Pricing anomaly
 

I have noticed something that seems unusual in luger pricing.

In the same condition, an army issued luger commands a higher price than a police luger, presumably because the army luger may have been in combat while the police luger stayed holstered while the cop directed traffic.

On the other hand the luger that is most likely to have "been there and done that" is a lowly Russian captured luger which is at the bottom of the price spectrum. While the really high priced lugers in perfect condition probably never fired a shot in anger, or even fired a shot.

I know that condition is the main thing that determines price, not history, unless it can be traced to a famous person. Good old supply and demand at work.

The other thing to consider, is that high condition lugers are more scarce than worn, or mismatched specimens. The wear on a luger could very well have been because the gun was not taken care of when it got stateside. I think we've all seen many examples of guns that were obviously neglected after they got here, or have been "messed with". The nicer guns may very well have been used in combat, just perhaps not for very long, plus the P-08 holster provided excellent protection to the pistol. Police guns could very well have been "used", as the police were taken over by the SS after '39 if I remember correctly.

And then there are commercial lugers who have seen a closet for one hundred years! I have tried to collect at least one in each variety. Certain lugers have been used for multible purposes surviving in 2 world war and imported to many owners!~Lugers are as unique as their owners!!! No strict rules just generalities~ I wish I could own them all! beg borrow or purchase Jan Still's Central Powers Pistols! Its the bible of lugers and history~His Finest!!!!!

Not counting special lugers

in order of desirable to most collectors (IMHO)

WW2 era Nazi army lugers
Navy Lugers
Artillery Lugers
Imperial Army Lugers
Police - in a wide range of commercial, army - former imperial

All in original condition

commercial lugers
russian or east german

shooters

Boy, You didn't miss a luger

Ed, is there any luger on you wish list?

Edward Tinker, I agree with your ranking. And admire you for your placing of police lugers despite being the author of a book about them. I would have forgotten about the "shooters" category down there in the basement.

I don't know about earlier Lugers, but WW2 era 1939-42 Police Banners seem to me to get just as much value as Army in the same years.

Forgot One~ Carbines~1902 and 1920s

That's likely as accurate as anyone can get for the majority of collectors.

OTOH, I have a different order personally.

Imperial/Artillery military Lugers on top
Commercial & Foreign contract Imperial Lugers
Swiss Lugers
WW2/Nazi era Lugers
Navy Lugers
Police Lugers
E. German & Russian capture Lugers
Shooter Lugers

That's just my preferences and, I'm sure, others will have a different list based on their own desires

I do have a soft spot for the Navy 6" guns. But for some reason, a Mauser banner police gun is very attractive to me also. I've got a 1900 AE on the way, and seem to be leaning into the DWM WW1 guns now. I guess, what I'm saying is, as a collector, I can't bring myself to prefer one over the other. I like them all.

My current order is:

Commercial/foreign contract
Swiss
Imperial Army/LP.08
Navy
Police
WWII Lugers
EG/RC

Shooters.

As others have noted, these are just my own preferences and even they have changed over the last two years.

IMO, what drives WW2 Luger prices to the premium they have over standard imperial guns in the same condition is that collectors who just want 1 Luger, or a first Luger, to add to their collection generally want a WW2 example.

My "list" is shorter and much simpler, and tough to argue with! :)

1- Lugers

In Germany, nice looking post war lugers are bringing more than pre-45 examples on a regular basis.

It has been interesting to see the prices that the Mauser-branded 1997-1999 refurbished P08 pistols have been bringing.

The market for Swiss lugers is slow and difficult in the EU.

Our biggest and most risky problem is the growing market for deactivated crap. A deactivated pos less-than-shooter grade P08 can easily make more than a nice original functional gun...

My list is short as well?
 

My list would be...
1) any nice Luger I can afford
2) shooter
3) shooter
4) shooter
5) and finally shooter?

That's what my bank account usually says as well... best, to all, til....lat'r....GT....:cheers:

How do you feel about a 'shooter'

G.T.
My realistic list would be like yours, what I can afford. I would like a navy but they are way out of my price range.

MY listing of what I like is actually;

Simson dated
Simson unit marked (presently don't have one)
Police - weimar era made
Police - imperial era
1900 Test Eagles
Carbines 1902

My List goes like this as an example. I would take a 1920's era commercial .30 luger which is not to desirable to my interests at a great price over a military P08 9mm which is of more interest to me at a fair price and that kind of thinking transcends the Luger collecting field.

I'm not collecting any more, anyway my Lugers list would probably be:

Simson
Krieghoff