What's wrong with this rig?
 

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=230310112

Aside from the location of the seller, I see a few odd features.

Mike
The Trommel magazines came in a canvas holder?
Bob

The stock and all of the leather are reproduction.

Ron is correct of course...You would think the seller would clean the pistol since he has it apart!
Pistol $2000
snail drum $1200
Loader $800-1000 BIG IF it's an original.

Rest junk..$200 max... more likely who would want it?

$42-4500 would be top dollar. I think the guy is asking WAY too much.

Thanks for the comments. Does anyone see anything wrong with the pistol?

Doesn't seem to have a notch for the sight...

On one of the custom knife boards I hang out on, when we see a knife offered in an on-line auction which generates discussion about its bona fides we will sometimes send the seller a link to the thread and invite the seller to respond to the concerns being expressed. The results have been mixed in terms of the seller's response. Sometimes it is cordial and professional, sometimes, as you might imagine, not so cordial, professional or respectful. Has that been done here? Is it something worth considering?

Regards,
Doug

Doug..we will sometimes send the seller a link. Sure..do it if you have the time or inclanation. You are right..there will be mixed responses!

We have found on the knife board that frequently the seller is unaware that the knife he is offering is not what he thought it was and that he was scammed when he purchased it. Obviously that is an easy out but I think that often it is true. When that occurs the seller either removes the item from sale or amends his ad to acknowledge that the knife has been altered after it left the maker's shop, or was not ever in the maker's shop to begin with. Of course there have been other, more colorful and less measured responses as well.

I sent the seller the following message through GunBroker:

"There are some concerns regarding the originality of this rig being expressed on a Luger Forum where I am a member.-

http://www.lugerforum.com/
Artillery Lugers "What's wrong with this rig"

If you wish to respond, please feel free to do so.

Regards,
Doug

I have bought one gun from Joseph. A WW2 Luger. No surprises or disappointments.
dju

The seller responded as follows:

"I am not a Luger collector or so called expert that some claim to be and seem to be able to tell from a couple of pictures. What I can tell you is that I am selling this for and am personally acquainted and have known for years the man who bought this as a set in the 1960's when there would have been no financial advantage to reproducing the items. Also the stock has writing in Farsi (Iranian or Persian) by the attachment lug and I doubt that the Iranians were reproducing Luger things.
I hope this helps.
Joe S"

I believe I saw this set in Tulsa, am I correct?

One "Blanket sized" red flag is the belt loop on the Repro holster, which is only found on reproductions.

am personally acquainted and have known for years the man who bought this as a set in the 1960's when there would have been no financial advantage to reproducing the items.

Reproductions started in 1917 when Walt Disney started painting helmets for resale and they have geared up ever since. In the 60's reproductions were prolific.

As Ron points out the holster is without doubt a reproduction as is the snail drum carrier and why leave out the stock leathers?

I am not a Luger collector or so called expert that some claim to be and seem to be able to tell from a couple of pictures. A monkey in a dark room could see what we all see here.

That stitching must give you nightmares, Jerry! Is the cleaning rod real?

I still can't find any serious fault with the pistol. The rear sight seems to seat far enough down for there to be a receiver cutout for it.

Doug, No the cleaning rod is a $9.99 beer barrel reproduction. Original rod wood barrels are very slim.

One of the tough facts of life is that if you see one good item in a pile of junk it is very difficult to pry it out of a sellers hands. The sellers rarely want to let loose of the good item hoping it will help to sell the junk.

Hi Jerry, I've never handled a Persian rig, could this be one? The Type 1 trommel and dust cover look nice and are worth close to $2,000.00. Even if the loading tool is a repro, it's worth $500.00. Best regards, Norm

Norm, I can't say about the stock and I would ask if the iron is serialed in Farsi. You would want to see very good photo's of all angles. With good photo's you could determine what's what but I wouldn't bet on it being authentic.

The rest of the leathers..bogus and attached to any stock would make me suspicious.

So for sure..it's not a persian RIG. $2500 + 2000 for the pistol..still $4500!

But good luck with the seller..he seems reluctant to hear the truth from what Doug posted.

Hi Jerry, Once again, I'm no expert on Persian Lugers, but I seem to recall that the stocks were numbered (in Farsi) in the wood, and not on the iron. Anyone out there know for sure? Regards, Norm

A fellow by the name of Murray in New Zealand looked for years for an authentic Persian and after many fakes finally found one. I don't know either but I wouldn't get my hopes up.
At any rate let me know if the seller will provide any photo's of the stock.

I blew up the photo as much as I could and I think the 4 strap slots are beveled all way round. I would want a close photo of these. On old stocks usually the top of the slot is beveled from strap wear. On reproductions they conveniently beveled them 360 degrees. Originals started out life with NO bevel whatever.