ID'ing a Luger...What do I have?
 

My Dad passed away a while ago and gave me his Luger.
I don't know anything about it and was hoping you guys could help.

Well, it appears t be a .30 cal. model for the commercial market, probably mfg. during the 1920's. From these photos I don't see any problems. Finish appears to be original, and better than average.
A bit of paint thinner and a tooth brush may clean up the stains on the grip panels, but use great caution if you try to remove the left panel as it tends to chip under the safety lever base.
Congratulations, and welcome to the forum.
dju

I guess my Dad was misinformed, I was told this weapon came off a German Officer.
Thanks for the info.

wood of grips seems tho they might be replacements

Is there any value for a piece like this?

First of all welcome to this forum of Luger aficionados.

For what I can see from your photos looks as if you've got a nice gun.
These "commercial versions" of the military P.08 made in the early 1920 are often in pretty good conditions as generally they were not used during the Second World War.

Its value here in Italy would be of about Euro 1,900.00 (USD 2600.00)

wow, well, Italian values and USA values aren't even close - keep in mind that 9mm is not allowed, so 7.65mm are desirable.

Is it marked 'made in germany' or germany anywhere?

Crown N marked?

It is 'possible' it was a officer owned luger that went into war as 7.65mm was not the military round but was used. The suffix looks like 'k' so mid 1920's...

pictures are not the best (no offense) - I would say value is (low) $800 to likely $1100 (perhaps a bit more)- depending on if matching correctly (commercial guns are numbered, but in fewer areas). Condition looks good, but better lighting would help.

Ed

Sorry for the pictures, I was focusing on the markings. I will get some better images today.
I didn't notice 'germany' anywhere. But wasn't looking for it.
I noticed that number 1576 is in a few places on the gun.

I updated a few images.

Ed:
I'd guestimate $1000 for value, and while it could have been liberated from a German officer, it was not officially issued to said officer. Wrong caliber, wrong markings, wrong era.
But still a fine momento from your late dad.
dju

Thanks for all the info, sounds like it isn't anything special like I was told.

As Luger's go it is nothing special. But then again they are all special, artwork that shoots, especially those with family history.
dju

I don't plan on shooting it, I'll look for someplace local to possible sell it. Thanks.

Did your father tell you he personally took it from a German officer?

You can sell it right here in our FOR SALE forum... no fees. You just have to be very careful about the transfer of the gun to the seller, and abide by the local laws for both you and the buyer. You can sell it to any Federal Firearms license holder, or Curio & Relic licensed Gun collector directly. Shipment would have to be via FEDEX overnight to be legal, and only after you possess a copy of the purchaser's license. I don't recommend selling it to another person in California. The legal transfer paperwork would be cumbersome. If the gun is registered to you in California, you need to proceed with direction from the CA Attorney General's website to sell it.

Ed (Ed Blown Vert)

With all the respect, I don't know who and what you've been told about your dad's Luger, but I think that person was pretty wrong: every single Luger IS something special, it's "artwork that shoots" and shoots very well I would add, it's something made almost a century ago that if it could speak surely would teach us an interesting page of our history.
IMHO

From what I understand, 7,65mm lugers were issued to some folks, like Railroad Police and other gov't officials. The 9mm was a military and police round, but the 7.65mm was in use by many people. And remember, many of the lugers left the DWM factory in 7.65mm in the 1920's and then were rebarreled for the police. I would bet that many GI's would have trouble knowing the difference in uniforms in rank, especially a lot of WW2 civilian uniforms look pretty impressive, irregardless of their rank compared to a GI in fatigues :)

I honestly don't remember if he took it or it was given to him.

Didn't think about that, I am not sure who its registered to. Hmm...

Is it a requirement that EVERY gun must be registered in California John?

and at least via ATF, guns passed along via inheritance is covered and legal. If you obtain it like that, you would not need to go and 'register' it in most states, California, I do not know...

Having recently sold a luger to a person from California I can vouch that the ATF rules do not apply. California has there own and they are fairly complicated. You can only ship to a FFL01. Even with a C&R on both ends. From my understanding all firearms must be registered. I am to the point of just not dealing with Cal. It just is not worth the hassle. Bill