Need help with pricing a Luger
 

A guy I know has a Luger that I may want to trade into. It is a DWM military gun that has a 30 Luger commercial barrel installed. The barrel is completely unmarked but looks like it was rust blued. The chamber date has been scrubbed and the right side of the frame is stamped Germany. The magazine is a numbered wood bottom but not numbered to the gun. The grips do not match each other and are not numbered to the gun. My guess is this is a military gun that was rebarreled and sold on the commercial market in the early twenties. His asking price is $1,200 but my guess is the gun is worth more in the $900-1000 range. I couldn't get pictures but the finish looks about 70% on the blue and about forty or fifty percent on the straw. Other than the barrel, the grips and the magazine the gun is all matching.

Any thoughts?

8oo$ maybe a bit less

My guess would be $650-700 tops. Bill

Thanks very much, fellas. I think he paid $725-$750 for it. I'm pretty sure his intent was simply to flip it to make a few buck on it.

I'm with Bill, sort of up to a point..But Bill has always been generous. I am somewhat tighter and wouldn't be interested in a .30 shooter in this condition unless it were $500. AND that's providing it will actually SHOOT. Cause that's what your paying for isn't it? Just cause someone overpaid don't let that become your problem.

My guess would be $650-700 tops. Bill
__________________
Bill Lyon

I won't let it become my problem. I had in my mind where I thought the market was but I was obviously off. I suppose to us collectors $900 is way too much but to the uninitiated, or those who think any Luger is valuable, his asking price may be close, just a little high. I think he is in the second category. He must have figured he was getting great buy and it would be easy to flip it.

I've traded with him before and he's a decent guy but he doesn't know Lugers. I think it's the same mind set as with Nazi collectables; if it has a swastika on it, it must be worth its weight in gold. If it's a Luger it must be worth a small fortune.

I think you are exactly right. IMO collectors want to buy at a good price, I know I do. IMO on lower end pistols collectors tend to value the guns a bit lower than what some people actually pay for these shooters. I enjoy looking for shooter bargains and continually pass on Lugers that end up selling at or close to the price I passed at.

Agree. The scrubbed chamber date is to me the biggest detriment. 30 cal is OK as I have spare 9mm barrels if I so desire. If it has some finish left (even patina), no pits, no extra 'trench art' markings, then any mismatched parts wouldn't matter to me but my ceiling would be the $700 and then only FTF/no sales tax or S&H. ;)

Jim, A lot of guys will pay more for a Luger than I will..The one you describe is not high on my list of must haves. I already have several..but a guy who doesn't..might pay more. I look for bargains or I keep my cash in my pocket. Cause when you go to sell it down the road a potential buyer is going to nit pick EVERY nook and cranny and beat you about the head and shoulders on price. So you might as well do it first.

I have 6 Lugers one of them being a 1920 Commercial in .30 cal. My only reason for considering it was because it seemed to be an interesting factory rework.

Jim, I hate to be a killjoy here but a scrubbed chamber date, a .30 barrel on a 9MM Military, mismatched grips, on and on is not a very good description of a factory rework/variation do you think? I don't know..maybe it is. If it makes you happy who cares eh?

I would bet a lot that isn't a factory rework. Bill

Last night it occurred to me that if it were a factory rework the barrel would probably have a proof mark on it.

Thanks for all the comments and advice. I decided to pass unless he decides to drop his price or trade value considerably.

Good choice
 

You made the right decision. I have a 1920 commercial in 30 luger that is all matching and in good condition and I paid $900 for it. 30 luger caliber is a pleasure to shoot.