LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post

ithacaartist · 04-29-2012, 03:25 PM

John,

First, welcome to the forum! And congrats on obtaining a 1917 Arty! Judging by your username, you already know the potential peril for changing one's life that collecting Lugers can be. Others will with more hardcore experience and expertise will likely chime in, here, e.g. Jerry (Lugerholsterrepair) in response to the part of your query about the leather, but I'll have a whack at getting you started.

1) The numbers on the mag would be stamped on the wooden (properly)bottom. If the ser. number is followed by a "+" sign, the military style of indicating that it was the spare. If it's followed by a number, that would be police style.
The butt stock's iron should have a serial, maybe partial, number, and some proofs if military.

2)This one's for Jerry

3)Always remember value is in proportion its condition as it first saw daylight out of the factory door. Obviously, other factors affect value, as well, but you can see where this is going. Your gun has been messed with/defaced at least by the social security number. Technically, it's part of the gun's history, literally; It's your choice to keep it as is in remembrance of your great grandad, or arrange for its removal and refinishing. But bottom line is that it's a shooter because of this issue, albeit an all-matching shooter, which is indeed nice to have. Very generally, you should be able to buy/sell a nice shooter like this around $1k. Lugers, like everything else, vary as to the meeting points of where each is happily bought and sold.

The forum, like science, is self-correcting. As I post my comments, they will be reviewed by many whom I hope I am worthy of calling my peers. The responses will fine tune your situation over time. And, as you've already perceived, we love photos, optimal resolution for posting, and the clearer, the better. Combine this with as beefy a description as you can muster and everyone interested will do his or her best to help you learn about your pistol. They will never equal checking out a Luger in-hand, but give us all you've got! Read the forum like a glutton.

Have fun with it!

DP

p.s. Oops, almost forgot... My brother did the same thing to his Colt Python in the 70's. I think it was stolen at some point, so, gee, I guess having the number on it didn't stop the thieves--and, some thieves then had his SS#!! Some probably still don't know any better...

04-29-2012, 03:25 PM	#2
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,369 Thanks: 7,432 Thanked 2,611 Times in 1,378 Posts	John, First, welcome to the forum! And congrats on obtaining a 1917 Arty! Judging by your username, you already know the potential peril for changing one's life that collecting Lugers can be. Others will with more hardcore experience and expertise will likely chime in, here, e.g. Jerry (Lugerholsterrepair) in response to the part of your query about the leather, but I'll have a whack at getting you started. 1) The numbers on the mag would be stamped on the wooden (properly)bottom. If the ser. number is followed by a "+" sign, the military style of indicating that it was the spare. If it's followed by a number, that would be police style. The butt stock's iron should have a serial, maybe partial, number, and some proofs if military. 2)This one's for Jerry 3)Always remember value is in proportion its condition as it first saw daylight out of the factory door. Obviously, other factors affect value, as well, but you can see where this is going. Your gun has been messed with/defaced at least by the social security number. Technically, it's part of the gun's history, literally; It's your choice to keep it as is in remembrance of your great grandad, or arrange for its removal and refinishing. But bottom line is that it's a shooter because of this issue, albeit an all-matching shooter, which is indeed nice to have. Very generally, you should be able to buy/sell a nice shooter like this around $1k. Lugers, like everything else, vary as to the meeting points of where each is happily bought and sold. The forum, like science, is self-correcting. As I post my comments, they will be reviewed by many whom I hope I am worthy of calling my peers. The responses will fine tune your situation over time. And, as you've already perceived, we love photos, optimal resolution for posting, and the clearer, the better. Combine this with as beefy a description as you can muster and everyone interested will do his or her best to help you learn about your pistol. They will never equal checking out a Luger in-hand, but give us all you've got! Read the forum like a glutton. Have fun with it! DP p.s. Oops, almost forgot... My brother did the same thing to his Colt Python in the 70's. I think it was stolen at some point, so, gee, I guess having the number on it didn't stop the thieves--and, some thieves then had his SS#!! Some probably still don't know any better...