Looking for help finding Luger values
 

A friend has a 9mm Luger which was supposedly given to a liberated American prisoner by one of his German guards at the end of WW2. It has a 1917 manufacturing date, but is also stamped has having been made in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia as a country wasn't formed until 1918. If any one on here knows the manufacturing history of the Luger, could you tell us if it has any value.

Thanks, cap251

Welcome to the forum, Cap.

The gun was most definetly not made in Czechoslovakia. When you say, "made in Czechoslovakia" is it spelled out that way, in English, or is there some sort of stamp that would indicate Czech production?

Is the gun a DWM or an Erfurt?

alanint; thanks for the welcome. I have not seen the gun. I used the description he gave me. He said it was stamped 1917 Czechoslovakia. When I check the history, I find that there was no
Czechoslavakia until 1918. As for DWM or Erfurt, where on the gun would this be marked or would it. Excluding the questionable markings, would a 1917 9mm luger be of any exceptional value?

The Luger usually has the manufacturer name or code on the middle toggle.

No particular rarity of 1917 pistols unless something is special about it.

If it's been marked improperly it's value is reduced to that of a "shooter".

Pictures will help.

Marc

From what you tell us, I don't think your seller has a Luger at all. Remember that many people have NO idea about firearms history. They may see the caliber designation on a gun as "9mm Luger" and immediately assume the gun is a Luger. The Germans captured and produced a number of Czech guns after overrunming Czechcoslovakia early in the war. My Dad brought home a CZ24 in a shoulder holster, which was taken off a surrendering German Panzer Major.

Until you get a photo we have no idea what you are being offered.

Okay, well thank you all anyway. From what I can tell, it isn't of any rarity. I've told him where to look for the markings.

Thanks again
cap251

I believe that all the Lugers in the US marked "made in Czechoslovakia" or something like that were 1980's imports which came from communist East Germany. It was illeagle to import military surplus arms and the East Germans got around the ban by exporting their surplus to a second country from which it was legally exported to the US market.