Need info before I bid
 

Here is all the info that I have from an auction brochure. I would like your help on what to look for at the pre-auction viewing, and range of price. DWM mod. P-08 Luger, ser # 71xx. 9mm military, all matching incl. wooden based mag. 4" bbl, fixed sight, bore good, strong straw colors on small parts, 95% arsenal blue on metal. Checkered wood grips. Thanks in advance for your help.

welcome to the forum merril,

you want to be careful, I have seldom seen a luger go for a good price at a live auction...

1. it should be all matching, this would include grips, firing pin, and all external parts (almost all)
2. original bluing
3. date? that makes a huge difference -- military ones were always dated...
4. truly matching magazine and that it is the correct year and type
5. auction folks have NO clue about lugers, it is a luger, so it is a luger... there are hundreds of real variations...

without year and suffix on the front, we can't provide anymore info on the gun than you have... the serial of 71xx could have it made from 1900 to 1945...

if this is your first attempt at a luger, see if you can get it for a good price, otherwise, it is always smartest to buy luger books first.

Ed

Thank you Ed for your input. Thought that you would like a follow-up. I attended the auction this AM. The DWM Luger was dated 1918; there was no suffix in the front. The piece had all matching numbers including the wooden mag. Original blueing and in very good to excellent condition. There were very few scratches, and superficial. Could not tell if the wooden grips were matching, or the firing pin. The wooden grips were in good to very good condition, no rub marks or cracks. The hammer price at $1275 was, I thought fair. I could not not take photos. Photos, to go with this description, would go along way.

You might want to consider watching the "For Sale" listings here on Luger Forum as you are more likely to get a better Luger and the descriptions are usually in depth. Just a thought. Brent B.

Merrbarb, I'll sell you a 1918 DWM for $1200.