No safe queen here...
 

Won this gun last week at auction. Someone liked to shoot ( no rifling) and the checkering on grips well worn. Missing hold open but one on order from Tom Heller. Candidate for a "Thor" restoration?

https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item...semi-automatic

Very nice. IMO, a definite restoration project.

It does have a certain charm as-is. What do you plan to use it for? Shooting range, display, or to fill the safe?
dju

Really depends on what you want it for or to do with it.
I'd keep it as is and not worry about shooting it!
Nice catch though.

It can be used for display. Framing it and hanging it on the wall. I feel each collector should collect one gun like this in their domain. You don't want to acquire many samples in this condition, no need. But one or two for wall hanging display. Just an personal opinion.

"They" say that even a really bad barrel can turn in decent scores. Would be kind of nice to have a 1st class looking 1900 luger to shoot at the range.........

I've got a 1900 test Luger in about the same condition. Some long-since-deceased Montana cowboy scratched his name in the side, but I'd not change a thing. A bit of Euro-Americana...
dju

Well, it is your pistol and your $$; so go for it!:cheers:

They,the 1900s, feel much different in shooting than the later pistol, JMHO.

Nice BUG stamps !
Glad it's going to a good home !

I, personally, like my shooters to look nice......just my thing. That one could turn out to be a very handsome shooter, and one that the owner will take pride in. I would consider it if it were mine.

Here are some pics of the early M1900 I was able to score, as it was when I received it: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showpost...3&postcount=48

I cleaned it up, installed one of Tom's extractors, re-strawed the small parts, and installed another nice grip on the left side. The latter makes it way less collectible, and I have and will be shooting it a little bit. Here is what it looks like now, including the pitting: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showpost...1&postcount=73

I think it depends on what kind of "bad" a barrel has. As long as there is enough rifling to spin the bullet, and there is nothing at the muzzle that will mess up the bullet exit, even a pistol with significant bore corrosion should be accurate. I believe this is because corrosion by definition is the loss of metal, nothing is added to such bores that interferes with bullet travel. If rifling is gone to the extent that the bullet doesn't spin, then the bullet will tumble after muzzle exit and accuracy should decline as well. I am reciting my own experience, not repeating what "they" said.:)

FWIW, I have a M1900 'shooter' and with a fair bore and it is highly accurate.

Nice going.

This liveauctioneers.com frequently sells C&Rs with low quality pictures and description in simplest form. Not sure why people consign their items to them, but many do. Since it's risky, many collectors dare not bid there. But if you know certain items in domain, could make basic assessment based on primitive information, and willing to take risk, there are "widows" there occasionally.

I like it, you did good!

If I had the money to spend, my vote would be restoration. They may not make factory new Lugers anymore, but I think it would be nice to have one that looked like it was. That would be especially true on the firing line!