representative examples to collect
 

Hello folks, quick question, I have a limited amount if funds to invest in
Luger collecting so I am trying to obtain good quality representative pieces.

I am looking for a dwm 1916 or so model for the first world war, a navy model and maybe an artillery.

I am kinda stumped as to what to search put for a good third reich exsmple. I know black widow and simson and krieghofs are way out of my price range, what is a good mid level piece? If I can only buy one, what should it be?

Thanks in advance to anyone who posts a reply with their recommendations.

Unlike Simson and Kriegoff, the volume of "Black Widow" is not small. You can find a decent one relatively easy. Price varies, condition varies, there are many samples to choose from.

Any Mauser made P.08 with any of the following manufacturing codes S/42; 42 or BYF will be a good representative of a Third Reich Luger.

It seems like the "BW" BYF 41 and 42 guns start around $1500 and go up from there. Not much different than any of the meat and potatoes WW2 guns. I'd think a really nice one should be had for $2k. WW1 guns may be just a hair cheaper, but of course the Navy and Artillery models are still in the nose-bleed levels.
Watch Simpsons, Ltd, for prices and for general education purposes.
Good luck.
dju

And, consider condition - in the long run, the nicer examples will cost more initially but rise faster in value. However, if you plan on shooting, then find a shooter - its not worth it to shoot a valuable collectable, its really not - you break a numbered part and it drops value in half...

The point is - you can and probably should buy a nice as condition example you can get, but one with some issues, wrong part, refinished, or rougher condition is a thought also :) As you can always get a nicer example - so, possibly look for 'placeholders' OR buy some books and figure out what is the best way to go :) I always suggest books, but not all folks want to go that route, just buy a nice example, but not mint and you'll do okay (nicer the gun, the more likely it might be restored)

To collect great condition ones, you cannot just buy one..., you need to buy lots of them over time (important), keep the best ones, and sell the ones you don't need any more. Lots of effort, not easy.

But you only do that after you're sure that you want to do that. As you can see the huge amount of effort involved in this process. This is not gun collecting specific, I heard people in jade collecting are doing this too.

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[Edit] Probably too far away from the plan in your mind. At the beginning, buy one from C&R dealer should work. legacy-collectibles.com carries some Lugers.