Luger P08
 

Hello: I have a WW11 chrome plated Luger P08 pistol, in good condition, but has some minor pitting. What would this pistol be
worth, as a shooter, not as a collector's pistol, which of course was ruined be having the pistol refinished. Thanks. Jack...

Jack, Depending on type and numbers of mag, condition & originality of grips..matching numbers, does it shoot well..Is it all there,bore condition, holster? Could be $300-600

Jerry Burney

Jack - Let's not be hasty...If there are collectors out there who collect reblued Lugers, then there must be someone who is interested in a chromed Luger...

Try an ad on GB for $850 and see what happens... :)

$850! A collector pistol can be had pretty commonly for another $150...or even $850. I agree..try it for anything you want to ask but 850 is too rich for anything but a brain dead goober with a recent inheritance. Unless you havn't noticed the economy is not what it once was.


I still say much depends on some other factors..type and numbers of mag, condition & originality of grips..matching numbers, does it shoot well..Is it all there,bore condition, holster?
If it has an FXO plastic bottom mag..more$. Original stunning grips, more$. Will it run a hundred rounds with no malfunctions? More$. Rare Luftwaffe Mag? More$. Rare black plastic original grips? More $. So in reality untill Jack tells us more... we are shooting in the dark.

Jerry Burney

I personally think that nickled (aka "chromed") Lugers have some historic interest as war trophies, but agree that $850 is a bit much for one. A lot of war vets brought those things home and had them nickled by their local gunsmith - part of Americana (or other capturing nationality, but Americans seemingly really went in for nickle jobs). Capture papers or other accessories would help build value.

A picture would be very helpful.

H

Henry..You could be right for those who collect or are interested in that type of Americanna. I have always viewed it as a horrible end to a German Luger.

Where I have seen chromed Lugers sell well is at general auctions. People seem to go crazy for the things and way overpay. Only thing I can guess is they believe it is some Officers special model or belonged to a German General.

Selling one on a collectors Forum might not be the best place..most collectors are looking for original finish?

Jerry Burney

I have sold and bought many chromed and nickle lugers, P38's, etc, and usually sell them for around $600

It can serve a special function which original guns cannot: it helps future generation to study the firearm chrome technology of 1950s in the U.S. After another 100 years, people could be curious about that, and they would not be able to figure out that no matter how many original guns they've met. So, this one is special.

Kidding. Never mind. But, it's a possibility.

If it goes too low, there is no need to sell it.

====

[Edit] Regarding the market, weird enough. Those relatively expensive ones (nice) sold easily, those relatively cheap (also nice) ones stay. Probably because there are too many choices on the market.

It all depends if you have the pearl grips that are numbered to the pistola.:evilgrin:

Hier ist die echte Pimpgewehr! This was obviously Herman Goering's personal pistol, no question about it... or else it is a rare Kriegsmarine U-boat presentation model (the nickeling protects from the salty conditions)... or maybe some GI brought it back, buffed the heck out of it, and had it nickeled...

http://www.jacobsbklaw.com/powerwagon/pimpgun_w.jpg

Sehr shone, Heinrich. I think the more "over the top" these guns are, the more they will interest future collectors specializing in the chrome age. Regards, Norm

A Swiss gun with byf/42 markings? Oh now, that really is unbelievable...

The Pimpgewehr is going down to Tombstone tomorrow as a backup for the C96 at the May Cowboy Action Shooting match, since the Double Date parts gun is down with a broken ejector. Since the Pimp grips won't actually stay on the gun very well, I put on a (slightly) less ostentatious set of faux stag grips.

Can you imaging what the German who orginally was issued this gun would think of its fate?

H

He'd probably like it, and think why he hadn't it done himself :D

Nickle plate
 

Put it in a well advertised local auction. About 3 years ago I was at an auction where a missed matched nickle one sold for $1700. All it takes is 2 idiots coming together at the same place. At the same auction I bought a patch bag and powder horn for $45.

I saw a really nice Prussian Contract C96 Broom that had been chromed a few years ago, and cried. By the time my tears had stopped the auction had ended and somebody had bought it for $600. I have kicked myself ever since because it would have made a WONDERFUL shooter...and the C96 looked great in chrome. I just wish I hadn't been so brutalized by seeing it's collectability ruined, and had plunked down some cash.
I still regret missing it.

Shiny P08s are not very good shooters. If you think the sights on a regular blued Luger are bad, wait until you try to sight through all the glare.

--Dwight