mac

Now that I have finished two days of teaching classes, I

have a chance to read responses and add my own. I have gotten lazy with time and failed to provide sufficient information. This one is one of the two or three nicest 1916 DWM's I have seen (but I have seen perhaps 10 or 15 in my life and most were well worn or pitted) and so I would grade it as 98% with slightly pitted bore and some high point wear on the beautiful walnut stocks. All numbers indicate this gun is as-manufactured including the stocks. There is a magazine but it is a cobbled together mess that I value about $5 (if it works). The 83 year old seller indicates his daughter is frightened of it (what a surprise) and his son told him he would pawn it for $50 if given to him. The son told him this so he wouldn't give the gun to him as he is disgusted by it. The seller lives alone and wants to sell the gun probably because he is advancing in years. He knows collector guns fairly well but showed up at a gun show trying to sell it. There was a cloud of luger buzzards surrounding the seller in no time. A luger dealer offered $650 and the seller refused this, declining to make a counter offer.


The seller was directed to me and eventually he revealed he wanted $1200 for it. When I indicated I could not make any offer at this time he asked my opinion on its value. I told him I would try to get $900 but if it were mine I would take $850. I made it clear I was not making an offer. In retrospect, I would not offer more than $750 myself given the lack of magazine and the type of luger.


From the posts, it seems many others would have valued it similarly.


Thanks for the comments.

Dave