Just got back from the Reno show, late last night.
First time I went home with all of my money still in my pockets. Even made a bit more on the sale of a magazine, a small German holster, and $ 46 netted at the video poker machines. Covered my costs for travel and hotel.
Did not see any Swiss lugers to tempt me and good conditioned holsters were not present and the few that were were priced pretty high.
Luger dealers and sellers (never know who to call a dealer and who to call a seller...) present included Wally Morishige, Bob Young, Ralph Shattuck, Bill Christensen, Doug Coffey, Bob Hogan, Mike Krause, and CCC Firearms...there were a few 1-2 lugers on misc. tables as well.
The nicest luger buy I was able to see was a very honest 1902 Commerical Fat Barrel (very strong 97%) with a light brown early commercial holster that looked like a short Navy holster. It had those unique DWM snaps that we all thought we exclusively "Dutch" snaps, previously. This rig was purchased by a fellow Californian collector for only $ 7800.
There were three (3) nice HK lugers for sale : an early S-code with 3 digits (# 454) with wooden grips, a nice '36 date, and an under-the-table 1937 date that was being shown around but not for sale. Sorry...John D...I neglected to get the two other serial numbers...
The show had a good public attendance on Friday. But 10% of the tables were vacant...some with seller names on the tables that never showed up and others that never sold.
There was a late arrival of a fellow selling a bunch of 1906 Portuguese lugers (5-6) and holsters. All the M2 and GNR lugers were in the 50-60% range...some with lots of pitting. No extra Portuguese magazines for sale.
The same seller had 2-3 GNR holsters for sale...all in fair to poor condition and none were "GNR" stamped on the back...the weight of the leather was thick and heavy...did not seem like real Portuguese holsters, IMHO...or maybe arsenal replacements...?
Always good to met and hang-out with fellow LF members such as Russ, Doc, and Lloyd.
A Luger Forum group-dinner did not happen, this time...I left to tend to some work obligations and others decided to have smaller, individual dinner events.
Regards,
Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />