my new pre-war c96 -- your opinions please
 

hi!

pretty new to collecting. this forum was extremely helpful when I picked up my first pair of lugers. Anyways, decided to expand the collection a bit and go for a c96. as I said I'm pretty new to this field so am not totally sure as to what to look for.

that being said I recently picked up this c96. I'd very much appreciate it if you could tell me if it looks "right" (i.e. nothing obviously wrong or mistmatched about it).

http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4142.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4144.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4146.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4148.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4149.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4150.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4157.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4170.jpg
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4171.jpg

I probably overpaid, but since I plan on keeping it for awhile that doesn't matter too much. Still, it might be fun to hear your opinions on what you think it might be worth.

Thanks for your help!

Looks OK in general. The stock might be lightly sanded and re-oiled, not a big deal. May we see the interior of the grip panels and steel grip without panels? The stock attaching iron and hinge are supposed to be fire blued. If all lost with patina left, that's OK. Somewhere on those you should see trace of fire blue left. cannot tell from pix posted.

Also, pictures of the top of the chamber, C/C/U, s/n on chamber needed.

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[Edit] Probably pix issue (especially the 1st & 2nd pix). Move index finger along the barrel, any feel of bubble? Finger sense sometimes is more reliable than eyes.

hi alvin.

thanks for the info! will take additional pictures shortly. What is a C/C/U?

C/C/U is two crowns over letter U. You find it on chamber, bolt, and internal bolt lock.

Hi Folks.

I took some more pictures, trying to get the areas that Alvin specified.

Top of chamber:
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4399.JPG

Top of chamber serial and crowns:
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4400.JPG

Crowns on bolt. I *just* noticed this when taking detailed pictures, what's underneath the rear sight? it seems to be a different serial, #762 which doesn't match everythiing else on the gun (#543). I can't understand how this would be different though, it's a part of the same frame(?). Is this normal?

*edit* weird coloring on sight elevation knob is from oil. fired bluing is strong here and consistent in color.
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4402.JPG

grips:
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4404.JPG

and frame with grips off
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/c96/IMG_4405.JPG

On the stock the attaching iron and hinge are fired blue, most of it is gone but you can detect faint traces of blue on both.

Please let me know if any more detailed pictures are needed. Thanks for your help!!!! :)

I did a little research on the serial # descrepancy undernath the rear sight -- i think this is perhaps a contract #? is there anyway to tell who commissioned contract #762?

The gun looks great to me. I had 173778, the number under sight is a myth 1341. There have been many suggestions, but this is one place need factory record to be sure, most likely will remain a myth.

thanks for the feedback alvin! good to know that I got a reasonable example (or at least one that is not obviously bad).

from your postings it's pretty clear you are an advanced collector of broomhandles ;) what do you think an example like the one I have would be worth? I got this through a multi-way trade so it's hard to put an exact cost on what I paid for it.

so it's normal for the number under the sight to not match? What do you mean by number 1341?

thanks for all of your help!

You're welcome.

No, I am not an advanced collector, but I am interested in this type of guns, and had some passed through my hands, and some stucking in my hands that I planned to transfer to the next generation. High grade prewar commercial made near WWI with excellent matching stock.... could sell between 2k - 2.5k. Guns of this period is more military like, a little bit rough, but that's a taste. Those 4-rifling earlier prewar small ring with very high quality finish with matching stock could go $4k, those guns are very attractive to eyeballs.

I have never seen number under sight matching s/n. For example, gun #173778's under sight number on receiver is 1341, not obvious relation between these two numbers. Very normal.

Hi Bailey, I'd like to jump in here and compliment you on the quality of your photography - it's superb! Any chance you could get interested in military Lugers (my area)? Best regards, Norm

Nice pictures indeed.
Bailey, in my humble opinion, you did nice for your first C96. The matching stock is a premium itself. And the gun is a great example of a Prewar Commercial. A keeper, for sure.

Douglas.

Gentlemen,

thank you for the nice comments on my c96 -- i am very appreciative of the information you were able to provide! :thumbsup:


Hi Norm. Thank you for the complement. I like photography as well another expensive hobby like collecting firearms :)

Actually I found this board when researching some lugers that I purchased. Pictures of my G Date and "Black Widow" can be found on this thread:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=23664

I've only been collecting for about a year, but it's great to have such a nice and knowledgeable community such as this to learn from! :cheers:

my small (but growing) ww2 collection :)
http://www.employees.org/~beetle/guns/ww2guns.jpg

Based on the images, and in my opinion, the stock and metal parts are original finish and nothing has been altered.

You have obtained a very good example of a pre-war commercial. The value of this item is between $2,500-2,800.

Well done,
Daniel

Bailey,
Can you provide brief description of your technique/camera used in taking those superb pictures?
John

Hi John.

most certainly! Let me write up a quick and dirty tutorial -- i'm surprised someting similar doesn't already exist on this site. will post it up shortly.

Regards,
-bailey