Price of a Luger in 1911
 

My 1911 Luger catalog lists the price of a new Luger at 122 marks, with your choice of caliber, barral length, and grip safety if desired. The long barreled version was available with holster/stock at 150 marks. In trying to get these prices in today's perspective, can anyone tell me what the exchange rate for the mark was in 1911?

Page from Catalog (EOM)
 

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/LugerCatalog.jpg

Re: Price of a Luger in 1911
 

ALFA was a major dealer in both surplus and new German firearms in the pre-WWI period. My information is that there were approx 5 marks to the dollar during that period, it often was also around 4 marks to the dollar. At any rate 122 marks would have tranlated to about $30 US. I think that this would have been close to a good monthly US working wage for that time period.

Catalog
 

Ideal holster stocks were $6 more

Carbines were about $50


At that time..a cowboy made about $22 per month working sunup to sundown x 6 days a week. A Colt's revolver cost $15..you could buy a cheap revolver from Sears for less than $3


The Shadow Knows!

My Theory is Confirmed
 

Now I am convinced that except for the period following WWII, Lugers have always commanded a high price!