Luger serial numbered barrels

[mrerick]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum.

Collectors value Lugers highly if they are as close to original manufactured state as possible.

My military and commercial Lugers all have serial numbered barrels. I don't have my reference materials here to check and see if there were pistols normally manufactured without them.

There are some very rare ones ("lunch box specials") that were made without proper markings. There may be others that were normally manufactured without barrels being numbered.

As with most questions, pictures will help with identification and a detailed answer. Can you post some. Try taking them without using a flash in indirect light with a tripod to keep things steady and in focus.

Many barrels were marked with a number that indicated the barrel gauge (measurement). Numbers like 8.82 ...

Something in "good shape" may have been reworked or re-finished at some point. That often will reduce their value considerably. This isn't always the case (for example, Swiss Lugers that were reworked by the Swiss Arsenal when decommissioned).

You can get an idea of the retail valuation of Lugers at sites like simpsonltd.com or checkpointcharlies.com ...

Marc