LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post

09-07-2001, 10:21 PM

Mr. Buscemi's subject brings to mind a thought I wrote about here recently---What is a collectable Luger? I firmly believe that there are prehaps at least two classes of Luger collector---Therefore more than one class of collectible Luger. Class one of course is the man with the most money who wants only near mint pieces. Then there is the other guy who wants a selection of luger models and will settle for less than mint condition. He is like all collectors wants to buy at cheapest price. I observe that since 1960 thousands of Lugers have been imported back to the US. Most of them not near mint. Someone buys them. So this less than mint collector still wants his Luger to look good. They may have to buy a part or two to get it match---maybe even renumber a part---then straw the appropriate parts that have been dip blued---even add some repro wood grips. Maybe polish a blued clip and add one of Gerrys nice wood bottoms complete with new numbers. The Luger sure looks better to the owner and anyone else who looks at it except the big D collector, unless he is trying to sell it. I'll spectulate that the the "enhanced" Luger will sell for more money than the so called Shooter. Enhancment probably only cost about $40 if the owner did work himself. I know of a guy who shall we say enhanced his colletion in the last two years by buying several import Lugers when the price was about $300. He took pot luck in ordering several. He ended up with a mostly matching byf KU with orig blk widow grips [Simpson has an import KU on his list for about$1300]. This guy also got four different proof G dates [two all match], a 1930 Dutch with mismatch side plate [not dip blued], two Simson S codes[one all match], one 1914 matching Erfurt, A 1916 DWM #18 all match, a byf 42 all match with orig blk widow grips and not dip blued. These all of course have Century Arms import marks on the Bls. He removed blue from straw parts where appropriate and re strawed. Some had wood grips which he cleaned and touched up checkering. Not a Damn bad looking bunch of Lugers that are a collection---not a second class collection but a different collection classification. So I say to you new Luger Lovers and other less than well healed Luger accumulators---make them look good to you---they will look good to other guys too. I have trouble believing many people collect Russian imports and want them to continue to look Russian. Damn the import marks--full collection ahead. Everyone hates Blue Sky marked M1 Carbines, however find one for under $300. They were $130 less than 10 years ago. If the Luger will look better to you by some touch up--Do it. I am speaking ofcourse of Import marked Lugers and other lesser grade Lugers. If the Luger is on the real rare side--then I would think carefully.

09-07-2001, 10:21 PM	#11
Art Buchanan Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Restoration Mr. Buscemi's subject brings to mind a thought I wrote about here recently---What is a collectable Luger? I firmly believe that there are prehaps at least two classes of Luger collector---Therefore more than one class of collectible Luger. Class one of course is the man with the most money who wants only near mint pieces. Then there is the other guy who wants a selection of luger models and will settle for less than mint condition. He is like all collectors wants to buy at cheapest price. I observe that since 1960 thousands of Lugers have been imported back to the US. Most of them not near mint. Someone buys them. So this less than mint collector still wants his Luger to look good. They may have to buy a part or two to get it match---maybe even renumber a part---then straw the appropriate parts that have been dip blued---even add some repro wood grips. Maybe polish a blued clip and add one of Gerrys nice wood bottoms complete with new numbers. The Luger sure looks better to the owner and anyone else who looks at it except the big D collector, unless he is trying to sell it. I'll spectulate that the the "enhanced" Luger will sell for more money than the so called Shooter. Enhancment probably only cost about $40 if the owner did work himself. I know of a guy who shall we say enhanced his colletion in the last two years by buying several import Lugers when the price was about $300. He took pot luck in ordering several. He ended up with a mostly matching byf KU with orig blk widow grips [Simpson has an import KU on his list for about$1300]. This guy also got four different proof G dates [two all match], a 1930 Dutch with mismatch side plate [not dip blued], two Simson S codes[one all match], one 1914 matching Erfurt, A 1916 DWM #18 all match, a byf 42 all match with orig blk widow grips and not dip blued. These all of course have Century Arms import marks on the Bls. He removed blue from straw parts where appropriate and re strawed. Some had wood grips which he cleaned and touched up checkering. Not a Damn bad looking bunch of Lugers that are a collection---not a second class collection but a different collection classification. So I say to you new Luger Lovers and other less than well healed Luger accumulators---make them look good to you---they will look good to other guys too. I have trouble believing many people collect Russian imports and want them to continue to look Russian. Damn the import marks--full collection ahead. Everyone hates Blue Sky marked M1 Carbines, however find one for under $300. They were $130 less than 10 years ago. If the Luger will look better to you by some touch up--Do it. I am speaking ofcourse of Import marked Lugers and other lesser grade Lugers. If the Luger is on the real rare side--then I would think carefully.