A guy I've known from another forum for about 10 years, has a 1917 9mm luger which is marked with German military markings from the time of the great war. It has all matching numbers with the exception of the extractor which is one number different. It has a matching numbered magazine and another magazine that isn't matching. It also has an old leather holster. Condition would be considered Good. Not pristine or excellent. It's seen some use and has some wear. It was supposedly a war bring back, but not from Europe. Supposedly it was actually found in the Pacific theater in the possession of a Japanese officer. Stories are worth squat, but if true, it's interesting.
The gun is being sold to pay for funeral expenses of the gentleman's father. The family has fallen on hard times and quite a few weapons are being sold. The asking price is $1200. I don't need a Luger, but feel compelled to help the guy out. Is this a reasonable price? I don't mind too terribly if I take a loss, but I'd prefer not to take a $600 loss on a future sale.
Any ideas?
Dan
Fair price and consider the help it will do...and yes Lugers were found by GIs along with Mausers in the hands of Japs.No different than a Brit with one of our Thompsons
Sounds like a fair price to me at least.
Sounds reasonable to me, they are pricy these days.
I too would say grab it. Matching magazines are very hard to come by, on old Lugers.
6" barrel, or the shorter ones?
I've no particular need for one, but one of the long barreled ones has been on my bucket list for a while.
I'm far from a luger expert, but a functional one is going to cost at least $1000, and that one sounds like it is much more than just "a luger"
A wonderful historical pistol and a chance to help a buddy out. Personally I'd hang on to it and when the buddy is in better financial situation offer him the chance to buy it back for what you got it for.
when the subject of lugers comes up, it's all in the detail. All most all parts are numbered, it is rare to find one with the mag numbered to the gun. you didn't mention the color of the holster, i would expect brown, not black. Those holsters can by themselves run into the hundreds of dollars for a decent one. You didn't mention where it was made barrel length does it still have the straw finish on some of the parts etc. Having said all that, if i had it in front of me i would whip out the C notes so fast it would make your head swim.
And i may have had exposure to more than one luger.
If you do buy it, and decide to shoot it, keep the original springs aside, but get some new springs in it if possible. The japanese made cruddy handguns for WWII, and officers often purchased their own sidearms that were foreign made. Many of them carried U.S. weapons in that regard.
i doubt very much you take a 600dollar hit on it unless you were extremely foolish. Even the russian captures are more than that these days for a good one.
i might add this just to get your blood lust going
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/lugers/simpsons is a pretty big luger dealer.
I have to laugh in a way, i got into a collection a number of years ago and a guy i knew was shaking his head when he found out what i paid for them. Now some years later he would very much like to acquire said lugers, but at THOSE prices. I don't think so.
http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?cPath=179this was a russian capture luger for 695 sold price. Russians did nasty things to them. That sale price was in 2008.
http://www.gunauction.com/buy/8459120
Thanks.
I broached the subject of holding it for him and he told me that his dad had insisted this be one of the guns that go to pay for his funeral expenses. Evidently, he left the boys plenty of other heirlooms to have and neither son is particularly interested in a safe queen. They know it's nice, but they have other guns to shoot. My buddy said they're still searching the house for a couple of WWII bring back pieces that have equal value. The dad specified which sons got which guns so there wouldn't be any hard feelings.
As for shooting it, I had a WWI .30 caliber Luger once and didn't really come to love it. So, I'll just buy this one and put it away for one of my kids. Lately I've just been buying guns with heirloom value and selling off the run-of-the-mill stuff.
Thanks for the input.
By the way, it's a 4" barrel.