Gunboards, the Jan Still Luger Forum, and this (Luger Forum) all have buy & Sell forums. Most forums require that you have a minimum number of posts before you can start using them, although most forums do allow you to look at what's for sale so you can kinda get a better idea of what to look for.
I would say that you should sign up to both of the first two forums above and start you education. Most forum members are happy to share knowledge and they all have FAQ sections that are very educational.
Finally, there is always (shudder) GunBroker. I have bought I think about 5 shooter grade P.08's from there that came out under $1,200 delivered. If you win an auction for a $1,000 pistol then expect to pay about an additional $150 in fees (shipping, sales tax, and FFL fees).
Also, I looked at the "completed auction" section of GunBroker and found several Lugers that actually sold for a winning bid price in the $1,100-$1,200 price range.
You should not have to spend more than about $1,200 to get a decent shooter. $3,000 for a shooter grade P.08 is nuts. Actually, the best deals are often on Weimar Republic P.08's made from 1920 to about 1929. These have no wartime collectibility like wartime pistols and therefore are often cheaper and in better condition than the wartime guns. Made in both .30 Luger and 9mm calibers. 9mm ammo is about 1/3 the price of .30 Luger, but if you don't shoot them much then its not so much of a big deal as to which caliber you get.
Opinions vary as to WW1 vs. WW2 P.08 desirability. I think a general consensus is that WW1 Lugers might be a bit better made, but WW2 Lugers do have better/improved steel. I have both types and in my opinion the one that has the best condition at the lowest price is the one to buy.
Theft protection is usually pretty simple. For the cost of one shooter grade Luger you can buy a simple gun safe and as long as it is bolted to the wall and/or floor it will provide theft protection from all but the most determined burglars.
If you only have one gun to protect then the price seems high and you might prefer cleverly hiding a single pistol. If you have 10 or more pistols and/or rifles it looks cheap. Hope all this helps.
-Bob
|