Early 1900 Commercial
 

Last week a co-workers father brought me a Luger he's had for 40 years. He knew I had interest and some knowledge so he decided to "bring & brag". The pistol is a 1900 Commercial in caliber 7.65, serial # 4585. The BUG proofs are present and it has the early safety lever. The gun is matching, has seen some use and the grips appear to have been revarnished. There is a heart shaped mark on the left side of the serial number that I've never seen before. Any opinions from the list? Attached are several images. Thanks.

G2

Additional images.

G2

Last images.

G2

nice early 1900 - I'd take it :)

I seem to remember seeing a marking like that once, but I don't remember it being attributed any special significance.

Unfortunately it appears that all or significant parts of the gun have been reblued - including the strawed parts, but it's still an early gun. For some reason I'm thinking the safety lever had been transitioned to a Type II at that point in production (that's a Type I lever), but could be wrong or it may not have been a sharp transition. I have #5146 with a Type II lever.

The owner took the pistol to one of the traveling antique shows a few years ago (not the TV version). He was told to insure it for 15K...

The gun isn't going anywhere soon. I'll try to give him some honest info on value but when the well is poisoned - you know how that goes.

G2

Quite a bit of intermixing of type-1/type-2 safties, in broad ranges each, well into the 4800 serial range. Sn 4585 is in the middle of a reported spread of type-1 safeties.

--Dwight

I wish that was a valid estimate, but it's likely very optimistic, reblued or not. I bought #5146 in original condition (maybe 90%, but the blue on the grip straps fading to brown and fading straw) for $1,850 about 18 months ago.

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...ghlight=stable

yes, no offense, but 2K is optimistic...

I agree with Dwight that the gun falls within the range that a Type I safety could be correct. By looking at the photos of the barrel markings and GERMANY stamp on the front of the frame, under magnification there is some hint of a halo around the markings. The clean edges on the gun and the crispness of the markings would lead me to guess that some uninformed individual in the past gave the gun a liberal application of cold blue. This would perhaps explain the strawed parts being blued and the stamped markings having a vestigial halo.
Other than the possible blue "enhancement" the gun appears proper and original in my opinion.

Thanks to all for your comments.

G2