Franken Luger (Pics Added) Artillery Model
 

Need help. I got a Luger from a deceased friend's wife. She is interested in selling, but she not sure what the price range might be. Here's the problem, its made up of various part from a least two separate pistols. The frame is a 1917/1920 DWM with a 589 serial number. The barrel is 7" and is also a 589. Most of the other parts are 1432 Serial numbers. The pistol has been re-blued with a high luster bluing. The pistol also has fake mother of pearl grips. Lastly, the magazine has a wooden toggle with a 7110 serial number. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

Sounds like a shooter grade Luger but we don't know if it shoots. No one wants to be viewed as taking advantage of a widow, but proceed cautiously. Pictures would help, but it is sounding like a $600 gun to me.
I assume it is 9mm. Holster, spares, etc?
But let's see what the others say.
dju

I'm not buying, I'm just trying to get some sort of a guesstimate price for her, so she has a rough idea of value. I have a matching number WWII Mauser Luger of my own, so she came to me for help. This thing is way beyond my knowledge, though.
It is 9mm and as of yet, she hasn't found anything else that would go with it (holster, mags, etc). I assumed as you did, it would only be a shooter grade, but with the longer barrel (7inches), I thought that might bump the price up a little.

Dennis,

Sight unseen, your description seems to indicate that you see this as not an especially desirable Luger. Unless you are keen on buying this particular Luger I suggest shopping around for whatever suits your interests and budget. My, rough, off-the-cuff estimate for a mis-matched, re-blued, re-barreled?, buffed up? Luger would be around $700. If you want the gun, you might offer a set amount above an offer made by a local pawn shop.

KFS

How are you measuring barrel length? Properly, you close the breech (unloaded, of course) and drop a pencil or other rod down the bore to contact the breech face. Mark the rod at the muzzle, remove and measure.

I ask because 7 inches is an unusual length.

Also, the rear sight is fixed on the toggle and non-adjustable?
dju

Learning a lot already. Miss measure on the barrel. After I did it the right way, it's 8 inches.

It has a ladder type sight. At least, that's what I think they call them. It adjusts to 800 yards.

Will try to send pictures.

An artillery Luger with sharp edges (regardless if reblued) is in the $800 - $1000 range. Even if mismatched. :thumbup:

(With sharp edges means it hasn't had the snot buffed out of it).

We definitely need to see photos.
dju

Mismatched parts and monkeyed with some..it's a shooter IF IT SHOOTS but it may not. THAT would affect it's value.

Im a senior citizen, so computers is not my strong suit, but I have help. I will send a picture as soon as help arrives.

Tomorrow, I will take it to the range and see if it shoots. It looks like it should work just fine, but you never know.

Will keep everyone posted with the progress.

Have a friend that does bluing, ceracoat, and duracoat.
Will check with him about the sharp edges. He should know.

Numerous photos, the more the better. Close-ups.
dju

If it looks as good as you say and if it shoots reliably, I think it's worth $1,000+ with the long barrel.
They are fun to shoot.

But, in cases like this, I'd happily pay too much for it.

It HAS to have a stock lug to be worth much.

Went to the range today. Took a box of Remington UMC 115gr FMJs. Shot two full mags. Gun worked perfectly. No failure to feed, no failure to eject, no jams. I thought that was great considering the UMCs aren't the best ammo. Did not try for accuracy, just function.

Picture guy should be here tonight, so will probably have pictures tomorrow.

Gun does have shoulder stock lug.

Her are some pictures. Let me know if any others are needed. I also found 2 more mags.

And some more

I've seen a lot worse for a re blue! Not buffed too badly. The MOP grips actually fit pretty well. With proper wood grips it would look a lot better IMO. Given your range report..It should be worth $1,000 as a shooter. Tough to squeak out too much more with the mismatched numbers..The mags you found COULD be worth a hundred each depending on originality.

I had quoted $600 earlier, but given the new info. I believe that $1000 is very reasonable. Lots of demand for artillery shooters, and few of us are willing to take a collector-grade gun to the range.
dju

As Jerry says, it's not too bad a buff and re-blue; I've seen much worse. Also strongly agree that wood grips would be MUCH better. Those pearl grips are almost as ugly as a pair of Franzite grips I once had on a 1916 DWM Luger.

The upper - barrel, receiver etc - is likely very early 1917 as the fine tune front and rear sights went away in later 1917. (The fine tune front sight first, then the rear)

The frame is WW2 era Mauser as evidenced by the "hump" on the rear of the frame ears.

For a shooter, I don't think $1,000 is out of reason.

Thanks for all the input, it is greatly appreciated. Considering all the interest in the pistol, I will talk to the owner about taking bids for it on this forum. She is out of town until next week, so it will have to wait until she returns. I have never sold a pistol on line, but it cant be too difficult. I'm sure its just a case of me shipping it to your FFL.

BTW: the 2 extra mags that I found in the box of stuff she gave me are cheap reproductions from Mexico. I would think value would be minimal.

We have the "for Sale" column below, but it does require an asking price, no open auctions. That being said, thanks for offering it here first.
dju

Did not realize auctions were not allowed.
Will come up with an asking price next week after the owner comes back into town.

I'm thinking that one can set a price and add "or best offer".
Good luck.
dju