Unmarked FXO mag on E-Bay
 

Luger Forum collegues, the amount some things go for on e-bay never fails to amaze me. Last night e-bay item #6543406300, an unmarked nice FXO mag, finally went for $228.06! I pulled out at $150 as I couldn't see this mag being worth more. "Littleharry" bid $78 more! It certainly could not have been because it matched his 1940's S/42! Any comments on this?:confused:

Unmarked magazines can be marked.... :(

I was following this also, but decided since I already have 6 of these that I didn't need anymore. I feel they are for the late byf's and the late Banners, the same as the black bottom magazines, just aluminum based. A good item to have. I noticed that a nice black bottom fxo just brought $183 on E-bay, so these have really gone up also. -- Bill

Gerben, of course, is absolutely right. Another "matching" magazine possibly to be made. And yes, Bill, everything Luger seems to be headed northwards in price.

Boy, you got that right! Auction prices are out of this world. Simpson and a few others have jumped on the bandwagon, and I suspect all dealers will follow. This is not a total put down on dealers, they are in it for a profit. How much profit is reasonable is the question. Perhaps with the ballooning prices, the dealers have to pay more up front to acquire their inventory, but you have to wonder. On a retirement income I can hardly consider a purchase anymore unless it is a really rare item that represents a solid investment...there is no room for speculation or fun money. Fortunately, I have most of what I want. I feel really sorry for the new kid on the block with a love for Lugers but with a working man's income.

Thanks for your input, Ron. Most of the dealers seem to be marking up items about one third over their buying price according to the prices realized on the last RIA auction and comparing to the retail prices later posted. I understand your dilemma. I'm not on a fixed income yet, but it won't be very long! I envy you for having acquired everything you want. As for me, something "wantable" always appears to be popping up. I will soon be seeing more at the next Reno (August) show.

Herb,
I didn't say I have "everything I want", just "most" of what I want:) . Hardly a day goes buy that something doesn't stimulate my Luger lust.

Ron, I know, it's an uncurable affliction that I have been suffering from ever since my maternal grandfather secretly (so he thought) showed my father his 1917 DWM artillery that I caught a glimpse of in the late 1940's. Even at that tender age I knew I had to know more!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...543406300&rd=1


Not all that sure that I would have bid on this without a clear and up-close pic of the base...

so, do you guys have an answer?


Not to aquiring new stuff, but to give an answer to the wife? she says, You bought WHAT????


:D

Steve, You're right, the base could have been ground down.

I use to buy complete Mauser Luger Rigs with 2 correct matching magazines from $1800 to $2500 and most my buddies thought I was nuts. Probably still am -- smiling -- but now, with prices at $4800-$5500 there is no way I'm going to be buying anymore of these and no way any new collectors are going to get into collecting Lugers. I have noticed that the dealers are not moving most of these expensive pieces, so perhaps they have priced themselves out of sales, but I also see that they have not lowered their prices yet either. Most seem to want to make at least 30% anymore. Anyway, the Lugers being traded (sold) are doing business in a smaller and smaller group of Luger Nuts. -- Bill

Bill, With all due respect to your above comments (and I agree with you!), I have been seeing investment money going into rare Colts and Lugers over the past few years. After all, what has the stock market done since 1999? Investment advisers are telling their well healed clients that real estate, also a good investment, is not as liquid as rare Colts and Lugers are, especially commercial real estate. Hate to see the "big boys" coming into the collecting fraternity, it not only makes it harder on the rest of us, but it invites "boosting" and outright fraud.