World of Lugers

Pictured are artifacts of the World of Lugers a.k.a. WOL in the beginning when †Sam Costanzo^[1] and †Ralph Shattuck^[2] were partners in the 1970s and 1980s and where they both shared the same World of Lugers logo.

†Sam Costanzo ^[3]
 
†Ralph Shattuck

†Sam Costanzo is noted mainly for his excellent book on Luger proof marks titled World of Lugers Proof Marks ©1977 with its beautiful gold WOL book cover logo and with a PREFACE written by †Ralph Shattuck.

Costanzo published at least three other soft bound booklets, noted for their bright red background and white lettering front and rear covers, one titled World of Lugers – Serial Numbers Of Lugers Issued To German Agents In The United Stated 1913 – 1916 ©1975 and a second, lesser known booklet or catalog, which is identified as Item II. Accessories and on the inside cover page titled: Future publications of the “World of Lugers”, with the booklet cover titled World of Lugers – LUGER ACCESSORIES, catalog two and an even lesser known booklet, if that is possible, titled World of Lugers – ACCESSORIES, catalog 3.  The front and rear cover of the numbered, 10 page catalog two are the addresses and phone numbers of Costanzo and Shattuck.

Catalog 3 has 17 numbered pages and the addresses are on the rear cover only. The Luger Accessories catalogs consists of accessories for the Luger along with a list of period Luger publications offered. One of the booklets offered on page 8 of catalog 2 was listed as:
           Hans Tauscher Book … S. Costanzo _____________________ 5.00.
Pictured is the Catalog 3 inside cover and pages 1 and 17.

Since the first booklet deals with Hans Tauscher as a German spy, the Hans Tauscher Book^[4] listing is believed to be one and the same. There is no doubt as to the early partnership of Sam Costanzo and Ralph Shattuck as attested by their names and early addresses on the front and rear Luger Accessories catalog two cover.

Costanzo and Shattuck were apparently very heavy in advertising and merchandising of their wares as even match boxes were made up, and other items, with their addresses and phone numbers and with the WOL logo on the matchbox cover. Pictured is a rare artifact of Ralph’s service in the Korean conflict.

In the World of Lugers Proof Marks book, on the page 5 PREFACE †Shattuck states that †Costanzo originated the World of Lugers logo and that †Costanzo had a substantial Luger collection, although no Luger has ever been offered for sale, identified as of the †Sam Costanzo Collection. This is not the case with †Ralph Shattuck for, as the brief business association with Costanzo faded, the Shattuck business and Luger collection grew. Through the years Shattuck had a multitude of business cards, here are a few.

Shattuck became well-known, domestically and internationally in conjunction with the collaboration of another internationally well-known American Luger author and collector, the late Charles Kenyon, Jr.,^[5] with many Lugers and accessories of the Shattuck collection being prominently featured in two famous Kenyon publications titled  Lugers At Random © 1969 and  Luger: The Multi-National Pistol © 1991. Both authors,

were featured in a You Tube video titled Tales of the Gun. Pictured is one such ultra-rare Shattuck Luger pictured in both Kenyon book publications. Both Ralph Shattuck and his wife Nancy and Charlie Kenyon, Jr. were a presence at many of the big-time gun shows all over the country for many years. Pictured is a typical Ralph Shattuck a.k.a. World of Lugers gun show display set-up.

Many a serious Luger collector made at least one pilgrimage, sometimes en masse, to the sacred World of Lugers in Peoria, AZ to visit †Ralph Shattuck, ever the consummate salesman, who published a monthly Luger sales list for many years. Shattuck was mostly known as a dealer/collector, more than a Luger historian and author and as such very few publications can be attributed to him. He has written some articles for gun magazines, appeared on Tales of the Gun on television, published in the 1990s a 1 hour and 52 minute VCR titled THE LUGER PISTOL: A Video Profile and a small hardbound booklet titled The Lugers of Ralph Shattuck © 2000. As the title indicates, the book mainly features his collection with basic, minimal Luger history and facts.

Regarding the VCR titled The Luger Pistol: A Video Profile, although interesting, is not annotated, except for short captions and features exclusively his collection, accompanied with an hour and 52 minutes of continuous, background German marching music. Shattuck did distribute a six-page folded pamphlet or brochure in the 1970s while at his earlier Birmingham, Michigan location titled LUGER Facts, Answering The 10 Most Commonly Asked Questions About The Luger Pistol, however, despite the added red ink stamped hallmark World of Lugers logo and Shattuck’s Birmingham, Michigan address, the pamphlet was authored by R.T. Zeusler.

The final and most esoteric and unique item of the early, close business and personal association of Sam Costanzo and Ralph Shattuck is a gift To: Ralph & Nancy - From: Sam & Janice is a “Rare” Double Barrel Luger. “One-of-a-Kind”, along with a “design sketch” signed by †Sam Costanzo to †Ralph and †Nancy.

Pictured are other signature Lugers formally of the Ralph Shattuck Collection.

1. 1900/01 preproduction prototype hunting carbine 58
2. 1902 short frame Swiss 9mm FAT barrel Luger 22049 with original DWM roll die applied Swiss Cross in Sunburst chamber crest
3. 1923 M23 contract Finnish 30 Cal Luger 4364 assigned to the Finnish submarine Vesihiisi as weapon 19
4. 1914 early production DWM Artillery Luger serial number 38
5. 1920s unproofed commercial 30 Cal Luger, serial number 1

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[1] †Sam Costanzo

[2] †Ralph E. Shattuck

[3] Sam Costanzo business card with an earlier address of 5868 Mayfield Road, Mayfield HTS., Ohio 44124 vs. his last known 29876 White Rd., Willoughby Hills, OH 44002 address.

[4] The book covers the Lugers issued by Hans Tauscher to German espionage agents in the United States and Canada during the period 1913-1916. Tauscher was a notorious German Agent in America and the sole importer of Commercial German Lugers and Ammunition during this period. Also, included is Government correspondence used as evidence in the Hans Tauscher court trial. The story of Hans Tauscher’s trial was covered by the New York Times on the cover page of the March 31, 1916 edition of the newspaper. Pictured is an original March 31, 1916 newspaper with the cover story.

[5] †Charlie Kenyon, Jr. Died December 2020. No Obituary available.