Help me identify and put a value on this Luger
 

I have recencly acquired several pieces of German WWII Militaria passed down to me by my Grandfather. As I have no interest in such items it is my intention to determine their value, sell them, and use the money to buy something special for my fishing boat. I know my Grandfather would have liked that idea as we were fishing buddies in my youth. I have been able to research the Dagger, Bayonet, Sword, and Canteen. But have been running into roadblocks with the Luger pistol. I was offered $200 for it at the local gun shop, but didn't sell feeling I looked as ignorant as I felt and was being taken to the cleaners by the guy. So with the help from experts like yourselves I hope to identify and put a value on this pistol. Just tell me what information you need, and how to get pictures on here for you to see, and I will be more then happy to oblige. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Hope I did the photos right and you can actually see them.

Jay

http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20008.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20009.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20011.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20012.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20014.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20003.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20020.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%203%20004.jpg

Hi Jay, You could add a 0 to what was offered and still not be close. Post a clear close up of the proof marks on the right side of the receiver. And the marks on the magazine bottoms. Also any stampings on the holster.
You have an extremely rare Luger. Only 60 reported according to Jan Still's Third Reichs Lugers. I'm not up on these variations, but someone will come in soon who is.

Ron

The magazines are the ammo clips right? NOW which part is the receiver?

Jay

$200.

Hell, I will send you $1000, sight unseen...

The "extra" magazine is worth anywhere from $50to$150, the tool another $40-$125, the holster is worth $100-$150, and if the magazines are matching to the gun, i.e. same numbers as the gun, the value goes up by 50%, 25% with one matching magazine.

Ed

Jay Yes, the mags are the ammo clips. The small stampings Eagles etc. on the upper right side of the pistol, just behind where the barrel screws in. Get pictures (clear close-ups) of all and any stamped letters ,numbers, markings of any kind.

Ron

Here is the receiver, also, I sent you a PM message; are the magazines, i.e. clips, what numbers are on the base?

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfuploa...ia_3_008ed.jpg

Well thanks for Ron I might want to be patient and see what the gun is actually worth before making any hasty selling decisions. Thanks though for your offer. You beat the gun shop guy hands down.

Jay

Ron,

Seems I've already used up my allotted 8 pictures. Is there a way to add more? If not which ones would you suggest losing in order to put in pictures of the clip bottoms and receiver showing the symbol that looks like a bird with an LA in the middle?

Jay

You can add eight pictures to each reply, so just add some more to the other replies you have made or make another one.

Ed

Jay, Click "post reply" and post them there. The Eagle/LA is the clincher. Luftwaffe( Air Force) stamp.

Ron

I'm not the best photographer in the world, so cut me some slack guys. Here are pictures of the receiver and bottoms of the magazines. In looking more closely at the barrel, on the bottom right where it meets the body of the gun it is stamped S/42 http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%204%20005.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/sultans...%204%20007.jpg

Jay, Outstanding!
Ron

Jay,

Yours looks to be a "K�¼" Luger.

You can read some more interesting info. about K�¼ Lugers in the 2nd. discussion thread in this "Militarty P-08" section...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

I agree with Pete that it's a very interesting pistol.

Some background info on where your Grandfather acquired it would be really helpfull.

My Grandfather was not in the military during WWII. Nobody in the family ever remembers seeing this stuff until his death when it was brought from his attic storage. I'm afraid I am not able to provide any useful information with regard to the origin of the Luger or how it entered the country. Be Pop was an excellent poker player, and my guess is he won this stuff in a poker game. I know he won a car, a horse, some jewelry and other assorted oddities with his poker skills over the years.

Hmmmm... will this revelation on the card-table origin of this K�¼-Luger spawn a new theory on what this class of Lugers is all about? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Not sure if that was meant as an insult, or a joke I don't understand not being in the "Luger Collecting" community. In either case I won't take any offense.

Jay

Jay, if you look at the Message thread that Pete pointed out to you... it should be clear that my last post was a joke... There are LOTS of theories about the origin and use of K�¼ stamped Lugers, but there has been no documented substantiation of any of these theories...

BTW, I am not a Luger 'collector' either, I am a Luger enthusiast, I treasure the two that I own, and nowadays, I collect information regarding their history and use and administer this forum website for the "Luger Collecting" community...

Once again, welcome to the forum.

O.M.G.!!!!!!

I have received an offer of $2,500 for the Luger, holster, tool, and 2 magazines. It's the best offer I've had to date. I will most likely sell to this buyer next week. Does this seem like a price that's fair for both of us? Please help as I respect your knowledge with regard to Lugers and their market value.

Jay

Jay, that amount would be acceptable to me...no matter which side of this deal I was on...

... but I do not have a reference for the last price paid for a K�¼ Luger... and I have looked for a while now.

The last Lugerforum member that I know that purchased one is Tony S. (Member 479) but I don't know if also purchased the holster and a nice set of mags to go with it...

You can find one of his posts by doing a search (Link at the top of this page) in THIS forum by searching for K�¼... he posted near the bottom of the bottom thread that will show up. You can send him a private message and ask him to please post to this thread if he doesn't mind sharing what he paid.

If anyone has a current price bracket for this model, please comment on this thread.

Thanks, and Good Luck.

K�¼'s are a mixed breed of "experts" opnions. What I mean is that I have seen people get all excited about K�¼'s and other collectors ignore or turn their nose up at them.

It would be more helpful if we as collectors could figure out their true origins, which is possible, but unlikely.

Value... The price is fair, some would say you were not getting full value, but on the other hand you were offered $200 locally. I said I'd give you 1K, and I was serious. It is possible these are "fake" magazines, i.e. made up as a rig, but I don't think that is likely either.

Having a "set" of mags (but not matching the gun) a holster and gun is worth the value of all, altogether? 41 byf is worth $1400-$1800, holster is worth $100-$150 depending on shape it is in, extra mag is worth $150?

So, altogether the price offered is fair, all depending on what a collector feels that a K�¼ is worth as "extra" value.

Ed

Hi Ed,

I appreciate you taking the time to offer such detailed and valuable information. I have to tell you I was aprehensive about posting on this site, but am glad I did so now. I have received nothing but positive and informative information from everyone. As a sideline for John, is it possible that the Ku stands for kitchen untensil? Maybe old utensils were melted down to produce parts for certain Lugers thus bringing forth the Ku stamp.

Thanks,
Jay

<img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> Very Funny Jay!

Okay, this should be an easy question for you guys. I can legally own the Luger in the State of North Carolina. When I sell it I will have to ship it. What steps must I take to do this legally?

Thanks,
Jay

Jay, You can ship directly to an FFL(Federal Firearm License)holder, or C&R(Curio & Relic collectors license)holder. However you have to get a signed copy of their license first. And can only ship to the address shown on the license. You can ship UPS overnight, or Fedex. Unless you have an FFL or C&R yourself,you cannot legally ship though the Postal Service.(Postal Regs.) DO NOT put anything on the outside of the shipping container indicating that it is a firearm. And insure it.

Ron

Ron,

Thanks once again for the very helpful information. When you say a signed copy of their license, what does that mean exactly?

People who have an FFL 01 (dealer) or FF 03 (C&R) will send you a "copy" of their license, it must be orginally signed in ink, most people do black or even red, to show you it is orginal. Then you box it, send it Overnight to the address on the license.

See Ron, beat you. :D

Ed

Thanks for that info Ed. Very precise.

Ron you were right, he did try to beat you!

Since I'm new into collecting Lugers, I don't have any info regarding K�¼ Lugers.
But I'm always learning from the members here, such a great source for info:)
Good luck with the sale Fishing Guy! Hope you catch some great fish for the $$$ later on <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Jay, I'm the person, or perhaps one of the persons, who contacted you thru your eBay sale of your Luftwaffe dagger and suggested that you work thru this forum to acquire information concerning your luger.

I am delighted that you did so and have enjoyed reviewing the information provided by kindly forum members concerning it.

I wish you the best of luck in trying to sell the pistol.

David

Curses ,foiled again! http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/pool2.gif Actually, I'm not a real person. I'm just one of the voices in Ed's head. :D
Nice meeting you Jay. Glad I could help. BTW, My best friend,and hunting buddy is from Waynesville NC. Ron

Hello guys,

I've been asked if the grips match on the Luger and if the number matched the last two of the serial number. I looked inside where the magazine goes but see no number. I also have been going over the gun with a magnifying glass to see if I missed any marking with my horribly eyesight. On the barrel there is a Letter H turned on it's side. To the left of the upright there is a W and to the right of the upright is the number 154 What does this stamp mean? Again I appreciate your help.

Jay

Jay.... hmmmmm, don't know about the numbers or letters... close up pictures would help (my camera takes crappy close ups... :( )

Grips, sometimes they are marked, sometimes they are not, unsure about the exact year you have... I had a 1940/42 and it was marked with an eagle 655 but not the serial number, and it was stamped LIGHT but this is not done very deep at times and you really have to look for it. See if that is true with yours?

ed

I'm afraid the stamp is so tiny and so light that I wouldn't be able to get a picture of it. Just thought someone might recognize the stamp, or that it was something common to Lugers.

Jay

Sometimes markings are odd, especially in the weimar era (yours isn't).

On the barrel markings can sometimes mean import markings? But then it would have "suffolk, VA" or something like that, and NOT just a number...

The "H" could be many things, it depends...

Experts??? as I am in this area :(

Ed

Ed.........there is not actually a letter H per say. If you took an H and laid it on it's side there would be a vertical line and 2 horizontal lines. To the left of the vertical line is the letter W...to the right of that same vertical line is the number 154 WISH I COULD GET A PICTURE OF IT!

Do you have a scanner, that you could scan it in? Although you'd have to take it apart to get it to scan in right...

Take the gun apart? LAUGHING And who's gonna put it back together again? Bear in mind this is the very first handgun I have ever posessed and I am not familiar with breaking them down, let alone putting one back together again.

Jay

The description of the "lazy H" on the barrel sounds like a K- or G-Date proof mark. I'll let the experts take things from here.

Don