Trying to get a sense of worth of my P-08

[Aaron]

As a collector of many years, quite a few of the postwar Luger types have passed through my hands. The one you have is the common one, but I can't be sure of how many were made without looking it up. They did make a number of scarce models, and as I remember, some were commemorative models marked with Russian and Bulgarian inscriptions. These rare ones hardly ever turn up. Yours, however, is the Swiss model, three of which I have encountered in the last year, as they turn up quite frequently at gun shows. Asking price new in box is usually around $650, but after a little dickering, they change hands for around $575, give or take $50. They don't seem to have gone up in price appreciably, as I recall that twenty years ago they were going for about $500. The big values are in wartime models, as that is what the collectors are going for. The current Blue Book of Gun Values, the most used reference today, lists your gun in mint in the box condition at $695, but they usually change hands for less. The following are the book prices for all the postwar Mauser models according to the Blue Book. Keep in mind that they really sell for somewhat less:

Swiss............................................695

New model carbine with stock...................4,995

Cartridge counter..............................2,650

Commemorative Bulgarian........................1,800

Commemorative Russian..........................1,500

Sport Parabellum (heavy barrel, 10 made).......2,500


Some were also made in consecutive numbered pairs, and these are listed at a slight premium.