Stay clear on G.B
 

Like To Mind My Own Buisness But I need to let the fellow collectors know. I personally inspected this Luger recently with the seller present. The seller is aware that the hold open, Axel and the firing pin are all mis match. Has a no return policy. So I'd Steer Clear.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=224517553
Mike Z.

Page not found now.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=224517553

try this

"matching numbers with everything I can see"

Ha, funny man. Thanks for the warning.

Non rated seller too, his pics of the broom handle aren't much better.

I fixed the Link.
Mike Z.

There is also something odd about the holster's closure area. It looks like it has been reenforced or something.

He had no holster at the time.
Mike Z.

When you're on GB, you're dealing with 3 kinds of people....honest Joes (rare, 5%)..... ignorant yahoos who think the brilliant blued, buffed-with -not a- sharp -edge- left on it S/42 is an "all original vet bring back" (20%), and straight up predatory scumbags pawning junk (75%)......

...as the saying goes, if you're not cynical, you're not paying attention....

Mike,

You are a gentleman and a scholar.

We do exactly the same thing on a couple of custom knife boards I hang out on. When a seller (usually it's on eBay) offers up a knife that we recognize as misidentified, or as not shop made, a warning is posted for all to see. We will also identify by name (when known) and by eBay seller ID those persons whose offerings are frequently modified, butchered, misrepresented or just plain bogus.

So far I have been lucky on GB. I bought an Interarms .30 Luger which was exactly as represented and a SIG 229 .40 S&W DAK that was in better shape than described.

Regards,
Doug

What about a listing with no pictures?

That's a crap shoot. It could be some older gent with no tech skills trying to sell his all matching, including two mags, Krieghoff rig for $500 or more likely, someone who does not want too much known about the gun for sale prior to unloading it.
My BS meter goes off at the following statements;
"I don't know too much about these things"
"All matching, original, unmessed with, etc. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE"
"Best one I've ever seen"
"The vet who I obtained it from says"
"Interesting history"
"Serious buyers only"
"No tire kickers"
"No phone calls"
"That's all I know about it"
Also, when the sales rhetoric is right out of Madison Avenue, with many superlatives and much flourish to the sales pitch.
In general, I would not bid on anything that did not include detailed photos. If I thought it was something special, I would try to find somebody locally to go over and photograph and describe the piece for me.

My .02 cents,
I have never had a bad deal on G.B., yet. I wouldn't buy a P.08 sight unseen online from a private individual, present company excluded. All the vetern members here have always been square shooters, round shooters? Ha!

Personally out of 5 Luger purchases on G.B. I've been burned 2 tiems. 1 OK and 2 worked out good.
Mike Z.

In all fairness to we who have been burned at one time or another in pursuit of our favorite pistolas, who hasn't been beguiled while viewing a luger, and then rushed to put the check in the mail? All of us, at one time or another. If this hasn't happened to you, well, you are a better man than me.
The important thing is to learn from our mistakes, and to buy more books on Mr. Lugers' inspired creation.
MR

Alanint covered it pretty well.
Anything that gest your spidey senses tingling is important.

I have bought a couple pieces from "big boys" in the game that were outright fraudulant.

Selling or buying at distances can be real problematical.

Lugers being heavily humped are more common than rare anymore.

I have had buyers ask some silly questions, but I respond as best I can.
Late winner wanted a pic of a bullet being inserted at the muzzle to determine bore wear.

Mike P, You have to be kidding. Some genius wanted you to use a round for a bore erosion guage? You should have sent him a picture inserting a .40 cal. into the 9mm. bbl.
MR

Wow. Notice the price reduction from $2300 to $1100. I think he was reminded of my inspection field strip some how. Now It's changed to All externals match not all #'s I can See Match. Now he is being more truthful.
Mike Z.