1941 byf Luger
 

Hello Gents, my name is Ralph Abercrombie. If any of you are active in orders and decorations forums, you will know me by reputation. I am pleased to be able to join this forum.

I seek comments on this Luger/holster, my first (potential) foray into this field. I am interested in whether it is intact or if there are replacement parts (besides the obvious modern grips), overall condition and value.

I hope I got the order close to the recommendations I read elsewhere. And that the pictures are clear enough.

Welcome Ralph, sorry, don't follow militaria like that :)

I am assuming this is a East German gun? From the markings on the left near the serial number and the stamping over of the suffix on the front of the frame?

But, then i would expect to see 2/1001 on the magazines? Are they marked at all?

Otherwise, if it is a oddly stamped but correct byf with two matching police magazines, its very nice. The odd stamps hurt the value to collectors, but does not kill the value.

Ed

Hi Ralph, and welcome to the forum.

The flash lighting makes finish difficult to judge, but this looks like a dip refinished VoPo Luger to me.

The magazine bases also have that appearance. It is what you would expect after a rework of a captured Luger.

These later Mauser made Lugers are generally very excellent mechanically, and make really good shooters.

Congratulations!

Marc

Thank you for the replies. I'll take some better pictures, so that I might get a more definite answer. Meanwhile, here is a sampling of the sort of militaria I collect.

Note the absence of hooked crosses...:nono:

Now to find that perfect Imperial Luger...:cheers:

Here we go.

From Edward: "...from the markings on the left near the serial number and the stamping over of the suffix on the front of the frame?"

Are these what you refer to? Did you mean markings on either side of the left-side serial? Looks like four circles, and one of the circle groups is superimposed over some sort of sunburst stamp.

What is "stamping 'over of' the suffix? Please clarify, thanks!

Maybe these pictures of the finish are better...

The finish is deep blue/black. It looks uniform except on the handles, where it is a bit worn and shows some minor pitting. VERY minor.

I got a comment that "something on the right slide appears to be a replacement part." Any idea what this is in reference to? I could not get an elaboration.

Yes, these are them! East German rework, sunbursts to either side of the serial number on the left bbl. extension were over stamped before they could be imported in the '80s-90s- no "commie" imports allowed! The suffix is part of the original serial number on the frame, it is obliterated which just leaves the four digits.

What all this means is that it is an import of an east german rework of a Nazi luger, refinished and likely some parts replaced,
the magazines were numbered to match at the rework time.

To your second question, I believe the take down lever may be an E. German made replacement. if you could show a picture of all of it as close as is in
your post #6, it would help.

and Welcome.:cheers:

There are absolutely no other markings anywhere on the magazines. Is the one with the shiny heel what is known as a "forced match?" (See top of thread)

There are also no markings on the grips. But there IS this tantalizing little series of scratches (pictured twice, in different light; difficult to capture in a photo):

I appreciate all comments and details about the pistol and its holster. The gent who is selling it wants $2500. From what I've researched here, that seems a little off...

Don, as requested. Thanks!

It seems more than a little off. The holster is nice say $300. The luger is mostly a shooter. $1000--1200 tops . So for me about $1000 high. I am sure others will have a different opinion. Bill

I'm with Bill on this one. It's been buggered...
dju

I concur with Bill. Also the magazine base on the right in your photo is not the same font as the magazine on the left. If both magazines were original to the gun, they would have the same font. I thing the mag on the right is forced matched, possibly by the East Germans.

I think it's an interesting kit. The overstepping is ugly, but you can still make out the original stamps. That's all part of the history of that gun. Since it's classified as a "shooter", you should negotiate for a much lower price and then enjoy shooting with it, without fear of breaking a collectable quality gun. I'd expect it to sell for about $1200.

Gentlemen, thank you all for your replies. I adore the pistol, and will ask the owner to re-evaluate his price. I feel confident he will; his asking price was based on what he had been told about it.

But there is one big problem.

Now I'm hooked! :eek: Must... resist... need... more....

....where oh where will I ever find that perfect 1916/1917 Artillery DWM????

....where oh where will I ever find that perfect 1916/1917 Artillery DWM????

All it takes is money...
dju

I don't really know what prices are in the USA but to me the asked price is a bit of an exaggeration!
Don't worry you're not the only one that got hooked by the Luger, in a way or another here we all have been.


Sergio

This ^^^^^^. That Luger is markedly overpriced....to me. This is a perfect example of "if it is a Luger, it is worth a fortune"..........just not true.

Ralph, thanks for the pictures, but that is the take down "tool" on the take down latch.

I did see that part in the first post, it looks ok ; I don't know what someone sees on the right side as
"wrong" , why not ask again and find out.

As everyone has said , $2500 is twice too much, $1200 is the retail market- based on hours of looking at various sites!