1914 Artillery model
 

Hi, I'm looking at buying my first Luger, and I'm wondering what sort of price this one is worth.
Pictures are included of the pistol, last one being a marking on the stock.
On information from the seller, supposedly the barrel is shiny, but the pistol has been Parkerized. This doesn't bother me as I would like a shooter.
Otherwise, it has all matching numbers, shiny bore, and an original stock, as he says.
He wants 1850 for the pistol and stock, or 1400 for just the pistol.

I assume it is 1917 dated.I would pass at 1400.Stock appears original and could be worth the
$450.
Maybe $1500 for both.
Bob

Welcome to the forum, Bill,

Too bad the original finish was not reinstated. But it looks presentable enough. The finish is a major issue for sure, but a functioning Artie shooter is worth at least $1,000, but not a lot more because the Parkeizing is such an extreme departure from original--more than noticeable at a glance!

I agree that the stock board is more collectable, but if you get a shooter pistol for reasonable dough, is it worth it to start assembling the rest of the rig by getting a stock board that would cost almost half a much as the gun? Consider a repro board and leather for this shooter, it will cost you a third of just the original board for all. Be careful, though. Some repros are decent materials and construction which could be acceptable, but most are pretty crappy--cheap, stiff leather and careless assembly.

Looks like it might be a 1914 Erfurt to me. Better pictures and a view of the top sure would help. If I am right, $1850 isn't too far out of line, particularly with that stock.

Thanks for the information guys, I appreciate it.

Ron,

I didn't catch the Erfurt proofs on the side plate and extension until prompted to enlarge the pic by your post. I'm presuming it's a numbers thing, but what exactly makes the difference in value between a DMW and Erfurt, condition being equal? Do you think this example would warrant restoration, if purchased at the seller's price?

I would offer the seller 1300 and eventually get it restored. You wouldn't have more than ~2K in it, and you should easily be able to recover the cost if you wanted to sell a 99+% restored 1914 artillery - DWM or Erfurt.

1914 was the only year Erfurt made artillery Lugers. I think DWM 1914 are worth even more than Erfurt, but I know 1914 is the holy grail of arty Lugers. Most of them did not survive the war in good shape.