What's my Luger worth?
 

My friend is considering selling his Luger. His grandfather (GI) brought it back form WWI or WWII, not sure since he was in both. It's in great shape and riffling in barrel looks grate. I think is military model since has SN markings on all parts including magazine. All numbers match.
SN is unusual 5555.
What is worth and any historical info is welcome.
Thanks

Sasha, this is a fairly typical World War 1 military luger, one of 90,000 made that year, according to Jan Still's Imperial Lugers. The magazine is unmatched and is damaged. The condition looks fairly good. A seller of this luger would get $1200-$1500 from a honest dealer, perhaps $200-$300 more if it had a holster to go with it. A pawn shop dealer would give you $800-$1000 if you are lucky. Best to try to sell it on this or the other Luger Forum or Gunbroker.com.

The numbered magazine may be a candidate for restoration. Check with "G.T." on this forum.

Marc

It seems like a better-than-average WW1 gun. Magazine matches but is chipped pretty badly making it a wash in my book. I'm just going to guess in the $1500 neighborhood, maybe a bit more. Not sure on the holster, but it looks like it's from an early US or UK revolver. I'll be interested in reading what value the more advanced collecters place on it all. Overall a very nice gun!
dju

You have a 1917 Deutsch Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) Luger. So it is definitely a World War One example.

The matching magazine is a big plus; however, the broken wooden bottom is a big minus too. Do you know if the grips match too?

A dealer has one of these with a matching magazine too, 96% blue remaining, but a frosted bore, for $1,650.00. So you have a "great" bore, but a damaged wooden bottom on the matching magazine.

I am not sure what to make of that holster. Are there any markings on it? Is it "homemade"? Maybe someone else can help you with the holster.

Hope this helps.

Holster appears to be British or Canadian. Essentially worth ...not much.

If that's the original bluing and it looks like it might be... the pistol has an impressive finish. It would look a lot better if it were field stripped, cleaned and properly oiled.

Although your friend's Luger has made it in great shape so far...tell your friend NOT to keep it in that canvas holster. Canvas will attract and hold moisture and although this gun has been heavily greased it will eventually start rusting,

I was going to say the values above were high, but it looks like it is in very nice shape :)

Try to see if you can find out any info on how it was acquired, although it sounds like the grandfather has passed on (I collect real stories of bring backs).

Nice gun, although you never know when a holster and gun came together, that is a WW2 version I believe...


Ed

Sn 5555
 

Does SN 5555 add any value to it?

There is no intrinsic value in the serial number being 5555. The novelty of it might be an added incentive to some when considering colleting it. (although in I personally would not pay any premium for that) Factors such as the matching numbers; the condition of the original finish; the bore condition; a matching magazine; the number of examples originally produced, etc.; are far more important.

Not really, and the serial number is actually 5555b. I agree with the other folks by the way...nice looking gun.