Odelric,
welcome to this prestigious club. You already have had few of the best minds in Lugers comment on this article and I am afraid to add anything to what they already have said because I respect them so very much. But first of all, I would like to compliment the seller of this 1917 artillery rig on his fine photography both in quality and quantity. He really told the story in the pictures that he took. Overall, I would have to say that this is one of the finer transitional 1917 artillery rigs that I have seen. There might be better ones out there, but this one is definately not chopped liver. That is probably why there have been over seven hundred viewers of the sale and still counting.
I think that I might have to say at this point that I have absolutely no connection to this seller and have never handled this gun in any way. With that done, I would like to compliment the seller on his photography, both in quality and in quantity.
There are only two things that I would like to comment on here and they are the proof mark on the stock and the 9's on the grips. I looked at the 6-7 stocks that I have and none of them have the proof mark that is on this stock. It might not be wrong, but I will have to go through my 'World of Lugers' by Constanzo to see if I can find it. So put a question mark there for me.
The 9's on the grips are another question mark. I have seen a number of 9's on grips before and many of those marks are of questionable origin. The size and style of these grips 9's leave me doubtful. There have been many comments on this forum over the years about sellers creating branding irons for burning 9's on the grips and this might (?) be another example.
John Sabatos comment on the price is true. The price seems to be high. But I have seen worse rigs with fewer accessories going for this price and that was a few years ago. The mags are original but unmatched. If they matched, then the price would be higher.
The straps and the stock cup are things that are hard to find. I have gone to gun shows and have bought just those things to put on my holsters and they cost plenty. I have seen minty artillery holsters without the straps and the cup on tables offered for almost as much as for the gun itself. The only thing that bugs me about holsters like the one being sold here is that the makers marks are on the inside of the holster, in the rough. Eventually, the marks will wear off.
Since I already have a 1917 rig, I am going to pass on this one. But I am going to watch the sale on this particular one and enjoy watching everyone going nuts trying to buy it. Thats one of the pleasures of being a collector.
Big Norm
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