[Kyrie]

Hi Art!


I think all those with an interest in the Luger are welcome here, regardless of whether they are collectors, shooters - or donâ??t even own a Luger


That said, I think we need to differentiate between something that is â??collectableâ? and something that has â??collector value.â? There are folks who collect bits of string and pieces of used tin foil, and hence bits of string and tin foil are collectable.


So this really isnâ??t a question of what is or is not a collectable Luger (all Lugers are collectable, IMO). Itâ??s more a question of which Lugers have collector value. And it is the market that determines whether a Luger (or anything else) has collector value.


Lugers that are mismatched, refinished, or otherwise altered are still common and only the novice will offer more for one that their utility value as shooters. Lugers that are original in parts and finish are no longer common, and have value above and beyond their utility value. Some variations of Lugers were made in very small numbers, and have some collector value even if mismatched, or altered. These are just the realities of the market in Lugers, and all other things as well, and they have nothing at all to do with the â??collectabilityâ? of a Luger.


And none of this (in my opinion, anyway) has anything to do with this forum. Iâ??m of the opinion this forum is for all those who have an interest in the Parabellum Pistole; regardless of whether that interest is in their value, their history, their mechanics, or just an interest in how much fun they are to shoot


While there are those here who have a greater interest in collecting those Lugers too valuable to risk shooting, there are also those here who wonâ??t buy a Luger they canâ??t shoot. All are welcome, and we have threads on both sides of that particular street. I confess Iâ??m a middle-of-the-road kind of fellow myself. I have Lugers Iâ??ll never fire because they are too valuable - and Lugers I bought solely to shoot. Heck - look at the photos of pistols from my collection under the â??Ownersâ?? Cornerâ?. Two of the pistols pictured there arenâ??t even real Lugers. The ERMA KGP68A and ERMA Model LA 22 (which truthfully is one short step up from junk) only look and feel like Lugers. That was enough for me buy them, photograph them, write up descriptions, and post pictures!


So Iâ??d say donâ??t hesitate to discuss your collection here, regardless of whether it has considerable collector value, or is purely composed of shooters. Itâ??s your collection either way and Iâ??m interested. What do you have? How did you come by the individual piece? Any interesting stories?


Best regards,


Kyrie