Evaluating a Luger
 

Hi all, new user here.
My Dad had bought a Luger in the mid 60's, he passed away in '07..and that was one of the guns my mother always wanted to keep.

But lately she's thinking of selling it, as she's getting on in years.

I'm unsure of what pictures/info I could post in order for you savvy Luger folks to give me a price range I should ask for the gun.

Would someone be so kind as to let me know?

Thanks,
Mike

Look under the title New Collectors - then see How to ID a luger

here>>>>> http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=31977

it will tell you what we need to know

also, there is a ID data sheet that you could print out and write what you see

http://www.lugerforum.com/IDsheets.html

collector gun has to be unmessed with for best price - then condition is everything

we can figure out pretty quick if collector or 'shooter'

Ed

Thanks ED, will get on it tomorrow when I head over to my moms place....Been years since I've looked at the gun.

Thanks again.

PS

How do I add to your "thank you"?
Can't seem to find the button.

click on the thumbs up ;)

I don't need to be thanked, just doing my job (unless its a early luger or a Simson, then contact me first hah, hah)

Lol!

Too late, got ya!

Whole lot of deleted messages here...what is going on? What is "too late, got ya!"? Has the gun been identified? Has it been sold already? Was it all a joke? Inquiring minds would like to know :)

Ron, one was a duplicate that I made - the 2nd was rich saying the same info as me, so he deleted the info

Tomorrow the gentleman will look and get info on the luger :)

Sorry about that Ron,

I was replying to Ed...my messages was in refernce to him saying he didn't need to be thanked.

May have pics tonight, as I'll be emailing the info needed to my nephew, who stays at my mom's house.

Thanks Mike! Us old geezers get confused sometimes. Looking forward to the photos. :)
Ron

I hear ya Ron.

Well, digi camera won't work now and my nephew isn't avaiable for me yet, so I took these with my camera phone.
All the numbered parts are 49, serial numer in front of the trigger gaurd is 4449

The number on top (where date should be?) is 42.

there is some holster wear on the blueing at both front sides of the barrel.

If better pics are needed, I'll work on that.

Oh, and the clip number does not match.

the rest of them:

Looks like I missed the ID PDF...will start on that now and repost.

Toggle inscprition byf
Chamber 42
Toggle know- I'm unsure, hopefully pic will suffice
No grip safety
Cal 9mm
Grips look wood, but "sound" like plastic when tapped on with clip out...feel like wood, but unsure.
Safety is on in rear position
Barrel measures a scooch over 3 1/8th inch
Rear sight is fixed, front adjustable
Mag plug is wood, number is 2901 and what appears to be a cross "+" well below it, and just under has annother insignia...sorta looking like a cursive lower cased "L", which also similarly appears under the 4449 on the frame, under the barrel.
Blueing wear in the action, holster wear in front of the barrel.
Blueing wear (from holster I suppose) on the protruding piece behind the take down lever.

No accessories.

Thanks.

Assuming that all the internal numbers match and the barrel is not rusted shut, I'd ball-park it around $1500. You may squeeze a little more out of it or you may prefer to discount it for faster sale.
My $.02, but let's see what the others have to say.
Overall a good honest gun.
dju

Thanks David, I guess I did forget one important fact, the bore is in excellent condition.

Hiya Mike, and welcome...

Let's call this a byf 42! The cursive, lower case L is part of the complete serial number--4449 L. Your mag appears likely to be from before 1942, though, 'cause by '42, they had aluminum bottoms, and the last versions marked "fxo"--the code for Haenel-Schmeiser--were actually constructed differently, forged then machined. I'll bet when we see the body of your mag, it will be nickeled sheet steel with crimped and staked construction.Your mag was issued for serial #2901 L, and the "+" designates the first spare mag--the primary would not have a plus sign. A third mag, if it existed for that gun, would have "++" on it. These are military marks.

I'll take a callow stab at value for you: I'd say it's collectible, unless subsequent pics bring up issues that knock it out of that category...if all the numbers legitimately match and the condition is demonstrated to be not too bad. I'd expect to be payin' $1.5k minimum for it, but, like I said, the details are in the hi-res pics, when they get posted, and condition is everything.

It looks a bit rougher in the pictures, but may look nicer in real life.

These sell fairly well, folks like them, as they are smack in the WW2 era :)

The magazine (if not said above) is wood and should be a black bakelite magazine - but not a big deal.

Ed

Thank you gents, my nephew can get me good pics with his iphone...not being a expert in anything here (Luger related..lol) I can't say what is rough or not, I know if it was a navy Colt it'd be nice;)

I'll get some hi res pics up this evening.

Thanks again.

Edit:

And thanks for the welcome ith!

Oh, I might add is is just a 1500 dollar gun, it'll be a keeper. My dad had several (not Lugers) that I can sell for her to get her some fun money.

Thanks again.

Oh, and would his res pics if just top, bottom and sides be sufficient, or shold I get all the proof marks again as well?

Yes, all markings help tell a pistol's story; the more documented clearly, the merrier--and best info ferreted out in some cases. Better too many pics than too few...

Your mag appears likely to be from before 1942, though, 'cause by '42, they had aluminum bottoms. Yeah, WAY before 42... like about 1913-1918. Aluminum bottoms appeared around 1926.

A third mag, if it existed for that gun, would have "++" on it. These are military marks. UUHH NO they wouldn't. An extra mag is an extra is an extra mag and any and all extra mags only have ONE +, indicating it is an extra.

Uh-oh, I'm deluded! Well, no longer! I admittedly needed better info about this. An Artillery Luger would have been issued with three mags, right? One for the gun and two for the double pouch? If the two for the pouch were identically serialized and each had only one +, how did a soldier tell the difference later if one of the "extras" was acting up? Is my memory of pics of ++ mags mistaken, or were the mags inappropriately doctored post-issue to create this double+?

David, An Artillery could have been issued with 5 or more magazines. All numbered to the weapon. One for the pistol and 2 double mag pouches or one 4 mag pouch. Almost anything was possible.

But yeah..only ONE + on each extra. If you kept adding +'s on each extra you would have a bunch on the 4th mag! I suspect that if an extra was acting up badly enough the Soldat would take it out and lose it in the mud. But I don't know if the Germans repaired mags or what? I think they were considered fairly expendable.

I guess they would have needed G.T.!!

So, a mag with two "+"s would have been messed with? Other than signifying that issued mags had been tried/tested with each gun they accompany, I don't see much effect in their being numbered at all. It seems reasonable that in use, they were lost and found, discarded and swapped, because most mags seem to work in most Lugers, all else being equal. I can't picture checking serial numbers on mags while someone is throwing lead your way and you are trying to return the favor. Seems to me the mag numbering can be chalked up to the German near-obsession with organization, record keeping, etc.

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum.

Because of the soft focus and lighting issues it is very hard to give you accurate evaluation of your 42 byf (Mauser made) Luger sn 4449l.

It looks like there might be finish issues on the rear metal of the handgrip area. If the finish is thin there and showing active rust (red oxide), it will impact the valuation.

This Luger was very well made, with excellent metallurgy.

It also looks like there is a small chip missing from the top right of the left side grip panel. That can be repaired.

If your magazine has a wood base, it's from a period prior to about 1933, after which mainly aluminum and bakelite bases were used.

I think that $1500 may be at the higher end of valuation of these problems are present.

With that said, you have a very nice Luger that is collectible and it should sell quickly within the collector market.

Avoid local gun stores and the auction sites unless you have experience with them. If you list it here, you should be able to quickly sell it. Just take normal precautions, and ensure it's transferred legally in both your state and where ever you sell it.

Note that you can deal with a holder of a Federal Firearms License anywhere in the USA, and ship it directly to them. This includes dealers (class 01 licenses) and collectors (class 03 Curio and Relic licenses).

Marc

Marc

Marc,

Generally, yes, but the class 3 C&R has the value of bathroom tissue here in NY state. I don't think a C&R holder can even receive ammo from out of state without going thru a class 1. Soon, we'll have to have a background check to get a background check!

Be cautious on shipping to a Class 3 . Some States do not allow this. As stated above New York is one and also California. There are probably others? Bill

Byf 42 probably dated 1941 or 1942, are the wooden grips original?
If it had black plastic grips and a black plastic bottom magazine could be a so called "Black Widow"

My two cents.

Sergio