New Luger owner with questions...
 

Hello all,

I had planned on researching and having some knowledge before buying my first Luger, but circumstances threw that plan out the window. I picked up a commercial DWM in a trade at the Reno gunshow yesterday.

I’d like to get some opinions on it and if I made a reasonable deal on my trade/purchase. I traded a Walther PP that I just bought a few hours earlier for $420 and gave an addition $300 for the Luger. I checked completed sales on Gun Broker and they seem to be all over the map. I found one in much worst shape go for $1500 and one in the same or better condition sell for $550.

It looks like it was fired very little, the bore and bolt face are clean as a whistle and the rifling is more pronounced than any I’ve seen, including current production pistols. Although I have no idea how to field stripped it yet, all the numbers I can find so far match except the mag.

The serial number is 7075 and the magazine is in much worst shape so I can barely make out the serial number, but I believe it’s 7666.

I checked Dwight’s database and it shows it to be from the first or second year’s production. It also says that it’s in the series of Bannerman's Test Eagle auction list, but it’s not marked as such.

Thanks for any info!
Tom

http://i47.tinypic.com/bg45sm.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/6dtlrk.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/ih0689.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/24g0ta9.jpg

Tom:
Welcome aboard.
9mm or .30 cal?
The grips appear to be repops. but I'm not seeing any other issues. Overall a nice gun.
I'd consider it to be a nice shooter, and I'd say you paid about ballpark on it.
Pick up a MecGar magazine and head over to the range.
dju

Tom,

Test Eagles are Old Models (1900). Your very nice Luger's serial number is 7075n, a so-called Alphabet Commercial Luger made between the wars.

--Dwight

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Thanks everyone!

Someone on another forum looked up the number in a book for me and estimates that it was built in early 1925.

They also pointed out the grips, so what are the tell-tale signs that they're repros, just their condition or something else?

And any opinions on the finish, original or not?

Tom

Some folks on here are very specific about abnormalities and are most helpful. Others make statements like "looks like reproduction" without any explanation. After awhile you sort out the ones that are worth listening to.

From pure observation the grips look ok to me. They match the overall condition of the pistol and the fit and checkering looks correct as well.

Early Alphabet Commercials tend to have nicer wood than the military pistols.
There should be some markings inside but if you decide to remove the grips, do the right grip only. This will allow you to see any markings and to read the left grip's markings through the pistol frame. The fit around that safety is too nice to risk chipping the left grip upon removal.
I'm betting they are original grips.

Mine is serial 9025n , still waiting to see a 9000n ,

Maybe I'm all wet on the grips, but to me they scream reproduction. I'm judging them by the courseness of the checkering (LPI) and also that they look rounded, more "barrel shaped" than originals.
But I'll be interested to see what is on the back side, and also what others think.
'Been wrong before and I'll be wrong again...'
dju

Based on your pnotos, I think there is as strong liklihood that the finish is original.

--Dwight

thats some nice yellowing on the safety and trigger too...mighty fine

Alphabet commercials usually have blank grips... no inspector marks or numbers.

The halo around the serial number under the barrel is a good tip about the originality of its finish. You can get better pictures taking photos in an outdoor enviroment, in indirect sunlight, without flash lights.
I think you did well for your first Luger.

Douglas.

I pulled the right grip off tonight and there's no marking on either side. Unless I find out otherwise, I'm assuming it's all original... :D

I think that is a false assumption, but...
dju

I'm willing to be proven otherwise, where do I go from here for an accurate determination?

I'd suggest that you take the grips off and give us some very good close-up photos of them, front, backs, sides, markings, top edges of both, etc.
I'm surprised that more experienced collectors haven't weighed in on these grips, yes or no. Hopefully there will be more opinions offered.
And Happy Thanksgiving to all!
dju

The safety lever looks blued. Is that due to a bad photo? If it's blued would that be correct?

Even though I'm still a student at Luger U, I think the checkering on the grips suggests that they are repros. Signs of age on the backside could convince me otherwise.

Most likely the photo. The safety lever is strawed on this Luger.

Marc