Last month I went to a gunshow and a guy had a tag on a Luger for only $2000. I looked at the gun and realized that if was a rare 1906 commericial in good shape. The only thing was that the gun had its rear sight replaced with a military fixed rear sight. I asked the guy why the gun was missing the rear sight? He responded in a very huffy manner: "Well I was able to get $500 for that sight on Ebay". Duh! I responded "You mean that you cheapened that gun by $1500 plus because you could sell the sight for $500? Is that some sort of new math or something?". The guy did not respond and moved to another part of his large table.
This is the sort of thinking that occurs with dealers who only think of the Luger as something to make a quick buck off of. I don't see where there is any craftsmanship in copying someone elses work for the sake of having a cheap knock off that can be sold for big bucks. These guns are not just something to look at. They are examples of true craftmanship in an age where computers where not grinding out thousands of ill fitting pistol pieces. They are historical artifacts as well as investments and not just something to view.
I looked that the navy sight that was for sale. Because it was in such good shape, I wondered if it came off of some stolen gun. I don't know, but I have thought that on a number of simular sights that I have seen. Too often I think that these parts are in too good a condition to come off of a junker gun. Then again, if we go back to my first paragraph, this may be the new American way of thinking.
Big Norm
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