Cheap shooter quality Lugers
 

I am looking for a good place to find a good shooter quality Luger, preferably from a reputable dealer, not an auction site. I have heard Ralph Shattuck was the best, But I have tried numerous times to email him with no results. (I subscribed to his list a few years ago but never saw anything within my price range.) I am looking to spend $500 (or LESS) including shipping and fees. I dont have my C&R so I will have to go through the local dealer here. I have bought many guns, even ordered a few. BUT the sellers on the net dont seem to want to deal with a Gunshop so I dont know what to do. I have very limited funds and I am getting frustrated with the whole process. Any one have any ideas on where I can get a shooter, or anbody got tips on how to make the process easier without spending more cash?

Adam, With your $500 limit including S&H, you are going to have to be very lucky or at least persistant to find a PO8 that functions reliably. I've had many folks over the years that send me their "bargain" lugers to repair, or to at least get operating, and by the time that they pay to fix their mismatched bargin luger, they probably could have purchased a matching restorable one lacking some finish for the same price.

Tom is right. I get parts guns in to repair and restore all the time that have missing parts like the locking bolt spring or a hold open spring that is not working right, usually because it is NOT an original part. Trigger lever/side plate that don't work right because they have not been fitted to the gun they now reside on. Remember these guns were originally built up from hand fitted parts by people that knew what they were doing. Buy a matched finish worn shooter gun if you can find one. You will be money ahead in the long run IMO.
http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman...annersmall.jpg

I agree with both of the above, you DO see bargains every now and then, but the $375 -
$500 gun is much harder to find...

{{I bought one for $425 last year, decent, in fact nice collectable, but pure damn luck}}

Ed

Hello Adam,

These folks have a very decent 1920's luger for sale but $ 200 more than your budget but it is in .30 luger cal. and not 9 mm...

This is a harder and more expensive round to shoot, but one I find more enjoyable that 9 mm...

http://www.pugsguns.com/displayItem.do?id=462

But it is an awfully nice looking luger...

Regards,

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

Adam, Keep an eye on your local newspaper in the guns section. One might pop up there. Also you might want to put an ad in the wanted section. That has worked for me before. I just found a nice 1915 shooter grade Luger in the Phoenix paper this last week for $500.00. A friend I told about it bought it. So they are out there, best to look local as you would not have to have it sent to you. Patience in this game wins the race! Good Luck, Jerry Burney

I have 2 Shooter grade Lugers for sale.....$685....each ...VOPO reworks..in good working condition....a little ugly...but!!fully functional.....each with a Holster included as well!!!....photos and descriptions on Gunsamerica...Cheers...Peter..

Bob Adams seems to have a decent, non-matching shooter for $ 595.00...

http://www.adamsguns.com/1139.jpg

Regards,

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

Thanks for the info everyone. When the Luger special was on (History channel) last year I remember Ralph Shattuck saying he had shooters for $325 (or may have been 375) and up. I had the show on tape but I cant seem to find it now. I have heard a lot of people say they found them for less than $500 in good condition, The one I have was purchased for $400 at a gun show a few years ago. I have tried searching here in east TN and I havent even seen another Luger here in the four or five years I have been looking. I know they are out there, I just need to keep my eyes open.

That show was made 5 years or so ago, things have changed. Most of the imports that were so prevalent then were bought up. I did a check a couple of years ago of the dozen or so shooters he had listed the average price was around $500. I doubt if you can find much for that now. Good luck in the hunt, that is half the fun.

Hi Adam, It's a simple formula for me... How much will I pay, vs. How bad do I want it?? I seems that all the pistols that I just could not live without... are the first to get sold when I see something I REALLY like! I have found, for me anyway, that if I pursued a collectable line, I came away with some nice examples, and also had plenty of opportunity to pick up shooters of all kinds! Plus, the knowledge base you form, will last a lifetime, and will help you through many different decision making problems! But, if you absolutely just have to have a nice shooter now... pay the $650 to $700... and get a NICE shooter... it's like Thor and Lugerdoc said... "Why do ya think they're $500??" If you got time, or will take time, then it's like Jerry said... one will come around, just have to wait a little while...you may even get it for less, if your quick! Either way, you need the knowledge to make a good value decision at the moment you have the opportunity to buy one... Best to you in your quest, lets how know how you turn out, no matter which way you pursue! till...lat'r...GT

The reason I am so set on the $500 price range is because my father and I have a small 10 acre farm. The total income between us is less than $9,000 a year after expenses. I had my neck fractured a few years ago, so I cant get a regular job. But the government said that as long as I can walk Im not disabled. Its hard to make ends meet around here,but we try to put back cash for things we want. Even if I had more than $500 to spend, I wouldnt feel good about putting it into another gun when there are so many other things we need. Most people couldnt even imagine what its like to have to live on this amount of money, but I was raised on this farm, just like my father, so its all we know.

Hi Adam! You have my deepest respect, and if necessary, my apoligies, for assuming something which was not! I came from the upper midwest and I have several friends that were (are) in the same situation as you... although most have suffered some type of farm related injury, the are not as serious as what has happen to you...most have been force to leave and seek jobs in the nearest town.. the larger corporations have effectivly pushed the small time farmer out... I understand your situation, and, at least as far as the Luger goes, I might be able to help... I have several leads which are going to materialize in the next few weeks... I may be able to find something decent, that would be suitable for your needs... If you wish, drop me a note at my email address and I'll tell you what I have in mind! At any rate, best to you, and thanks for your participation in this forum... it is enjoyable to hear from all Luger enthusiasts, no matter if they have one, none, or many! Till...lat'r....GT

Oops! my email address! gctomeks@msn.com til...lat'r....GT

G.T. Thank You. I have sent you an email.
I hope no one misunderstands my post, I was simply informing everyone of my situation in order to allow you to better understand my reasons for only being able to spend $500.

Hi to all! Adam and I have reached an agreement, we're going to get him fixed up! Stay tuned! details as they unfold! best to all! till...lat'r....GT

Adam,
IF GT leads dont work out I have a 1911 matching shooter or 1936 s/42 non-matching shooter that I think we can work a deal on.

Jim

Jim, please check your PMs

rk

Hello Friends! Just wanted to let everyone know that so far G.T. and I are making great progress. He is a Great guy, very friendly and honest. I dont know many people who would go to the lengths that Luger forum members do to help each other. I must say I am proud to be considered part of such a great forum. We will keep you informed as our transaction unfolds!

Hello Adam, you are absolutely right. GT IS a great guy and I'm proud to say a good friend. Enjoy your new toy!!

GT may as well be an abbreviation for GREAT...

He is a stand-up kinda guy... and to think that I never would have met him, if it hadn't been for this forum. I take every opportunity to brag on this forum and its members... I always consider the time I spend here well spent!

Thanks to guys like GT and the rest of you that make this a great place to visit.

Hi To All! and Thanks to all! But it is I who feels privilaged, to be a part of this outstanding forum, a great bunch of people!! .... BUT, on to the task at hand!!! Adams Luger update!! All the appropiate letters are in the mail, and Adams new acquisition is at the FFL dealer, ready to be sent as soon as the corrosponding FFL arrives!! probably will arrive, at Adams dealer, sometime late next week.... It's like comiedian Tim Allen says " I can hear that UPS truck coming!" Can you guys remember what it felt like to wait for a Luger (or even a magazine!)to arrive, when you first started collecting and buying thru the mail! Hell, I still get that way!! The ball is back in Adams court, I'm hopefull he will fill you all in, when it arrives! And the saga continues! Stay tuned! til...lat'r...GT

Hi folks, GT has done some really nice things for me too. He and his family are TOP NOTCH!!!!

My vote also.

Having met GT in person a couple of years ago, I can tell you he is one straight, good-hearted guy.

The world needs more like him.

Regards,
Luke

To keep everyone up to date, all paperwork has now been officialy "sent"! It is up to the US Postal Service and UPS to keep things moving. So far everything has went very smoothly, with exception of a few setbacks. My chosen dealer went to gamble his savings away in Las Vegas at the last minute and left me without a FFL, a snowstorm made a few threats but never happened,and the rest went as planned. G.T. should receive his money one or two days before the "new" FFL gets there (Thanks to Alan Miller at the Gunshack for filling in at the last minute). The luger will arrive here by the 20th if nothing goes wrong. I will post pics and details when it gets here, I have had a sneek peak at it (thanks to G.T. and his friends) and it is NICE!!! Mostly I want to Thank G.T. for everything he has done to help me out, he is a great person and a true friend. There is one more person who helped out and wishes to remain unnamed, Thank You also, you know who you are. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Update!!! Once again, bad luck strikes. Mr Alan Miller, who runs a gun shop here in Greeneville TN, DIDN'T SIGN THE FFL BEFORE HE SENT IT TO AZ!!!! Now I have to sit and wait another week on the signed one to be received and it hasnt even been mailed yet. I just learned of this tonight, so I have to get up early tomarrow and try and get the signed one in the mail. I had intended on going to the gunshow this weekend with the luger and finding a set of cheap shooter grips,and a holster (mainly just wanted to be able to show the luger off, since they are so rare here) Now I cant because of a mistake made by Mr. Miller . There wont be another gun show here for 6 months or longer. Does anyone else think that Mr. Miller should offer to send the second FFL by express mail, or waive his $20 transfer fee?

Hi Adam, $20 beats the 10%-20% that I have been asked for. Sounds more than reasonable. He does have to do some bookwork and keep it for the rest of his life. IMO he's a Buddy. I wish he lived near me. Bet he is super NRA Guy. We need middlemen for thier experience and advice. You came here did'nt you?. You could have done worse than Mr. Miller. G.W. Gill

Adam,
Give Mr. Miller a break. He made a mistake that caused you an inconvenience. I know how much that hurts when you are anticipating getting something that you want very much, but it was an honest mistake and he is charging a very fair fee (I have to pay $45 or more for a transfer fee). Mr. Gill has offered sound advice. The good guys are looking out for you.

Thanks Gill, Ron, I respect your opinions so I will give Mr. Miller a break. For East TN it seems that $20 is the regular transfer fee, just seems like most local dealers dont want to go to the trouble of doing it after they tell you its only $20+10 registration. A few even said they werent allowed to transfer one to me unless they OWNED it first! Three different dealers said if I would sell them the gun when it arrived and then buy it back, they would do the tranfer. I thought that to be strange, but I trust one of the dealers who told me that so I dont know what's going on there.

Adam,

Yes that waitng period for one's first luger can be extremely painful...as was most of our other virginity issues... :D

Before I had my C&R, I had to wait a whole 30 days before I could bring my first luger home, since I bought another gun just a few days prior to that.

The guys at my local gun shop let me visit every week so I could sneak a peek at my luger during that 30 day period...

Also, many CA-State FFL shops charge from $ 100-200 to do a FFL transfer. The gun liability threats in this State are so crazy, the FFL shops have raised their transfer rates to compensate them for their possible risk and head-aches...i.e. what happens to the shop if a gun they transfer to a fellow is used in a crime shortly thereafter...

You will soon have your first luger at home and these waiting-pains will be quickly forgotten...

Regards,

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

If a dealer tells you that you that they must either "own" the gun or you must "sell" them the gun and then "buy it back" in order to do the transfer, run away and don't look back. You are correct, that is "strange" and the dealer(s) that told you that either do not understand the law or are out to grab your Luger.

To be fair to dealers, they are in business to earn a living. Often they receive a bunch of guns that folks have bought over the Internet and expect to be able to pick up from the dealer without regard to the legal paperwork that the dealer must go through, and don't think that they should have to pay for the process. That makes the dealers reluctant to do transfers and they tend to discourage transferring anything that they are not selling themselves.

I think Mr. Miller is being very fair and honest with you. I hope I am right.