Wtb: Please Help
 

Grew up with lugers all over the house,Father was a collector,Where they went I don`t Know.
Well the bug has bit me Guess it is in my blood.
So ,went online Guns America,buy a $650.00 luger,you know listed as good shooter,I think thats great to start.Turns out to be a nice paper weight. tried to return but would have lost to much money ,estate fees,posting fees,repost fees,and shipping.
Believe it or not I still kind of enjoy having one,get to take it apart and chase down missing parts, good to learn with.
Well been watching this forum for past couple of weeks and feel there are alot of honest people here.
So I`m ready to try again,Looking to buy something maybe lower end collector,with a little history behind it proof marks,matching #s.I`m from New Jersey so I`m waiting for my purchasing permit to arrive.If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it.I`m sure alot of you started out this way.
Thanks
Kerry

Welcome to the forum Kerry. The two biggest tricks to the trade are;

1. Buy lots of luger books and read them, plus read through the forum
2. patience.... lots of patience. It is amazing how many lugers come to you if you are willing to wait. I could have bought 10 lugers over the last year from friends and folks on the forum...


Ed

Ed ,
Thanks for the tips. l Just ordered one of Jans books( Third Reich Pistols)and have been looking through Davis`s book The Luger Handbook. What else do you recommend?
Thanks again,
Kerry

Well, much depends on what era you are interested in. I have all of Jan's books, and to me, Weimar Lugers is my favorite.

As you can, pick up Walters, the Luger Story, then older books such as Datig and Jones are good reads if very dated. Kenyon's book is good too, although it is dated also. All four can be found for reasonable prices on ebay.


Davis' book is okay, although he has some things wrong in the weimar period...


Ed

Hi Kerry..!

Welcome as well!!!! And welcome back to collecting. Don't be discouraged by your first purchase - just learn from it. Next time - you'll be a better informed buyer, know a bit better the questions to ask and what you should expect. And if ANYONE says they never made a mistake in Collecting Lugers - either they are not confessing the truth, or just been damned lucky :)

I agree with Ed.. Read, read, read. Then read some more. I would suggest Jan Still's books first - all the volumes. They are complete and excellently compiled/presented.

I would also suggest, as Ed hints at - pick a variation which intrigues you the most - and start collecting that variation. When I first started out over 30 years ago - frankly, I was "all over the map", and I sold most of them to start a basic collection in one variation, which has grown over the years...

The last suggestion I would have is ask questions here - before you buy your next Luger. The folks here and on Jan's site are all willing to assist a new collector. And their combined experience exceeds any resource that might be found elsewhere...

Again - welcome! And keep us posted!

John D.

I have this one if you're interested. It definitly has some history!
1918/1920 that is a low end collector or high end shooter. See "FOR SALE" section.

Hugh,
Thank you for your response,This is something along the line that I might be interested in,but let me take everyones advice and do a little reading.They all look good to me know .Wish I could buy them all.I`ll get back you.
Thanks again,
Kerry

Ken,

Not sure what your high-end price range would be, but you might browse through some of CheckPointCharlies offerings.

He seems to have a good reputation with fellows on the Forum as well.

He has some low-end conditioned matchings lugers for under $ 950 or so.

http://www.checkpointcharlies.com/sh...4&categoryid=9

This 1916 Erufrt might be worth a closer look :

http://www.checkpointcharlies.com/sh...9&categoryid=9

I lightened up his photo so the details can be seem a bit better :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...916_erfurt.jpg

If your budget is 2x this, you might look to some of the Simpson LTD offerings. Bob & Brad Simpson also have good solid reputaitons with most folks, as well.

Here is an Imperial WWI that caught my eye this morning. Cannot be sure, but some of the small parts may have been restrawed. You can ask them about this on the phone.

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...oducts_id=2977

They have lots more photos on their web site of this one, but I have posted one :

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...n_1916_dwm.jpg

Thanks Pete,
I`ll check them out