WWI Luger - Plated
 

Newby question. What does a good Nickle Plate do to the value.
Thanks in advance!

It reduces the pistol to a shooter level gun, all other things being equal. It all depends on the particular case.

I would not pay more than $500-$600 for a reliable, plated shooter, but that's just me.

What about an otherwise 95% gun.

What Alanint said.....most fans of the Luger find a plated gun the lowest on the totem pole....most would rather have unmatched blued pistol than a matched plated one. I might give 300-400 for one, if I thought I could get the plating off totally and it wasn't buffed too bad.

Makes no difference how nice it is - it will devalue it - drastically - one that looks nice might go for maybe a $100 more / give or take

But lets say you have a 75% luger and a 95% luger, same year, same model, the 95% would be worth twice it...

Sorry, but % in Luger collecting refers to the amount of original finish left on the pistol. A plated Luger, by definition, is 0%. Period.

--Dwight

Just to clarify, a plated Luger has some value, but not as a collector's piece. You can be a smash hit at the range with one and you may find someone who wants it badly.
But probably not a serious Luger collector for the reasons already given.
Have fun!
dju

Once funds permit again, I plan to acquire nickel-plated versions of all the major WW1 and WW2 pistols for shooters. I've already started with a nice nickel-plated WW1 Colt 1911.

I've seen nickel-plated 1911's, Lugers, High Powers, Radoms, etc. in the past 5 years. Usually, the nickel-plated guns were very affordable, compared to a gun with original finish...

interesting collection goal.
Saw a nice 1914 Erfurt with matching mag at an estate sale.
I quit at $550. It went for $750, which was high, IMHO.

I have a really nice Ithaca 1911-A1 that is nickel plated .
I'm poor .
I collect the un-collectible .

You're right I'm sure your Ithaca could be an excellent shooter though!

It's a very good shooter and with the silver ornate grips with two gold fighting cocks on the grips I just tell people that I got it of a guy down in Mexico that I beet up in a bar fight .
And I think his name was Pablo Escobar or something like that .
It looks really sharp with the Buffalow Bone grips on it .
I'd post some pictures if I new how .

My point is that there are those of us who can only afford to collect the un-collectible and that in and of itself makes them collectible .

I have champaine tast and a beer pocketbook. I'd be delighted to find a nice nickel plated at that price range.
Thank you all, for the advice. It's been enlightening for me.

I have a nickle-plated 42. I paid $500 shipped for it. The gun is mint, no buffing, no pitting, sharp edges etc, numbers matching, no import. It was probably plated when the gun was more or less new right after the War by the GI that liberated it. Basically deduct 80% for plating, in my example.

Plated guns all seem to be around $500 +/- a few hundred with little regard to make or model...unless of course, it's a special presentation gun taken from an officer or Goering.

One exception classy silver~

Everyone to his own taste after all.