Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns John Dewey custom 9mm Luger

Several years ago, I traded for this John Dewey Luger. Mr. Dewey was a gunsmith back in the '60's. His son (and grandson) own and operate J. Dewey Manufacturing, Southbury, CT, makers of gun cleaning equipment, a name familiar to most gun nuts.

Mr. Dewey was a perfectionist and it shows in his work. I talked to his grandson at the J. Dewey company and was told the old man didn't keep very good records. The grandson was really interested in this gun and wanted it. If I ever decide to sell it, he will be the first one I call.

The gun has a ported 10" bbl and shoots like a rifle. The trigger is surprisingly good for a Luger. Mr. Dewey skillfully mounted an adjustable Micro target sight on the toggle.

The shoulder holster is a Bianchi and was actually made years ago for a long barreled Hi Standard target pistol. It just happens to fit this Luger very well.

The target was shot at 20 yds. over a bag with Fed. 115 gr. HP factory ammo.

DF

Neat rig.

Skeeter Skelton wrote of folks who hunted small game with Lugers in the Depression. I've often thought it would be fun to have one of the 6" .30's - or even a Arty model

Very cool gun. The all time greatest Luger man was John Martz (not sure if he's still alive). When I lived in Sacramento I'd catch Martz at some of the bigger gun shows, often he was there to try to buy Lugers or Broomhandle Mausers. I recall a Luger Carbine he had made in .38 Super that was just off the charts cool. Then there was (IIRC) a 3 gun set of an Artillery Luger, Standard 4" Army Luger, and then a severely cut down "baby" Luger; all in .38 Super. Just off the charts cool.

One of his most common requests were the .45 ACP Lugers, which were always executed with absolute precision. I've also seen Martz Lugers in 7.62 Tokarev, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig.

Here's a .357 Sig: http://www.gunsamerica.com/992506377/Guns/Pistols/Luger-Pistols/Luger_John_Martz_P08_in_357_SIG.htm

Baby (although I've seen one's he's cut the grip fram much further down: http://www.liveauctionworld.com/John-Martz-Custom-DWM-Baby-Luger-Pistol_i9752949

Baby P-38: http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com/History%20Book/1365MartzP38.htm

Martz Carbine: http://users.skynet.be/HL-Editions/ebook/lumodels.htm


And for some truely weird Luger morphism go here:http://www.waffen-werle.de/ then click on Gallery.

I sold Mr. Martz a couple of Lugers and P-38's when I lived down there. Fascinating man.

I remember visiting him in his shop in, I think Grass Valley or nearby. He had copies of gun magazines all over his walls that had his custom Lugers featured on thier covers. He was happy to show off his wares such as the Baby Lugers you mentioned and other fascinating customs as well as highly collectable Lugers and P-38's.

I remember a quote of his from one of my visits to his shop. He was showing me an artillery model Luger with its long barrel, buttstock, ladder sight regulated to 1,000 meters and said "The reasons the Germans lost two world wars is because while they were making intricate complicated guns like these the Allies were cranking out 1911's and similar by the millions".

That idea has stuck with me all these years and to hear it from a certifiable Luger nut and expert among experts was quite a revelation.

Kevin,

Thanks for those links. John Martz was quite a craftsman and there seems to be a good demand for his work, as reflected in the prices.

Mark,

Appreciate those comments. Nothing like a first hand account.

DF

Dirtfarmer...what a GREAT gun!!!! The installation of that rear sight makes it look like it came from the factory...thanks for sharing...

Bob

Dirtfarmer,

The trick to keeping a Luger working well is the magazine spring. Because the Luger has such a fast action, when a magazine spring begins to take a set, sometimes it can set enough that it doesn�t advance the next round fast enough (top round is compressed in the magazine until the bolt opens up). If you ever encounter any persistent feed issues, try a new magazine spring.

Your Luger is VERY cool, he did a nice job. I�ll bet that one�s fun to shoot.

Kevin,

Thanks for the tip. Yes, it's a hoot to shoot and accurate to boot...

DF

I remember as a lad, listening to war stories from cousin who was a sniper in WWII, both in the European and Pacific theaters. He and an ole boy from Texas got their hands on an artillery model and entertained themselves with how far they could hit stuff. He seemed impressed with it.

DF

.7" at 20 yds is around 3.5 MOA by my calculations. My Les Baer long slide has a 1 1/2" guarantee at 50 yds, which is 3 MOA. This Luger may do even better than 3.5 MOA with handloads, I just never spent that much time with it.

Bottom line. It shoots almost as well as what may be the most accurate production pistol currently being produced. Not bad for a hundred year old gun with a 50 year old overhaul.

DF

I remember when those guns where first out, back in the 60's. They were and are the real deal in a truly fantastic Lugar.
They inspired me to play with a couple of Lugars. I even thought hard about getting him to redo one for me. But, as a struggling student, I simply couldn't afford one.
Eventually, I found a Browning HP with a decent trigger and had Micro Gunsight put an adjustable rear sight and taller front sight on it. That was all that gun needed.
I regret selling my old HP. If I had your gun, I seriously doubt I'd ever sell it. E

I have several that I probably won't sell. My son is an up and coming gun Loony and appreciates his inheritance.

Here is another that is a keeper. Be sure you have some time before tackling this site...

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

DF