Description
If you like guns with stories, this John V. Martz custom P.08 pattern Luger will eat up an evening of conversation. Built in Martz’s home workshop in Roseville, California, this isn’t a tired restoration or a factory reissue. It’s a hand-made reimagining of the classic Imperial Navy Luger, enlarged to run .45 ACP and dated “2002” on the extension. Martz did this work the hard way: part vintage parts, part new-made components, and a ton of sweat equity.
You can see the handiwork in the markings. The left extension carries the crown over N proof, the front toggle link is stamped JVM, and the frame shows Martz’s “MSTR” marking for his Safe Toggle Release mechanism. That little conversion turns the safety switch into a dual-purpose safety and toggle release. There are also matching serial stamps and the familiar JVM ovals where you’d expect them.
Grip feel matters here. This piece features checkered oiled walnut grips with beautiful grain and matching serials, and a spare set is included as well. The package is honest and complete: an extra bright magazine with an oiled hardwood base marked “2” and “JVM,” a takedown tool, and a signed John V. Martz letter dated November 27, 2003. In that letter, he notes he’d made about 80 of these and didn’t plan on making more. That declared scarcity matters.
Functionally, this Luger reads like a bespoke project built for use as much as for display. Fixed blade front and notch rear sights, the solid feel of the larger frame, and Martz’s clever safety/toggle work all combine into a pistol that’s equal parts weird, ingenious, and very collectible.
If you like pieces with provenance, personality, and hand-made character, this Martz Luger is the sort of item that makes a collection tell a better story.
