1917 Artillery at SimpsonLtd

[siegersallee]

Gosh, this is great! This is exactly what I am talking about: some interesting and lively discussion.
I really like it when folks have, and express opinions, even when they don't agree with mine.
That's how we can grow our ways of thinking and gain knowledge.

Let me respond to a couple of items:

I assume you are an engineer for a living or the type?

Yes, I am a Software Engineer. I also consider myself a bit of an amateur Military Historian with emphasis on the First World War.

So, value at the time is for RETAIL.

Yes, exactly, my point! In the retail market, the public market, previous sales
are comps; and, based upon the comps, I believe the price of the Artillery in question was reasonable.
Since the luger sold quickly and I am sure the asking price was close to the actualized price, the asking price will be used in the future as a comp and influence the price of a future Artillery sale. Therefore, the price at which the Artillery in question sold is its valuation *today*.

By "other site" we assume you mean Still's.

Yes, I read the expression "other site" in another post and thought it reflected some sort of ill-will between the
two sites and that by using its official name I would summon evil spirits. So, I wanted to comply with what I perceived as an unwritten rule and used it.
If there is no enmity or evil spirits associated with it , then I guess I can just say "The Jan C. Still board".

Siegesalle (note Berliner spelling)

Yes, there is a major boulevard in Berlin called the Siegesallee, the avenue of victory. It leads to the Brandenburg gate. My "nom de plume" and username, siegersallee, has absolutely nothing to do with the Siegesallee. Siegersallee is both a last name (not mine) and the "path/road of the victor": from a Nordic saga. At least that's what my grand-father told me and I choose to believe.
Though I must confess, I have not been able to verify the Nordic sage part.

To those who feel the 1917 Artillery at SimpsonLtd is over-priced, please provide the reasons for your conclusion. Is it just a gut reaction?
I have provided my analysis. Quid Pro Quo.

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by siegersallee

To those who feel the 1917 Artillery at SimpsonLtd is over-priced, please provide the reasons for your conclusion. Is it just a gut reaction?
I have provided my analysis. Quid Pro Quo.

Hi,

Regarding the price issue, for me, at least, a Luger isn't a true collectible unless it has a mint bore.

I know that many collectors don't agree with me, but you did ask the question.


Sieger

[alvin]

Originally Posted by Sieger

unless it has a mint bore

Probably for Artillery Luger, requiring that is not too luxury. Not sure Luger's situation, but many Red 9 Mauser come with mint bore. When many collectible samples of a specific variation have mint bore, requiring a mint bore on that variation is not unrealistic. Especially when considerable amount of $$ is paid.

So, return to the bottom of this, it is still related with how hard it comes, and its relative position in the group of the same variation (top, upper, middle, lower),,, and, on collectors side -- current collection structure, current financial situation, etc. There are many non-linear factors. So, again and again, we saw top pistols go crazy in auctions, that's typical non-linear behavior.

[sheepherder]

BTW, there is another factor in collecting, whether guns or anything with a 'serial'.

There are those who collect only certain serials. True! Rich person of course, but with Lugers, there is more chance of getting great shape serialized item than with say a motorcycle.

Back in 1998, I owned a rare Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I knew it was rare and collectible so I advertised it in Hemmings. I got a half-dozen calls from that ad, one guy wanted rare color combination, but weirdest was guy wanting certain serial number. I was wary, but he rattled off the number he was looking for, and mine was not it. He went on to explain that he collected one of each model Harley but only with that serial number...Weird, but true collectors are weird...

(He gave me his name, and it wasn't Jay Leno)...

[alvin]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

There are those who collect only certain serials. True!

Sounds like those rich in Hong Kong collecting car plates... regular people cannot care less on that aluminum plate, let alone the numbers on them. But who could expect there were bidders paying big money on those plates with certain number in auctions... weird enough, but that's on newspaper.