Newbie needs price advice â?? here's exactly what I want
 

Hello â?? Jim beat me to it with his question below, but my question is a bit more specific for my purposes. I am relatively new to Lugers, and have been following this forum and reading as much as I can. I'm going to be looking for one 9 mm Luger to add to my firearms collection. (I tend to collect one of each, rather than many of the same.) I've decided that I want a Luger with: a) all matching numbers, b) nice bore, c) nice grips (no chips or major wear). The gun will be shot occasionally, so it has to be functional. These are the "must haves." I don't care if it's been refinished; in fact, all things being equal, I would rather have a nicely refinished gun than something with hardly any original finish left. (I know that refinishing devalues the gun somewhat, but looks are important to me when it comes to women and guns.) Having laid out my requirements, whatâ??s a fair price to pay for something like this? I really want to keep it under $1,000, and wonder if this is realistic if buying off something like this forum (vs. paying the internet and dealer markups). thanks

In Canada yes it's possible, but if your in the U.S. I'd say you will have to pay a bit more. Matching numbers if it's a shooter?? why not a mostly matching luger that cuts the price almost in half..

Thanks BYF, I might be open to that. How would you define "mostly matching?" Are there certain parts I need to be sure match? thanks

Jay, welcome to the forum.


There are lots of matching, but reblued lugers out there for under 1K. $600 will get you ones in okay shape to buffed and reblued, while $700-$800 should get you something better and closer to a thousand even more so.

Just keep looking, take your time and you should be okay. Be aware that I have had a few very nice looking guns that wouldn't shoot or were very unreliable, and have had ugly guns that shoot everytime I pull the trigger...


Ed

Thanks Ed. Other than this terrific forum (where Lugers seem to go in about 3 minutes once they're posted), can you recommend any other places to look besides the internet auctions?

I don't know what the reserve is, but this may do...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=67857792

I made my account after my first luger. What I thought was a byf mauser mostly matching Luger. This was 100% wrong. It wasn't a byf or a "mostly matching Luger". This goes to show you, make sure you know what your interested in buying.

When I say "Mostlymatching", I mean a Luger that has most original parts. Not just some random P08 with a part of every luger from history. I am by no way an expert, but if a luger has, say an unmatching extractor block and maybe a hold open, it is considered a "shooter". If this is your first Luger I'd suggest a shooter for sure. Say you buy an all matching luger and that's all you have, if you get the urge to shoot it, you probally will.
And to answer your question about parts that should match, I would say yes. IMO i would want a matching barrel, frame and upper. Then most of the stamped parts to match. I would suggest getting a second opinion though. Good luck.

My priorities, in order of value ( to me.) Match the largest exterior parts, especially the full serial numbered parts. Upper, barrel, lower, and also the side-plate. Unless unnumbered, which is not too distracting. Then the toggle parts. Next the take-down. Then the safety lever and bar. Lastly, the smaller less visible parts like the trigger, sear bar, and internals, hold-open, etc.

On the other hand, a Luger made up of parts from every Luger in history is kinda cool, too. It can be your own "creation" ; a monster to love, your own Frankenstein.

Anyway, it will look like any other Luger from three feet away, and can shoot as well as any, if you have fitted its parts together well.

gunsrfun1,

Did you see one take that long???

Kidding aside, there is a very good reason they're gone in what is frequently just a few minutes.
Give it some thought and the light bulb will come on.

Hahahahha, your own monster to love. Thats funny but a good point, I want a MONSTER LUGER!

I have one of those, frame and toggle DWM WWI and barrel/receiver 1938 Mauser. Other parts, who knows?

Had it 30 years now and it is a monster shooter, accurate and never jams with good ammo. May not be pretty but it's beautiful to me.

Over the years only one part broke, the rear axle pin and I replaced the mismatched part with another mismatch and it kept shooting like a champ.

Well I changed the grips, too.

Nice one...might be worth the extra few dollars...above your budget of $ 1,000.00

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=7969895

Jay,
I have one like you are talking about listed on this forum in the Luger Forum Classified section under the heading "WTS 1st Issue 1908 J�¤ger marked.~SPF". Scroll down until you see the pictures of the Erfurt. It is $750.00

Mike

hello Jay.If You are still looking for a nice refinished luger let me know .I have one on hold for forum member but it looks like he lost his interest.( financial problems) let me know .regards Kris

Yeah that Jack the dog has some really nice stuff on auction all the time and it usually goes for top dollor too. With 5 days left at 1,100 already it will go for a lot more Pete.

That Luger mentioned above, the DWM 1916, looks really fine, but one place bothers me .... the serial number on the front of the frame, and the suffix, look buffed or ground down somewhat ... but not the other numbers elsewhere ....

Hi all thanks for all your advice. I was able to purchase a DWM Commercial all matching, just shot it today!