Can you track down history of your Luger based on the serial number?
 

I've had my 1914 Luger for a couple years now but I've always wondered if you could track down the origin of the gun. I know the Nazi's were nutorious for record keeping and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a way to look up my serial number somewhere to see where it came from. Of course, my Luger very well might not have ever been held by a Nazi but I'm still curious. It has marks all over it, fortunately I think it's all numbers matching, and even though I don't have a cool war story to tell about it, that doesn't mean there isn't a good story to learn about it. Any help to this newb would be appreciated. Thanks!

Clearly photo the gun and all markings, numbers, etc, and provide any info./history that you might already have, and some of the book guys might be able to shed some light. But don't expect much beyond year and place of manufacture, etc, unless there are specific unit markings. Specific issue records by serial number don't seem to be available.
Welcome.
dju

Do you simply mean to post those photos, descriptions on here? What do you mean by "the book guys"? Is there a particular forum I should post this in? Thanks for your help.

Yes, post your photos here so we can look at them. Include all markings, serial #s, etc.

The "Book Guys" refers to the gentlemen on the forum who have extensive data bases and expertise in origins, production dates and other information relating to the creation of your pistol.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks a lot for the info. I'll try to post some pics soon. I was just looking at it and noticed for the first time that it has the numbers matching clip with what I'm guessing is a wooden base. How significant is this?

Couldn't hurt...
Let's see those photos.
dju

Ok here are the pictures. These pics are of a 1914 Erfurt Lugar. All numbers are matching including on clip. I'm not sure about the bluing or strawing or if I'm even using those terms correctly. My great-grandfather who bought this worked at an ordinance shop which is where he bought the WWII U.S. Leather holster pictured. So he very well may have re-blued this, I don't know. Anyways, the serial number is 7787 and any and all information including approximate worth would be very much appreciated.

Sadly, your gun is a reblue with a buggered sideplate and takedown lever to boot. This relegates your gun to a shooter's status, along with a much reduced value.

Is that stamped letters I see just above the safety or just dings in the metal? It almost looks like it reads "Germany"!

What is the "K" stamp at the bottom of the stock lug? Is this a VoPo gun marked for "kriminalpolzei" Criminal Investigation Service?

In the full size photo, the mark on the left receiver ear is clearly a partial stamped import mark "Germany".

So, to answer your valuation question. A refinish drops collector interest alot. So does an import marked Luger. Even all matching including magazine generally can't bring value up much in that condition, The damaged take down lever drops value too.

Assuming it functions properly without any issues, it should be worth $575-$675 as a shooter grade Luger.

Of course, actual value is what you'd obtain in an open market sale.

Marc

you received this luger from your great grandfather....
 

that is your value......be happy to have a family heirloom and enjoy shooting it....have a gunsmith check it carefully and then head to the range........welcome to the board.....tom

Wow that's disappointing. Well I appreciate all the input guys.

You might consider having our own Thor giving it a facelift to bring it back to orig. specs. It will never be a highly calued collectable piece, but it can be improved on. And it will be easier for your children to look at.
dju

Thanks, that was what I was wondering next, i.e. what can I do to improve it's look, value, longevity, and such. So thanks for the input.

you could improve its originality / looks, but it will cost $400-$500 to do so, and the value won't be what you put into it and its original value (worth less than 1K) and what you'll have for your kids or whomever is a gun that is NOT as your grandfather gave it to you, but what you think it was before he got it...


Ed

as Ed so eloquently said, clean it up, check it out,
 

go to the range, and enjoy........we all have a shooter