Luger P08 value?
 

Hey guys,

I am new to the forum and found you today thanks to my latest aquisition.

So I am picking up a S/42 G Luger From a Friend Who owns a pawn shop. He had a Luger come in and he knows I have wanted one forever. I really wanted to start with a "shooter". The problem is you may have noticed they are expensive. Plus I never see these "shooters" people refer to. This particular gun is obviously run of the mill.

The gun is pitted. Not the worst I have ever seen but it obviously sat in the holster for decades. Most of the pitting is on the barrel. Like I said not the worst ever but still ... The bore is clean except for some very light pitting near the Muzzle. Nothing that would compromise function or I believe accuracy.

That is the bad news. The good, or rather surprising news is all the numbers match including the magazine and the gun is all original grips and all. This sucker locks up tight and we did test fire it on a pulled case. It marked the primer very well.

So I probably paid too much but I really don't care as I can't find one that's not collector grade anyway. Nonetheless I am still wondering what I should have paid.

Thanks and pics when I pick it up.

You're not giving us much to work with here, as "pitted" means different things to different people. If the (rust) pitting is not going to wipe off with oil and very light elbow grease, the value is hurt significantly, as you know. The fact that it is a G date with matching mag. does help it however.
If you need a number before you can post pictures, I'll throw out $1000, but that is a WAG.
dju

Not sure what's going on here but I can't link the thread I started titled "found a decent shooter" but if you do a quick search in the general discussion forum you will find it. Its still for sale and under $900.

It is pitted. I expect it to hurt value significantly. I bought it to shoot(some), not as a major investment. I just don't want to lose money if, and I do mean if I ever needed or wanted to sell it.

I paid $675. The gun is in hand and I will post pics soon.

An all matching G date MAY be a candidate for professional restoration too. But I'll defer on that until we see pictures.
dju

Can't wait to see the pics! I have a "G" dated Luger but the upper was pitted so badly it couldn't be saved. :(

Well I just shot a luger for the first time ever! She groups better than I do. However a full magazine seemed to cause a failure to feed. I suspect that is due to lower powered ammo.

Pics will be up in the morning when I get to the office.

Thanks guys.

115 grain FMJ white box Winchester rounds sold at Walmart for $24 for a box of 100 work perfectly.

Can't wait for the pics kayakguy.

Sometimes a "full magazine" is not a good thing. Leave that last round out. Particularly if you are not using a newer Mec-Gar mag. It's not like you are in danger of being over-run, and the Luger is your last line of defense...
dju

Testing out some photos...More to come. As you can see the are some bad areas, most especially behind the safety

Here are more...

And more. I realise many of these are dark. Hopefully they still tell you guys something...

That doesn't look that bad I'd leave it alone if it were mine.

I'd send detailed photos to our own Thor and get an opinion regarding restoration. A professionally restored, all matching G date is nothing to turn your nose up at.
dju

I agree; then you can make the choice between "pretty" and "showing lots of character". As a metal worker, I see nothing that, strictly speaking, could not be addressed. Somewhere there is a line at which one would stop TIG welding the little spots full again, and Ted and a select few others probably have the best handle on whether a restoration would be worth the time/money. Or, as suggested, shoot it just the way it is, as it is--simply because it is what it is (still with me?).

DP

\

I agree with David 100%. You have a Luger that if restored, would be a prize to own......Just my opinion.

It looks to me that the letter suffix on the gun is a "d" and the suffix on the magazine is a "p". If so, the magazine is not original to the gun.

I assume the suffix on the gun is the letter on the front of the pistol on the frame? If so it is a stylized "P", I think. It took me a while with a loop to decide it was a "P".

I talked to Thor. Nice fellow and from what I saw a real miracle worker. Is the general consensus that I would have nothing to lose with a restoration? With the amount of repair I would be into it pretty deep. I don't mind as long as I wouldn't be suffering a loss in the end, not that I don't have guns just because I like the, but you guys know what I mean.

Hi Bryan, I'm normally against restoration of any kind, it seems sacrilegious to me to erase the scars of military service. However, this gun is an exception, as it appears to be a victim of an amateur effort at restoration (rebluing over pitting), and a professional restoration, at this point, can only be an improvement. If you do decide to go ahead, please post "before and after" photos. Regards, Norm

I'd leave it as is.....imo