[GaGunner]

Is there a floor for Luger values?

I have a chance to purchase a DWM Luger with a chamber date of 1915. All parts having matching numbers, except the take down lever and magazine. I don’t know about the grips or internal parts, did not know to look at this when I had the chance. The rifling is sharp, but there is light pitting in the bore. Chamber looks good. Grips are wood and in good shape, but dirty. I freely admit to being terrible at percentage ratings, but I think using the Blue Book of Gun Values (BB of GV) percentage system that the low would be 55 percent and the high 70 percent. Using the Standard Catalog of Firearms rating system of Excellent, Very Good, etc, that the gun would rate a Good condition rating under that system.

There are five magazines with the guns. I don’t think any of them are “correct” for the gun. No chance for pictures. I am not interested in it as a collector, but a shooter. However, I don’t want to buy something, over pay for it, and then found I could have had the same thing or nicer, cheaper.

The guy said he would let it go for 850 and he paid 975 for it. Are the days of good 500 shooter grade Lugers gone? If so, what is the bottom of the Luger market for decent looking shooter grade Luger?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

If there is no God, then everything is just politics.

 

[ij70]

You can find one for 400, but it will be in 0.30 Luger, not 9x19.

 

[myco4you]

The only $500 Lugers I've seen lately were beat,pitted,mismatched,ugly,and not even worthy for parts!

Expect to pay at least $750 and up for a decent shooter,maybe cheaper if looks do not bother you.

I paid $800 not too long ago for a nice shooter,and that was a great deal.I also passed on quite a few in the $600 range,as they were not worth it.Some of these things looked like they were unsafe to fire.Corroded bores/frames,loose parts,missing parts.

I think some people will actually take a pile of corroded Luger parts and assemble them and try to sell it as a working gun.

Some idiot at a recent gunshow was selling a beat,pitted,import-marked Luger for $1800,claiming it came from his uncle who took it from the corpse of a dead nazi officer.At the end of the show,he was upset that nobody bought anything from him,and he didn't even make enough money to cover his table fee.

 

[jonny c.]

Not a bad deal, especially if the mags are all German military. They could all be worth $75 to $125 each.

 

[mike radford]

I saw one sale at NGD for $425. It was a 42 code, nickel plated, matching, nice bore. They are out there if you are in the right place at the right time.

 

[cousinkix1953]

$850 and 5 mags. It's worth it. Most Lugers that are less than that out there seem to be in rough shape and or parts guns etc.

Nazi magazines are getting about $100 each in good shape...

 

[GaGunner]

Thanks for the help so far. Re-read my post and realized I did not give the caliber, it is 9MM. I have no info on the type of mags. Did not know to look for codes or markings. I am learning a bunch just by looking over the replies. One mag has an aluminum base plug, the owner thinks it is a Finnish magazine. The other mags have wooden base plugs, he bought them from Gun Parts.

 

[cousinkix1953]

Thanks for the help so far. Re-read my post and realized I did not give the caliber, it is 9MM. I have no info on the type of mags. Did not know to look for codes or markings. I am learning a bunch just by looking over the replies. One mag has an aluminum base plug, the owner thinks it is a Finnish magazine. The other mags have wooden base plugs, he bought them from Gun Parts.

That aluminum base could be Nazi and should have the same kind of markings as a K98k rifle. Finnish magazines are common. I bought two of them for $20 each a couple of years ago...

 

[GaGunner]

Thanks for all the feedback. I bought the Luger. I felt the 5 magazines, being able to examine it at my pleasure, not having to pay for shipping (and possibly return shipping), the 1915 date, which possibly means it fought in both WWs, all added up to a buy for me. Plus there was one other reason. I took it a part to examine it and failed to properly reassembly it. It's real tought to negotiate a better deal or walk away from one, when you have broken the seller's gun. So, see my new post. Again thanks for all the words of wisdom, both pro and con.


http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?174458-HELP-Luger-reassembled-incorrectly