P08 Artillery and holster/stock rig
 

A good friend died a while back and his widow wants to give me this Artillery with holster and stock. Its too nice to turn down but I want to pay her a fair price; it would be grossly unfair to just take it. Your ideas on the quality can maybe help me to come up with a fair price to give.

First the pistol. Its a 1917 DWM Artillery with all matching numbers including the magazine and firing pin. The grips are un-numbered but I think they are original and in excellent condition. The pistol's finish appears to be at least 90+% with maybe 85-90% straw. The bore is excellent, shiny and without pitting. Both the front and rear sight have the fine tune adjusting screws. The one magazine is in excellent condition.

Thanks for your help and comments.

Charlie

Here are the photos.

More photos
 

Here are additional photos:

The holster/stock
 

My friend, when he was here, told me that he thought parts of the holster rig were repros. He was unsure about the board stock. Your thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated. The stock looks pretty good although the iron is un-numbered. The only marking is on the wood as shown. I didn't remove the screws to look at the other side. The mag case looks old but it may be a repro also.

Thanks!

Charlie

More photos:

Final photos:

The pistol is, as you surmised, very nice. With the matching magazine a high retail would be about $3000. The stock and attaching leather rig is Pakistani made from the 1960's and worth little, perhaps $300 on a good day.

Is the holster Pakistani as well?

Yes and I'll bet you a bottle scotch (my choosing) that it has two straps on the back. One horizontal at the upper holster for stock mount and one verticle below it for belt wear.

I wouldn't bet against George Anderson on anything Artillery..What he dosen't know aint worth knowing.

Jerry Burney

Thanks! Doesn't surprise me about the holster. Is the stock a Paki repro also?

Charlie

We have reached an agreement as to fair price for both of us so I am buying the Artillery and holster rig. Thanks for your help.

Charlie

...........

Ice,
I have a Persian artillery without a holster leather assembly and a stock. If you would like to sell your assembly, please notify me via email on this website. Lets see if we can work something out.
Big Norm

Norm, PM sent.

This is one of the few 1917 LPO8's I have seen with a fine tune front sight.

Tenbears,
this artillery Luger is often referred to as an early 1917 artillery Luger because it has the 'adjustable' screws on the front and rear sights. The late 1917 as well as the 1918 artillery Lugers do NOT have these screws. The 1935-36 Persian and Siamese artillery Lugers also do NOT have the 'adjustible' screws.
Big Norm

One of my 1917's and one 1918 have fine tune front sights. At some point in 1917 DWM stopped producing fine tune sights both front and rear. In the manufacturing process the workers did not draw parts inventory on a F.I.F.O. (first in first out) basis they apparently took from the top of the bin. It is quite possible that the very last DWM LP08 manufactured for the army in 1918 had both sights fine tuned. I have seen any number of 1920's newly manufactured artilleries with fine tune sights.

If George says it ... its true. But I'll bet that the production standards were pretty sloppy near the end of the war.
Big Norm

I thought Artillery 1917 in such shape with matching mag was worth more than $3000. Did I miss prices going down?

Clifton,
Prices do seem to be easing a bit on artilleries. There were two that sold recently on GunBroker that I was really wringing my hands and trying to decide if I should put a bid on. I still wonder is I made a mistake passing on them. :surr: Oh well, it wasn't my first mistake and won't be my last.

The first was a 1918. GB # 124282404. You might still be able to pull it up just to look at. It went for $2300.

The second was a 1916 GB # 128094740 that went for $2325. You might still be able to pull that one up too.

I thought that these guns looked pretty good and that the buyers did themselves proud. :rockon:
Big Norm :cheers: