LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - 1942 Luger Re-Blued

LugerLearner · 01-18-2006, 09:02 AM

I have always wanted to collect Lugers. My collection boasts a whopping 2 lugers. I have a 1908 that I've been told is a commercial (but it has military markings on the right hand side of the receiver) and a 1942 (42 stamped over the chamber). Unfortunately, as much reading as I've done, I'm finding that I'm not very good at this yet.

My father has been actively involved in trading guns for decades. I leaned on his "expertise" when I bought the 1908 and spent $900. At a show about a year ago, I picked up the 1942 Luger (no military markings except for an eagle over the left side serial number). I thought it was a steal at $900.

My wife got a little nervous about the "investment" and convinced me to take the guns to a show to have them appraised for insurance purposes. I was stunned to find out that, even though the 1908 has about 80% of the blue left, it was only appraised at $600. The 1942 was even worse. Someone had re-blued it at some point and I was told that it's only worth $400. It was a very "professional" job (in the words of the appraiser). It was meant to deceive. A couple of people offered me more for the pistol because (apparently) they didn't realize that it had been re-blued. The appraiser in both cases was someone who deals almost exclusively with German antique firearms in our area.

I still love the Lugers, but the nagging doubt that I've gotten taken twice in less than 3 years is really getting to me. There's a huge part of me that wants to dump these two and get what I can out of them and start over. Is this common to have these problems when you're first getting started?

So far, the only thing that I think I've done right is I picked up a 1942 holster (marked 1942 P.08 on the back) for $15 at a garage sale. I was offered $40 for it because it has the original take down tool still in it.

01-18-2006, 09:02 AM	#1
LugerLearner New User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1942 Luger Re-Blued I have always wanted to collect Lugers. My collection boasts a whopping 2 lugers. I have a 1908 that I've been told is a commercial (but it has military markings on the right hand side of the receiver) and a 1942 (42 stamped over the chamber). Unfortunately, as much reading as I've done, I'm finding that I'm not very good at this yet. My father has been actively involved in trading guns for decades. I leaned on his "expertise" when I bought the 1908 and spent $900. At a show about a year ago, I picked up the 1942 Luger (no military markings except for an eagle over the left side serial number). I thought it was a steal at $900. My wife got a little nervous about the "investment" and convinced me to take the guns to a show to have them appraised for insurance purposes. I was stunned to find out that, even though the 1908 has about 80% of the blue left, it was only appraised at $600. The 1942 was even worse. Someone had re-blued it at some point and I was told that it's only worth $400. It was a very "professional" job (in the words of the appraiser). It was meant to deceive. A couple of people offered me more for the pistol because (apparently) they didn't realize that it had been re-blued. The appraiser in both cases was someone who deals almost exclusively with German antique firearms in our area. I still love the Lugers, but the nagging doubt that I've gotten taken twice in less than 3 years is really getting to me. There's a huge part of me that wants to dump these two and get what I can out of them and start over. Is this common to have these problems when you're first getting started? So far, the only thing that I think I've done right is I picked up a 1942 holster (marked 1942 P.08 on the back) for $15 at a garage sale. I was offered $40 for it because it has the original take down tool still in it.