1916 DWM valuation
 

Hello everyone,
I really hate to be the guy that posts on a forum for the first time with a "what's it worth" question, but I don't know where to go.
A friend has asked me to help him sell a Luger but I know nothing about them. I filled out the ident sheets and here's what I have so far:

Toggle Inscription: DWM
Chamber Inscription: 1916
Toggle Type: Squared and knurled
Grip Safety: Not Present
Stock Lug: Present
Caliber: 9mm
Grip Type: Checkered brown (material unknown), no insignia
Thumb Safety: Safe in rear position, GESICHERT visible when safe
Marks: Crown, Crown over M, Crown over M
All small parts & barrel marked "59". Rear toggle link stamped with 59 on rear, stamped 100 on top.
Witness marks are aligned and barrel is stamped with crown over M as well
Front sight stamped 1916
Extractor marked GELADEN
Barrel length: 5"
Magazine: wood bottom, appears to be marked 969 with "a" suffix.

Other items to note is that the grip screw on the left side is missing, and the wood base of the magazine has a chunk missing. It must have happened a long time ago since the break is smooth and worn.

Hope you guys can help!

Thanks,
Chad

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...r/IMG_1596.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...r/IMG_1600.jpg
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http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...r/IMG_1593.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...r/IMG_1595.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...r/IMG_1598.jpg
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Hi Chad, Welcome aboard. Your friends Luger is a highly desirable Imperial Navy. It appears to be authentic but, has been refinshed. That, unfortunately, will seriously effect it's value to a collector. I would be very grateful if your friend would share the serial number with me as I am compiling a Navy data base. Thanks, Norm

Thanks for the welcome and the info. It's currently in my possession, so where should the serial number be? I didn't see it anywhere on the exterior and I haven't removed the grips. Also, can you tell me the cues to identify the refinishing?

Thanks for your help!

Hi Chad, The full serial number will be on the front of the frame and also on the bottom of the barrel (see photo). Your gun appears to have been buffed prior to rebluing, and this is particularly evident on the side plate. Also, the barrel serial number on an unrefinished gun will display a halo effect, as seen in the photo. Regards, Norm

Hmm, very interesting and confusing at the same time. The bottom of the barrel has ONLY the last two digits (59) and the crown over M proof. The front of the frame shows the same 59 stamp.

Hi Chad, The serial could certainly be 59. 1916 Navy serial numbers went from 1 to 8000. Could you possibly post photos of the numbers? Thanks, Norm

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/...aff47e718c.jpg
IMG_0096 by 1911dude, on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/...2c4deef836.jpg
IMG_0098 by 1911dude, on Flickr

Thanks, Chad, its certainly #59. And, as you can see in the barrel photo, no halos. Regards

Thanks so much for the help. I hope it helps fill in your records as well. Any recommendations on where I should look to try selling it?

Hi Chad, You could post the gun in the classified section of this forum, or you could try your luck auctioning it on Gunboards. It's hard to put a price on a refinished gun, my guess is about half of an original piece, say $2,500.00. Does anyone else have an opinion? Regards Norm.

Really neat 2-digit serial number. Norme, it apears that this is the second lowest serial in your data base, correct?

Your right, Herman, #44 is the lowest so far. I also have #79, a known fake. Regards, Norm

Chad, As norm says it's been molested at the hands of a refinisher. This pistol in it's original state would be highly collectable and bring big bucks. As it is... it becomes a shooter and very low end collectable. Good for the Luger guy who wants to experience shooting a Navy. As such..it's an expensive pistol to shoot. A regular Army reblued shooter would run in the $600-800 range. In this poor economy I think Norm's $2500 estimate is pretty much top of the market with the mag the way it is and the missing screw etc.
How to sell it? I would place it on the for sale section here with a $2500 price tag and see if anyone is interested. The ad is free.
Thanks for sharing and welcome to the Luger Forum!
Jerry Burney

I'd consider whether this one is a good candidate for a "real" restoration. There is a bit of buffing damage, but not much. Might want to consult Thor on this one.
Seems a shame to label it a shooter and walk away on it.
dju

Thanks for the input guys. I'll get it posted in the proper section for sale.

Thanks!

yes, my thought is closer to the $2k marking as a for sale, a proper era magazine is about $150-$200, double that for a navy magazine (or a bit more) and a screw is $10-$20


Ed

Looks like high polish salt bluing, not rust bluing as it should be. Strawed parts appear in the white and highly polished.

That is a nice low serial number gun that hasn't been totally ruined. It deserves to be brought back to life by Ted.