Post war Kreighoff P-08
 

All:
I took a look at some guns that a fellow inherited and that he is thinning out. One was a Kreighoff Luger number 121, which he described as a PX gun made up after the war for soldier souveniers. Very nice gun and possibly unfired. Nicely salt blued with dark straw colored parts, black plastic grips.
Anyway, it's not in my future, but I am interested in what this one may be worth.
Any sales estimates or history is appreciated.
dju

Hi David!

For a bit on the post-war HKs, take a look at this thread: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=27427

As well, for a good "guesstimate" on value, I'd like to see some pics, if that were possible? While the post-war Krieghoffs certainly don't command the market value as wartime HKs do, I still find them a fascinating variation(s)...

Best to you!

John

Thank you for the info. John. I will ask the owner about pictures but that may be iffy at this point.
dju

My pleasure, David! As I mentioned in the other thread, the Post-war HKs really deserve an entire chapter in a book :-) I find them an interesting subject and of historical significance to the HK history of Luger production.

My best to you,

John

David,

Nice gun. I happen to have SN 185. Virtually identical to yours. Don't see them often.

There was a nice one for sale last year asking $5500 or so. Don't know what it sold for, if it sold at all.

As John D. says, these do not command the premium that a HK war gun does, much less the fabled 1945 dated HK. However, if indeed, the 1945 does exist, it would have been made from the same parts, with the same first and second stage proofs as seen on these PX guns.

Hope this helps.

John

PS: Just FYI, SN121 does not appear in Gibson or on Tom Whiteman's list of known HKs. So its a new discovery.

JR

Hi John,

Actually - I don't think your guesstimate of about $5,500 is too far off base and may well be right on target. My initial reaction was between $4,500 - $5,000 +/-, depending on what the pictures showed. I think in a stronger economy, it might well exceed that $5,500 - as again, there are only a limited number of these Postwar PX lugers, and no, they don't regularly appear.

My Best to you,

John

Once again, thank you for sharing your wisdom! I will pass this info. along and should he be interested I will get it directly to you.
dju

John D, Ouch! My first luger purchased in 1959 from Ye Olde Hunter for $39.95 was one of those postwar externally numbered KHs assembled with a DWM toggle in the 2xx serial range. Unfortunately, not knowing much about lugers at that time, I cut it down into a "baby" when John Martz introduced his a few year later. Gibson's "The KH Parabellum" does the best coverage of these, that I'm aware of, in his chapter 10. TH

Just a followup, that Kreighoff went to auction along with his other guns last Sunday. The early internet bid was around $3k, but with a lot of bidding by the owner, who was in the audience with a bidder's number, it went up to the $5500 neighborhood. Seems like some fellow from NJ ended up with it.
We did notice that there was an overstamped "2" in the serial number on the front of the frame (#121 as I recall). Or so it looked under the light.
dju

Is that Kosher? For the owner to bid on his own item and openly to boot?

I was upset by it all, and had I actually bought something that he had bid up I would have been really PO'ed. So I'll leave that question for others to answer. Is this ethical auction practice?
dju

I would have loved to see that owner get stuck with owning his own item!
No, it is not legal. I believe there are State or Federal laws against this practice. This is called shill bidding.