Opinions please on this 41 byf
 

I purchased this several years ago from the son of a vet at an estate sale. The time has come to part with it, but before I do I would appreciate knowing a little more about it so I can ask a fair price. I posted this six years ago on this forum and got some very nice replies so I figured I would post it again and just ask for an update on the value, plus I have a better camera now. :)

Original WWII P.08 Luger pistol. Nicely marked and numbers matching with the exception of the magazine, which is original WWII issue. Dated 41 on receiver top and byf on toggle. All parts are numbered 83. Receiver, frame and barrel are numbered 783. Barrel also marked 8,82 below the serial number. Magazine has aluminum base plate numbered 3315 with a script letter t below also waffen amt eagle with 63 below it. I would estimate about 75-80% of the bluing remains. Grips show wear but no chips or cracks and are also stamped 83 inside. Most Lugers I found on auction and sale sites have 4-digit serial numbers, does a low number impact value?

I know condition impacts price a lot so I hope this pictures can help with an evaluation. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I don't think the low serial number will effect value at all.
I'd like to see close-ups of the right side. Quite a bit of bluing loss and I'm wondering if acceptance marks have not been removed.
I'd say that prices have increased since 2008, as "some people" have a bit more money to spend (not me).
Everything about the gun EXCEPT the right side says $1500+ to me, but I need to see more.
dju

I agree with David, around $1400-$1600 would likely be a good asking price

If the proof marks have been scrubbed ,and they appear to have been, $1000-$1200 tops as a shooter. Bill

Low serial number has nothing to do with value! But as Bill pointed out, the scrubbed proofs takes the collectible value away. You'll need to find someone who wants a high end shooter!

$1000 is on the high side IMHO

Bob

dju

Another of the right side. I have closely examined it for any proof marks and don't see any evidence that there ever were any in the normal locations that I have seen in other byf Lugers on this and other sites. The wear pattern on the receiver seems natural as if it was in and out of its holster a lot as is also evidenced by the fact the right grip is more heavily worn than the left also. Color balance is a bit off in this picture as the sun has gone down and this was taken with just room light.

Your pistol has been (DE-nazifid) in sorts. The markings have also been removed from the barrel. This was not uncommon after the war. We see it on pistols, helmets, belt buckles and many other Nazi marked war time equipment.

Unfortunately it does hurt the value. But still a nice Luger to shoot.

Bob

Your photo still does not resolve the acceptance mark issue. To me it looks like an unnatural amount of bluing loss on the front right side of the receiver. Maybe a flat spot on the right side of the barrel near the receiver. If that is the case then I'd lower my estimate to $1000 to $1200. But show me some really, really good close-ups.
dju

Looks like signs of pitting left, maybe filed down and left in the white.

I agree with Bill, it's a shooter, no longer a collectible, JMHO.:(

dju, you are really taxing my photo skills. :) Hopefully this one will give the details needed. If all Lugers had the inspection stamps, and they were deep enough to not wear off in use, I may have to agree with the de-nazified angle. This is why I consult you experts.

Yes,
they have been filed away. Too bad.

The reason you do not see any proofs, they have been removed. Both receiver and barrel. There is no way that this is holster wear. Its a shame because it would have been a nice collectible. As Bob said this happened to a lot of German guns and holsters to get rid of the Nazi symbols. It is a German military and they would have been there. Would still, depending on barrel condition, make a desirable shooter. Sorry. Bill

Sorry, no, continuous holstering does not wear off the acceptance marks. The first pic shows the damage, which is compounded, just ahead of where the proofs should be. Though there's other wear elsewhere, the finish isn't worn completely away. Lastly, the rail of the frame protrudes sufficiently to protect the area in question quite well, and it is not as worn... This could well be a gun that was de-Nazified by a concerned former owner. What do you think?

*edit* This will teach me to read the posts following the one I think I want to respond to! But Bill and Don seem to have you pointed in the right direction. Good call, to check like this before you sell. It is honorable to be educated about such things for such purposes, and although we've sort of torn it apart and knocked it down to shooter status, it will be at the top of that range. Fine tuning your expectations here will avoid potential dissatisfaction for both parties when it's sold for a fair, researched price.

I've never seen marks sanded down by continuous holstering.
It's a shame, because in my opinion if it wasn't for the marks issue it was quite a nice Luger.

I want to thank everyone who chimed in on this thread to educate me and, in the end, lead to a smoother sale.