Thoughts on collecting changing??
 

When I joined this forum a while back I had a 'volume' outlook on collecting Lugers. My thoughts were, based on limited funds:(, (still are)with $5,000, I shoud buy 5- $1,000 Lugers and not one very nice collector Luger at $5,000. Thoughts were, 5 Lugers would make a 'collection' and not one nice one. My time on this, and Jan Still's forum, is swaying my thinking. I now have two Lugers, one will only ever be a 'shooter', and the other, my 1900 AE Test now being restored by THOR, will never be considered a true collector Luger, by most, because of it's restoration, no matter how correctly it was done. I am now leaning toward a nice collector quaility Luger, many varing opinions out there on what collect quaility means. I was looking to get maybe three WW1 dated Lugers in the 80% range, at about $1,500 each, but now maybe one 'very' nice 1900 or Navy for about the same combined $$. At least I would have one collector quaility Luger. MMM?? Still having say a 1914,1915,1916 DWM (matching) in avg condition would be best, then I would have a era to build on looking for more dates to add. Still, that one 'gem' would be nice!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Bill

I was into quantity but have changed my mind-set now. I learned that anyone can have a collection of firearms that are each ok. To have a smaller collection with excellent/mint/pristine firearms that truely make peoples eyes bug-out is the way to go. Don't get me wrong, there is a place in any collection for shooters as well. My collection is smaller now but the guns I own are of a higher calibre (no pun intended). I would rather own 1 98%+ non shooting pistol than 3-4 80% pistols of the same type.

But hey, that's me. Different strokes for different folks. Kinda like some people will shoot every firearm they own while others will have shooters and non shooters.

if you are being offered $1500 WW1 lugers that are 80%, then you are being taken advantage of.

I have seen and sold WW1 lugers in 92-94% for less than $1200 this last year.


You should be able to find nice lugers that are collectable for $1500; easily.


BUT, what are you looking for?

WW1 w/ matchign mags?

WW1 w/ unit markings?

Or just nice WW1 era?


Weimar lugers (or WW1 that have been issued to police) are a good investment, but won't go up in price as quick as a WW1 or nazi era.


ALSO, a 98% gun is high end, thus expensive, anything over 95% in my opinion is a very nice collectable.... Each percentage over say 95% and the value goes up.



Ed

Bill,

Be very careful and cautious with Navy Lugers. You could end up with a shooter at a collector price. Imperial Navy Lugers can be very tricky. Lots of fakes floating around that require a well trained, and experienced eye to spot.

Ron

Putting taste aside, there is an advantage of acquiring a few nice guns -- they force you looking deep into them. How many times we read "I paid $600 for this Luger so I cannot lose".... true, but that does not imply buyer knew the subject well, except that's a low risk activity. It's definitely more chanlleging task to look at nicer C&R from every perspective that I can think of, well, except home gunsmithing. The fundamental question changed from "How to I make it nicer" to "Is it original". It's a totally different skill set.

Over the years, I have strayed in my thought process to collecting but in the end come back to one point: Always acquire the best example of a particular item that you can find. (Notice I didn't say able to afford. If you are a true collector, there are many examples that you should pass on to achieve a certain level of quality). Once you have acquired that piece, continuously look to upgrade to a better example. Top end pieces will always hold their value. If you cant afford something at the moment, pass until you have saved enough. Buying crap will only make you regret later on.

Also, if you are a true collector, only collect pieces/areas that interest you. Otherwise you are a speculator. Nothing wrong with making money in your hobby, but you should enjoy your hobby first and foremost.

Then there's us accumulators.

We buy what we like and do with them as we please.

I prefer variaty.

I have a number of lugers-all different.
Some much better than others.
I got what was available at the time I could afford them.

I got lots of other pieces of all types.
I enjoy them for what they are and rarely have bought a piece with the purpose of significant profit.

I have reached an age where I have begun to wonder about the future of things I already own.
I have slowed down accumulating items, but will not ignore something that catches my eye.

Beginning an actual luger collection today is goung to involve serious study amd deep pockets.

I collect only 98% or better original guns for my collection with few exceptions.

It takes knowledge,lots of time and money but I enjoy it.

Choose an area you like and learn about it instead of going in all different

directions.

Bob

Need some honest help
 

I have a Luger I bought for my Dad around 25 years ago. It's a 7.65 mm DWM on top (no other markings as the website indicated), 3 3/4 inch barrel, with serial number "4852 Germany".

I'm trying to get a handle on what it is worth without being taken for a ride.

Thanks,

David Boone

Hi David, Check out lot #151147814 on Gunbroker. Regards, Norm

David, might be best to start your own thread, with pictures.

Since you bought it 25 years ago, any increase in profit would keep you from being taken for a ride. Of course, I have seen folks buy a $400 nickle plated luger for $2000


Ed

+ 1 on all counts. I too have reached the age where waiting for the perfect [insert item name here] is not a viable option. Next year is a gamble; next week is probable; next month is possible. I'd really like a Borchardt, but there's a lot of other pistols I like as well, and I won't turn down a bird in the hand...

Going to look at a Remington Model 51 auto later today... :thumbup:

Never thought about this before, so I will try to count 5 out. There are

1900 AE
1902 AE
1906 AE
Stoeger AE
Interarms AE

Matching the list in your mind?

1906 AE = 2, 30 Cal and 9mm
Stoeger's were also made in .30 and 9mm with varying barrel lengths
There is also the Abercrombie & Fitch in .30 and 9mm and the two line verison and I guess there are other variations I have not read about, so my first figure of 5 was way to low.
I did not think of the 70's Mauser or of the Stainless Lugers

The Abercrombie & Fitch has a Swiss cross in sunburst on the chamber.

OOPS!! I knew the were out of New York, but I failed to check the chamber marking. I just assumed and you know what that make you!
Bill

Bill,
Yes. I know first hand. I got myself into deep doodoo several times by assuming things about lugers.

This 1900 looks good. Asking $1750. SN#7897, No Germany stamp.

[Edit] I just looked up. It's not in Dwight's database. The very next #7898 AE was listed.

http://www.am-firearms.com/viewer.as..._m09-2930p.jpg

May be very old reblue or touch-up. Muzzle is blued and shouldn't be. Still, a pretty nice looking example and not a bad price.