My understanding is that Lugers were very cheap after WWII and didn't go up much until the 70s, possibly later. If he was buying them for $10 apiece then it's hard to say what was available at that price.
Today, there seem to be plenty of decent shooters (mismatched parts or refinished) available, some could use a new recoil spring and a good cleaning or a bit of fiddling, but can usually be made to operate reliably with the right ammo. A good magazine (Mec-Gar) can also be helpful to solve feeding problems. This is a good place to discuss any issues you may have.
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My avatars are the Bulgarian word for "Fire", as seen on my 1900, 1906 and 1908 Bulgarian Contract DWM Lugers.
Looking for a DWM Commercial side plate #95
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