Bob,
if 99% perfect doesn't send up warning signals to really examine this gun closely, then nothing will. Is it possible... you betcha. Is it likely... not. The price of $3250 for a 1917 artillery Luger is high. When you add in the $285 registration fees, it becomes $3535, which is a bit rediculous. Dealers put these prices on Lugers in hopes of luring in the unsuspecting. After all, they are in business to make money. Nothing wrong with that. There is one born every day. I have seen people buy Lugers at outrageous prices at gun shows and I have bought the same gun, in simular condition, at the same gun show for a drastically lower price. I have a military 1908 navy Luger with a story on that in my posession. I had to talk a lot to get that Luger, but I got it.
But if you know what you are doing and really have gone over the weapon, then go for it. Some people have lotsa discretionary cash and can afford to make mistakes. But, no offense ment to Aaron and I could be wrong, he didn't strike me as a person who had the background to tell if a gun has been expertly restored and a counterfeit mag installed. Nor did he mention if he had someone around to give him a visual second opinion. There are some real good, but unethical, restorers out there who are more than willing to take your after tax money and they have fooled some of the best of collectors. I know that I've been taken by people who I trusted and thought were good friends. BUYER BEWARE.
With that said, I was at at the Ohio Valley Military gun show in Kentucky a while back. Doug Smith had some Kreighoffs on his table that were absolutely beautiful. But they seemed to be awfully glossy and in very, very good condition. (The prices matched the condition.) I commented to Doug about the glossiness of the guns (he had quite a few on his table) and he told me that that is the way the original bluing and straw was on HK's. But who am I to challenge Doug? I am not so proud as to think that I know more than him. I would not touch those guns without John Dunkle and a few others helping me. But there are people who have the money to spend and DO know what they are doing in regards to Lugers. More power to them.
Big Norm
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