all matching luger question
 

I have a 40 byf all matching luger in good condtion. The finish is about 60% and there is some pocking on the grip but all matching and very shootable. My question is I see that many mismatched guns are shooters, but is an all matching gun that is not 90% still considered to be collectable?

While your Luger is all matching, the finish would take it out of the collectable range, at least in my opinion. These Lugers, less than say 85 to 90 percent original finish, I would class as semi-shooters or perhaps semi-collectable.

If it is a very rare pistol, I might be a bit more forgiving. :)

40 byf?
 

Wouldn't a byf have to be 1941 or later?
Just curious.
barr

Yes it would be, "byf" was only used on '41 & 42 dated Lugers.

Matching 40 byf
 

Thanks Rylan,
I was just wondering how an all matching 40 byf could exist? Must be something wrong somewhere.
barr

I believe "42" would be the Mauser code for a 1940 Luger. I agree with you, any "byf" toggle seen on a 1940 Luger would be incorrect.

Cheers,
Rylan

It was a typeo it is 40 42

Danzig, please post some pics.

I'm in agreement with Frank. The general rule is 85% minimum to remain in a collectable catagory on average. A quick way to determine 80% and above is the grip strap wear, if all else is as it should be.

40 42 Luger!
 

That makes more sense Danzig.
I don't believe a 40 42 luger is particularly rare, unless it has some unusual marking of some kind.
However, even though the collector value may be questionable, if it is functional it still has value. I have seen some pretty rough non-matching guns priced at double their value at gun shows and one never knows when they might run across someone who's sights are not as high as others.
To me most all lugers are interesting.
If you can get some enjoyment out of it, then that could be your value.
Enjoy it, it is something from the past with a certain history to it.
barr

Just my two cents: I agree with Frank about the rare Luger and condition. I have two test eagles, both on the Bannerman list. The conditon is anything but what I would consider collectable on a more common Luger. In this case, there are only a few known, so in my humble opionion, a test eagle, as with other less common Lugers, is collectable regardless of the amout of original finish.

Mike