1917 Artillary find
 

Went to a small auction in a small town in rural NY yesterday that my LGD informed me had a artillery Luger listed. Had everything from cars, saws, used bent nails to pots and used anything. Had about 40 long guns a dozen hand guns and one Luger. Without a strip down it looked pretty good and there was a holster w/ shoulder board w/ matching number to the gun. Asked man behind counter if holster came with gun an he said yes. Waited almost two hours for the auction to get to the guns. When they got to the Luger I won it at $2000.00 and them he held up the holster for bidding and I said that the holster was suppose to go with the gun. They said that the holster and gun were not pictured together and that was that! I won the holster for another $400.00. Later I found out the holster had been with a box of holster and someone had figgered that it would probably sell better with the guns. Anyway I later got together with one of the guys conducting the auction and told him the story from my perspective and he nocked off $200.00. So with vig I got the rig for @$2500.00. All matching even grips and magazine if I look at it at a certain angle in the right light (very light 1 and 9 and I can imagine another 9) to make the SN 199d. When the rain goes away pictures will follow. Today I have a question about markings on back of grip: R.J.R.254.2K.14. Hugh

Reserve Infantry Regiment #254, 2nd Company, Weapon #14.
Norm

Good deal for you!
Congrats.

Good job
 

What a deal! My artillery with matching stock, holster, mag pouches, was nearly $6,000. It's a beauty though!

Still raining here so just mess'n around. Trying to make this read 199d but its either not enough sunshine, bad camera or maybe my eyesight is not up to the task!

To my eye that is indeed a "d".
Ron

Sorry only one photo this afternoon weather is rather fickle...

Stock with it?

Hayhugh, sounds like you got a deal, despite the hassle you had to deal with. Congrats.

You must be quite pleased with the day's efforts, I sure would be. I am curious how many other serious bidders did you have to persevere over?

Yes it came with a stock numbered to the gun 199d. When I unlaced the stock from the holster I found a lot of dried mud. The were literally stuck together. Not too much damage to the holster but the stock suffered loss of varnish or whatever it was originally finished with. Loading tool was present but no cleaning rod. The leather was dried out but flexible (soft but cracked). Will try again today to get photos posted.

Mor'n effort:

Oh No!
You cleaned off the "Flander's" mud?

Nice find. :)

A very nice piece with just the right amount of patina.
dju

For what I can see that looks like an interesting piece, try taking some close ups, pictures should be taken preferably outdoors in open shade or on a cloudy day.

[QUOTE]Oh No!
You cleaned off the "Flander's" mud? Ya know I thought about that. I had brushed off quite a bit of "whatever" dust before taking the photo this morning. It might have just been wiped off and never taken apart before being put away for all these years.

Let me know what you want close-ups of and I will give it a try. Hugh

Hugh, Flanders? Might have been Mississippi mud. To preserve history you had best consider good preservation techniques. That holster and stock iron need it. You had best look inside the iron. Delicate springs and screws in there need help. Rust NEVER sleeps. You can put a coat of lanolin on the holster..then wipe it off..it will help remove crud and soften the exterior leather..if you start bending the holster anywhere dry it will start cracking..that cannot be reversed.

[QUOTEYou had best look inside the iron. Delicate springs and screws in there need help. Rust !NEVER sleeps. ][/QUOTE] Thank you Jerry for the iron info! Took the iron apart, all dry w/no rust. Cleaned all up and with a light coat of oil put it back together. Should be good for another 100 years.

Some marking on Holster1916. Leather on board: MAU C Co and under that line: OFFEN ACH