Hey guys, I'm not going to lie, I am completely new to Lugers. I just picked one up form a small town gun shop that was never fired, came from an old gentleman's collection (shop owner knew the widowed wife, and he was the original owner), and looks really new/unused.
Here are things I THINK I know about it:
-Obviously post war, thinking maybe 1970s by Mauser's stamp and the interarms stamp (believe it's called the American Eagle line, based on stamping)
-Missing the combination tool
-4" barrel model, in 9mm
-Looks like it's never even been loaded
Here is what I would like to know:
1) Will me firing it devalue it any, being that it's not a war gun?
2) What would you guys roughly appraise the value at?
3) Would you consider this a shooter, or a collector gun?
4) Should I run lighter (115gr winchester/federal/blazer) or heavier (thinking 124gr or 147gr stuff) rounds in it IF I shoot it?
5) Is there any special care that I sohuld be aware of for it besides the usual newer guns treatment? I imagine I should always take care to wipe off the firearm with some silicon lube or something to neutralize the acids from my hand.
Here's some pictures, because obviously it would help:
Thanks guys, I know that you probably get these kinds of questions everyday. I have been digging but can only seem to find info on war era guns.