewey", so I assume he made it, too.

This thing shoot like a rifle and has a really good trigger for a Luger. Mr. Dewey fitted Micro adjustable sights on the toggle. Pretty neat work, pretty amazing gun.

DF

Pretty cool!

Mike

Thanks, Mike.

It is different, for sure.

I haven't seen another just like it.

Evidently Mr. John Dewey was quite a craftsman and innovator.

I don't know how much input he had in establishing the Dewey company, although their official name is "J. Dewey". Their web site says Dewey is a family owned business, started in 1975. I would think this pistol was put together in the '60's.

Not much company history on their web site.

DF

Very interesting Luger. I've only shot one, but it was an "experience" to be sure. Lots of stuff going on, when a Luger barks off. The original sights were dismal.

Only the second Dewey Luger I have ever seen, NICE!

The first one was all stock save the same sights and trigger job, was a sweet shooter.

Yep, those Lugers are different.

Their design, although complicated, requiring lots of intricate machining, is nonetheless condusive to accuracy because of several features. One is the fixed barrel, no slopping around, barrel or slide.

Another positive is the grip shape and angle which is quite ergonomic. A drawback is the notorious Luger trigger. Mr. John did good with this one and I understand that's not an easy task. He was, for sure, a master craftsman. I wish I knew more about him and his work. It seems to be a mystery.

DF

Now that is just COOL!

Uberlengen!

I got some better pictures, the guns deserves as much.

Better photos of "J. Dewey" on the barrel.



This shows how he stippled the trigger.



Forgot to mention it was Magnaported. I painted the front sight.



LONG sight radius.

The rest of them.

Damn that is slick!

Yep, the old man knew his stuff.

DF

That thing is cool.

Name recognition is one thing, but good work always looks like good work.




Travis

I found this link on Mr. John Dewey.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/pages/precision-shooting-great-magazine-shooting-hobbyists

DF

Another link.

This gun looks familiar...

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/11609828

THIS guy was the master...

John Martz


That's a Luger carbine in .38 Super! He had to split the gun down the mag well, toggle and all. Inset just a little metal, re-weld it all back together. Then he put a proper rust blue finish with all the appropriate Nitre blued accents.

John was from my hometown and as a kid I would always bother him at every gun show. First I'd salivate over everything on his table (one saw not one but three .45 ACP Lugers), then I'd bug him for hours about details of how he did it.

I had forgotten about him, but that post brings up memories.

Yep, super work.

DF

One of the coolest pistols I've seen in a very, very long time.

That's just awesome!

I traded two T/C Contender carbines for it, even swap.

DF

All day, every day.

Good call!!!

They were pretty nice carbines, one had a Bullberry barrel.

But, I wouldn't trade back...

DF

Checked prices on line. One like mine just sold for $1,500+. John Martz Lugers sell from $2,500 to $5,000+, depending on the work.

Seems Martz did more exotic stuff than Dewey, was more into finish and such. Martz guns are unique works of art, Dewey's are exceptional shooters. At least that's my take on it.

DF

Very nice Luger!

I wondered how Mr. John Dewey got his logo applied so smoothly and perfectly back in the '60's, prior to computerized laser etching.

Then I got to thinking. This gun is Magnaported. I bet he got those guys to use their EDM process to cut that scrolled name and info on the barrel.

DF

Yeah that's a good summary; still a cool gun.

I grew up looking at Martz's guns and I was always just amazed at his mastery of his craft; dood was a freaking magician.

Those genius types are often pretty eccentric. Bet he was like that.

DF

Wow, you're good. I'd say he was just slightly manic depressive. Super nice one day (like when he let me shoot the .45 Luger he built) and all the other random time when I asked him questions and he suddenly told me to piss off!

I'd lean more toward OCD, although there are similarities.

It's very hard to assign a diagnosis without more info. Govt. people profile foreign leaders to help understand how they think and the best way to handle them. Lot of them are narcissistic, but so are some of ours...

And, then there are neurotic vs. psychotic variants. If this guy was never "crazy" as being in a psych hospital, it's probably a neurotic rather than psychotic type. Psychotics lose touch with reality, Neurotics act weird, but they know who and where they are.

Cyclothymic is the non psychotic version of Bipolar D/O. A lot of alcoholics in this group, using booze to self medicate. They cycle between hypermania and depression. Some just stay high. They like that feeling and they'll get off their medicine to get the "high" feeling. Sort of a crack head who can pass a piss test...

One can be pretty weird without a formal, psychotic DSM-IV code...

OCD's and Bipolars can be very intelligent. A hunting bud has a son who made a perfect 36 score on the ACT. He's pretty crazy. They finally got him adjusted on meds and now he's kicking butt, second year of law school, near the top of his class. And, because he has a disability, you and I are paying a full ticket...

Everyone is different.

My business partner says you need to put personality disorders where their pathology will work for them. We have a fairly well controlled OCD who does a wonderful job with collection....

DF

Hmmm ... pretty insightful psychology.

Tom

Robert,

every so often, i get that reminder that you enjoy handguns.

a very nice rig, and the P 08 has always been a fascination, due to the very ingenious mechanisms within. when custom work is added into the mix, it becomes doubly interesting.

i recall Dewey and his bullet spinner, the straight-line bullet seater , etc., from the early to mid '70's.

back in the late 1970's, i would often frequent this fellow's gunshop, who lived about 10 miles from my home--he and i would visit for hours in his shop, while our wives would visit in the house. since you like the Mausers, engravings, etc., i'll post a link to his webpage, for your familiarity/review of his work:

http://customgunmaker.com/customgun_005.htm

i learned a thing or two from him during that time...

Checked the link.

Wow! That guy is talented. He can do about anything.

I have a friend here in my hometown who does great wood and metal work. Steve does all that and engraves.

This guy's name is James Flynn. He restored the Askins Superposed. Well the wood, we didn't do anything with the metal.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=124719&start=280

http://www.terrywieland.com/James-Flynn-bio.htm

DF

DF,

Mr. Flynn is very talented, and with him practicing the trade for 37 years, he and Steve are likely about the same age, and have possibly met at some point in time.

you are fortunate to have someone of his skill nearby, as one can easily pick up useful tips on an informal basis--which is really great medicine.

my old mentor Bill B. really hated the 9 MM, and he always referred to it as the "9 MM Lugger".

really do enjoy reading your very well written posts--always interesting...

Thanks, Jerry.

Coming from you, that means a lot.

DF

Dirtfarmer, it was a pleasure both talking and working with you. The Dewey luger is in it's new home. I cant wait to introduce it to it's long lost brother and sister below. The work on the gun is fantastic and the trigger is great!

Found your post doing a search. Had missed it earlier.

Glad the Dewey found some good friends...

Those are nice.

DF