should I buy
 

This is I believe a 1937 Luger, The owner says non matching, but he is a dealer and not a Luger expert.. I saw it about 6 months ago, it looked in shooter shape but he didn't have a price, but talked to him today and he said $600 shipped, what do you think? Is it a buy[IMG]http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/a...7/Luger_22.jpg[/IMG]

looks good, matching or not, i would say a buy.

Joe:

The barrel and magazine are replacements, which can both be good for a shooter. If it shoots safely, $600 shipped is IMHO a good price for a shooter luger! I had a similar one a couple years back, a DDR, and I put black plastic VOPO grips on it. Looked great and was a great shooter. Don't know why I let it go, but I got a lot more than $600 for it.

Clark

Jump on it

just for my info, why are the barrel and mag replacements?
Is it the barrel length?

another question, what is the value on a 85%, I think 1917, matching artillary model

yes, the mag looks likea 40.00 meggar.

Because of the long barrel length and newer barrel finish I'm fairly certain it is a replacement. I'd bet the barrel doesn't have a serial number on the bottom of it. It's a WWII numbered in the military style, so the original barrel was the shorter 4" regulation to fit in a regulation holster. I think from the "P.08" on the side it is a Mauser. Is there a "BYF" or Mauser Banner on the toggle?

The mag is likely a MecGar or similar aftermarket, usually good for shooting but not original. You can tell because of the black plastic bottom with Navy concentric circles on it.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the info guys

Definitely a buy and it looks fun, too. $600 is a rather good deal if all is fully functional.

I think that depends. If you don't have a Luger, and want to have some fun in range, $600 is not big money, buy it.

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[Edit] The book value is $400 (not working) to $500 (working). Book value is usually conservative though.

IMHO the 6" barrel makes it the perfect shooter. Increased sight distance for finer aiming and also better balance.
Double check around the front sight for year dates stamped into the base, just in case it is a Navy barrel, but I'm thinking it is not.
$600 is very reasonable, and you can put some lipstick on it (grips, re-blue, etc.) if you so desire.
dju

Nice gun for the money!!

It looks like one of the Numrich Arms barrels offered years ago. I would not reblue. Perhaps a nice set of repro grips and I would be good to go!

I talked to a guy yesterday who had one exactly like this in Kansas..after talking a few minutes I discovered even though the pistol was a Military... the barrel was .30 Luger!
Like this one the barrel had been changed but to .30

well I hope that is not the case, he assured me it was in 9mm..

well I decided to send him a check this morning on my way into work.. Thanks for all the help with the decision.. I will take some detailed pics when I get it and have a range report. I think I will take my newly aquired US Property marked Colt 1903 hammerless with me when this Luger goes to the range

I gave the man a phone call this morning before I sent the check, and had him do the pencil test, it passed. He also told me there is a serial # on the barrel but doesn't match the gun..

Yes, I wouldn't expect the barrel to match as it is a Military pistol with an aftermarket barrel.

Hi all..I'm new to the forum..What is the "pencil test"..Thanks

Hopefully I understand, but if you can fit a pencil down the barrel its a 9mm, if not its 30 luger

I had two of those Numrich 5"+ barrels; one in each caliber. Surprisingly, they were indexed properly. Looked good, shot good.

Price is good here. :thumbup:

Numrich, (Gun Parts Corp) still offers the standard length barrels, but I have not seen the extended barrels in some time.

It refers to using a #2 pencil eraser as a bore guage to determine for certain if the gun is chambered for .30 Luger or 9mm Luger. It seems like the eraser is specifically used, however I've never actually done it. Go and it is a 9mm, No-Go and it is a .30.
Because a new-guy might confuse a .30 for a 9.
dju

A standard pencil is introduced to the muzzle, and if it slips easily to the bottom, it's 9 mm. If it does not go, it's a 7.65 mm.

A standard pencil is introduced to the muzzle, and if it slips easily to the bottom, it's 9 mm. If it does not go, it's a 7.65 mm.

Sort of but with caveats..

The wooden pencil shaft will go into a .30 bore BUT the metal ferrel on the erasure end will NOT fit in a .30... but WILL fit into a 9MM.

So just to be sure it is the METAL erasure ferrel that is the true measurement.

easy bore gauge i know of would be to take a 9mm round or the projectile and place it down the muzzel, goes in , it's a 9mm , doesn't it's not.

I don't know how many times I have talked to people on this Forum and other places..they have the pistol and no ammunition. They may want to find the correct ammunition so have to know the cal. to do that.
Odd but it's often the case.

thats seems a good price for condition and such if it fires reliably . teh only thing is if its 30 cal its expensive to shoot . 36 dollars a box shipped fiocchi is the cheapest I can find. compared to 1000 rnds of 9 for 220.00 usd for the other

Works on 9mm Luger guns:

1. take the mag out
2. make sure the gun is empty
3. cycle the toggle
4. Take wooden pencil #2
5. insert in to barrel from the front so that rubber goes in barrel first
6. point gun to the sky
7. pull the trigger
8. pencil will jump out of the barrel

This test is done to make sure that your firing pin is working correctly.

I believe that the last 10 boxes of Fiocchi 30 Luger ammo that I bought (approx. 1-2 months ago), I paid $19.75/box, or there abouts from Able Ammo in Texas. The Winchester 30 Luger is about $50/box!!!

if it is .30 cal, I am returning it

oh its not that bad I guess if you just buy a mess and get it over with . 500 rounds would last me a year at 8 rounds a clip.

I would keep it. My humble opinion is that the 30 cal is a better round - it is what Georg Luger originally designed his creation for (not the 9mm).

The price and the longer barrel are both favorable. Fiocchi 30 cal Luger is available from Midway @ $23.99 box of 50.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/167...cket-box-of-50

I am presently converting several of my 9mm handguns to 30 Luger.

Rather than sending it back, consider re-selling it here.

...*IF* it is 30 cal... ;)

I guess I could keep it, I am moving to TX, but up here in AK, 30 luger is not the gun you want as what is on the store shelf is what u can get, about the only place that will ship ammo here is the CMP (Fedex Air) all other has to be brought by container on barge

The 9 mm round's tip goes most of the way in; you'll still see some of the bullet between the end of the muzzle and the end of the shell--maybe 1/16"-1/8"--because, with a land to land to land measurement of ~8.82~ there would be .08 mm difference to keep it from sliding in. It would be necessary to pound on it to have the bullet totally submerged in the bbl. When trying the 7.65 bbl., it will be quite obvious that the diameters aren't even close because the very tip of the bullet is all that will go in.

The pencil test, maybe better by using the eraser end. But if you're stuck with a shop pencil without an eraser, the 9mm will allow it to drop to the bottom easily and still allow for some rattle/play. The pencil's shaft does go into the 7.65 bbl, but you'd really have to push to get it to the chamber, and there is no play in this snug fit.

If this process results in a spare 9mm x 4 3/4" bbl, I may be interested, for my '06 AE shooter which currently sports a replacement 3 3/4" .30 Luger bbl. which would then be available for someone else. The sight and sight base on it have been ground/filed to create an extra sharp tip.
I have another 06 AE shooter with the original .30 x 4 3/4" bbl., and I'd like the same configuration in 9 mm for more economical shooting. I'd go with the original length because I have a 6" x 9mm Mauser 29/70, a and a 1917 Artie, and am covered for shooting the longer barreled examples. (Well, except for the carbine...)