Simpson's lost mind
 

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...e9470968d46e15

I don't know who is running this outfit these days but they don't know Lugers. $3500 for a reblued Artillery with fake grips. I didn't bother to look further...Pretty sad state of affairs. You would think they would have the decency to point out these things to a prospective buyer.

Jerry Burney

It seems that there are few Good Dealers now days, I bought a fake Trommel snail drum magazine from CMR UK when I thought it was original as they stated.:mad:
Alf.

Jerry,

The blue looks original to me. The barrel S/N halo is there. The straw is weak, but appears to be present. The photo of the top shows high edge wear on the sight and barrel extension.

Ron

Jerry, are You sure it wasn't 'Simson'

I have to go with Ron on this one. Some of the photos are a bit dark, showing the blue to be a bit more blackish than it really is. The lines are crisp and clear, halos are present and the overall wear seems to be consistant with age.

The takedown lever looks dark indeed, almost as if it was blued but this can also be a result of reflections (had the same problem trying to photograph pistols with small parts that had no strawing left).

The grips look like late war beech versions to me.

Of course, one has to inspect a pistol up close and personal to be sure, but it looks good to me.

PS: I'd love to see a 'Homer Simpson Commemorative Luger' :)

'Fraid I have to go with Ron's assessment also. Looks like just a real nice gun with correct beech (Buchenholz) grips. I have found that these late war light colored grips can be numbered to the gun, have only misc. Imperial/inspector's markings, or no marks at all.

Ron W. is right on about the grips. I have two 1918 DWMs with beech grips, one set numbered to the gun and one blank. Regards, Norm

Ron, I am in an agreeable mood myself..a very nice blue on the safety lever. Almost a black blue. Sure to be original don't you think?
The grips are such a poor fit I can't believe they would be original. But then the excellent photo's Simpson's has..who can say?

Jerry Burney

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder...perhaps I need a few to look at the gun differently :)!

What Luger Dealer do you believe have the worst photographs??

Lately, the photos on Simpson's site have been underexposed. I lightened up a couple of them for this rig.

Anyone care to comment on the black safety lever and the Grand Canyon type gaps in the left grip around the mag release and the safety lever? No need of beer goggles to see these...

Jerry Burney

Hi Jerrry, I have an almost identical 1918 rig (with matching number beech grips). Although this safety hasn't turned black, I have seen it on other guns. Regards, Norm

Norm, Compare your grip recesses with the 1918 offered by Simpson's. Yours are tight..the way they should be.

Safety levers do discolor but Simpson't isn't discolored. It's been blued. Something has happened to the left grip area of this pistol.... I don't care what anyone says or how they might explain it away. It's not right and certainly not what a serious collector would miss on an Artillery priced like this one is.Your photo is living proof of that.

One other thing I might add..Your pistol shows a beautiful color on the beech grips. What one would expect. Simpson's by comparison is washed out and almost grey ...they do not look at all like beech.


Granted I'm just dumb Mountain folk but these flaws are not what I will be lusting after when I buy my next $3000 Artillery pistol.

Jerry Burney

Hi Jerry, Since when has Yuma been mountain country? Regards, Norm

Norm, This is not my home. I am just visiting. My Home for the last 45 years has been and will always be in the high mountains of Colorado. I slip down here for a few Winter months to escape Mother Nature. She is a harsh mistress at 8000 feet.

Jerry Burney

Jerry,
I think that not only the thumb safety but also the magazine release also has been blued. The pictures are just too dark to check out the rest of this artillery Luger. Dons lightened pictures of the front of the receiver and under the barrel look good though. But $3450 for this arty? I think not.

The problem is that most individuals look at FGS and Simpsons websites to price their Lugers. But both Simpson and FGS have NEVER been known for their bargains. I have been watching Gunbroker for a long while and I have seen a lot of junky lugers going for outrageous prices. But I am not going to put the knock on either Simpson or FGS. They are risk taking businessmen. Thats the beauty of America. If the seller prices his item too low, then the article will sell REAL fast. If the seller prices his item too high, then it will sit there forever.
Big Norm (Hee Hee The other Norm)

I thought I would bring up something I saw as an issue that is more common than it once was. Describing a sales offering accurately and showing it with clear photo's is what I expect from a large dealer or guy selling one item . One guy selling a pistol might not know...a large dealer has a much larger responsibility.

When a questionable example comes along..it can often come here for discussion. When it does... I expect to get unbiased, accurate, honest opinions from people I trust . I try to do just that when an item arrives that is in my area of interest and I have an opinion about it. I am asked dozens of times a month for just that. Unbiased, accurate, honest opinions.

I am beginning to wonder if my expectations are misplaced.


Jerry Burney

Why?

Hi Big Norm, We have at least three Norms. There's you, Big Norm, there's Grande Fnorm, and me Vente Norme. Regards