LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Wartime P-08s: Questions <img BORDER="0" src='http://boards.rennlist.com/luger/pic.gif'>

tom · 12-30-2001, 11:53 AM

Guten Morgen!

Welcome to the forum.

You make me jealous; I spent parts of the early 70's, 80's and 90's in Germany as an Army aviator and later as a private businessman. What a wonderful time I had!

On to your question...

III Reich era guns are all over the board as to pricing, which is driven by the market. I should think one of your main concerns would be to check with ATF to determine if there are any *quirks* in their regs that will hamper your importing a piece when you DEROS. Prior to the change in the US laws in '86 it was absolutely verboten to import any former military weapon into the USA, and that was back when minty pieces were in the $250 range in Germany.

After that, your challenge is to figure out what you like best-early pieces (K and G dates, Scriptic marked S-42) or Banners (Contracts pieces as well as commercial and polezi guns), late production byf codes, 42 codes, etc, etc...the choices are many.

After you figure out which ones you like, then buy the best condition your checkbook can afford. You want to ensure that the piece is, in fact, matching. That will require disassembly and a thorough inspection. You want to ensure that the finish is original. Modern gun mechanics can do phenominal jobs on refinishing and their work has fooled experts. (There are a couple of almost guaranteed ways to spot a refinish, but that is a subject for some other time.)

Ensure that the bore is up to speed and that the grips are matching and in a condition that is reflective of the overall condition of the gun. If you find one with a matching magazine you are extremely lucky, but always suspect such matches are artificial. There is info on the forum about such things.

Whatever pistol you glom on to, you should try to get a contemporary holster also. Original III Reich Luger holsters are actually rarer than the pistols and the prices are beginning to reflect that fact-just check e-bay!

Happy collecting and shooting!

Tom

12-30-2001, 11:53 AM	#2
tom User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 269 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Wartime P-08s: Questions Guten Morgen! Welcome to the forum. You make me jealous; I spent parts of the early 70's, 80's and 90's in Germany as an Army aviator and later as a private businessman. What a wonderful time I had! On to your question... III Reich era guns are all over the board as to pricing, which is driven by the market. I should think one of your main concerns would be to check with ATF to determine if there are any quirks in their regs that will hamper your importing a piece when you DEROS. Prior to the change in the US laws in '86 it was absolutely verboten to import any former military weapon into the USA, and that was back when minty pieces were in the $250 range in Germany. After that, your challenge is to figure out what you like best-early pieces (K and G dates, Scriptic marked S-42) or Banners (Contracts pieces as well as commercial and polezi guns), late production byf codes, 42 codes, etc, etc...the choices are many. After you figure out which ones you like, then buy the best condition your checkbook can afford. You want to ensure that the piece is, in fact, matching. That will require disassembly and a thorough inspection. You want to ensure that the finish is original. Modern gun mechanics can do phenominal jobs on refinishing and their work has fooled experts. (There are a couple of almost guaranteed ways to spot a refinish, but that is a subject for some other time.) Ensure that the bore is up to speed and that the grips are matching and in a condition that is reflective of the overall condition of the gun. If you find one with a matching magazine you are extremely lucky, but always suspect such matches are artificial. There is info on the forum about such things. Whatever pistol you glom on to, you should try to get a contemporary holster also. Original III Reich Luger holsters are actually rarer than the pistols and the prices are beginning to reflect that fact-just check e-bay! Happy collecting and shooting! Tom