A cryin' shame
 

Today I happened to stop at the Powderhorn, a Middleburg, VA gunshop to pick up some old ammo. In a display case I saw three of the most hideous things imaginable: A 1908 Navy and two LP-08s, one a 1916 and the other a 1917. These guns had been covered about 80% with some crudely executed engraving, had Ivory stocks/mag bottoms and for additional accent, the toggles and sudeplates were gold plated.

The gentleman at the counter said they were consignment guns and he expected no takers at the $9K asking price.

What a waste of 3 otherwise lovely pieces of history. [img]frown.gif[/img]

Tom,

If those pieces sell for $9000, please forward to me the address of the gun store. I believe that I can find something to consign to him. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Hopefully they were doggy Lugers that weren't matching. Whenever we see a Luger modified we have to hope that it was not an original one but a parts gun that had no finish. The GI returning from WWII didn't know any better so that is why we see some plated/ivory grips but I am sure that today that wouldn't happen (well, now that I think of it..there are those 'sporty' kind of guys who need to personalize everything..what is wrong with them?)

Tom,

I too have seen the Lugers you mentioned a few weeks ago. and "crying shame" doesn't cover it...

I intend to stop back with my digital camera and make a record of this atrocity and post it here...

AND the stories that go with the guns are even worse... and sorrry Bill, but to my recollection they were matching guns... WHAT A WASTE!

There was also a mismatched 7.65 commercial there that had been mistreated and wasn't even completely functional and the asking price was over $650 as I recall.

More at a later date.

I'm afraid the some of the Middleburg, VA. "Mink & Manure" (horse country) set, have more money than sense. I've purchased a few things in the past from the Powder Horn, since I couldn't affort Dave Condon's prices up the street. Tom H.