Value of Chromed Luger?

Captain Emo · 04-26-2005, 02:52 PM

Guys,

I got a call from my friend who was at the local gunshow with me. Because of the weather, I did not attend on Sunday. To make a long story short, he bought from a vet a beautiful, all matching 1936 Luger. Only problem is, the damn thing was chrome plated by the owner upon return to the states. I wouldn't mind buying it just as a shooter. What is a fair price to offer him for this pistol?

BTW, the show was a small one at a local American Legion. You would have been shocked to see the stuff that walked in there. Luftwaffe helmets, Kreigsmarine flags, Lugers, bayonets, etc. I picked up a nice non-import DUV k98 for about the price of an RC.

Emo

unspellable · 04-26-2005, 06:16 PM

Assuming it is in very good condition:

1. If he took it off a German other rank it's worth $400

2: If he took it off an officer it's worth $395

3: If he took it off Goering it's worth $390

4: If it's a cigarette lighter it's worth $50

Pay attention to the plating. Nickle is far more common than chrome. I'd put the same value on it either way.

BTW: My mother used to work for a guy who really did capture a German officer of high rank. But he wasn't packing a Luger.

George Anderson · 04-26-2005, 06:50 PM

just bought and sold one...$250 both ways.

Captain Emo · 04-27-2005, 08:18 AM

If I offer him $350 is this fair for both of us?

unspellable · 04-27-2005, 08:31 AM

These things vary a little in price regionally. They don't move around the country and enjoy a level price as the more desirable collector's pieces might.

I paid $350 for my nickle plated abomination. That's about two years ago and these things always go up. Every time you buy something somebody will pop up with one he bought cheaper. Sometimes you just fall into a real deal. I once bought a Luger for a fraction of what it was worth.

I'd say if it's in good shape and you can get it for $350 go for it. You'll have a good shooter and you won't have to worry about a little rain.

Captain Emo · 04-28-2005, 07:02 PM

He would not take less than $450. I passed. It was as he described - all matching 1936 S/42. Lightly buffed before chroming. All markings were present. Grips were wonderful.

Edward Tinker · 04-28-2005, 07:29 PM

Then worth how much to you? I think the $350-$400 is fair, but less is always good...

Captain Emo · 04-29-2005, 12:19 AM

At $350 to $400 I would have bought it. I would use it as a shooter. Perhaps I would consider having the plating removed at some point. At $450 it was too much. Someone else will jump on it and they will be happy.

pipeman45 · 05-02-2005, 12:50 AM

Value is in the eye of the buyer. With good shooter grades going for $500 or more in some places, 450 doesn't seem out of line to me.

thegundude · 05-03-2005, 09:23 PM

"Value is in the eye of the buyer."

I thought it was "Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder."...... Hmmmmm :-)

Every where I've looked in the past three months of looking hard, the least expensive Luger I've seen has been a mismatched rusted out hulk for $400.

Edward Tinker · 05-03-2005, 09:34 PM

Steve, true, you do see some here and there if looking, but the cheapest I have seen recently was in Reno at $450, the vast majority of cheap ones were $550 and then up...

thegundude · 05-04-2005, 08:28 PM

Yeah, Ed. But then there's the guy like "TriggerHappy" who picks one up for $140..... Go figure..... He's throwing off the curve. :-P

I never fall into those deals..... :-/

pipeman45 · 05-04-2005, 09:57 PM

I would try to get him to drop the price down to 400-425. And if he wouldn't budge, I would probably buy it anyway and shoot the h*ll out of it.

Captain Emo · 05-04-2005, 10:01 PM

I passed on it. It was sold in an hour. I just couldn't pull the trigger on a "pimp" luger.

04-26-2005, 02:52 PM	#1
Captain Emo User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mid-West Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Value of Chromed Luger? Guys, I got a call from my friend who was at the local gunshow with me. Because of the weather, I did not attend on Sunday. To make a long story short, he bought from a vet a beautiful, all matching 1936 Luger. Only problem is, the damn thing was chrome plated by the owner upon return to the states. I wouldn't mind buying it just as a shooter. What is a fair price to offer him for this pistol? BTW, the show was a small one at a local American Legion. You would have been shocked to see the stuff that walked in there. Luftwaffe helmets, Kreigsmarine flags, Lugers, bayonets, etc. I picked up a nice non-import DUV k98 for about the price of an RC. Emo

04-27-2005, 08:31 AM	#5
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	plated These things vary a little in price regionally. They don't move around the country and enjoy a level price as the more desirable collector's pieces might. I paid $350 for my nickle plated abomination. That's about two years ago and these things always go up. Every time you buy something somebody will pop up with one he bought cheaper. Sometimes you just fall into a real deal. I once bought a Luger for a fraction of what it was worth. I'd say if it's in good shape and you can get it for $350 go for it. You'll have a good shooter and you won't have to worry about a little rain.

05-02-2005, 12:50 AM	#9
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Value is in the eye of the buyer. With good shooter grades going for $500 or more in some places, 450 doesn't seem out of line to me. __________________ Dave

05-03-2005, 09:23 PM	#10
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	"Value is in the eye of the buyer." I thought it was "Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder."...... Hmmmmm :-) Every where I've looked in the past three months of looking hard, the least expensive Luger I've seen has been a mismatched rusted out hulk for $400. __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

05-03-2005, 09:34 PM	#11
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Steve, true, you do see some here and there if looking, but the cheapest I have seen recently was in Reno at $450, the vast majority of cheap ones were $550 and then up... __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-26-2005, 06:16 PM	#2
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	Assuming it is in very good condition: 1. If he took it off a German other rank it's worth $400 2: If he took it off an officer it's worth $395 3: If he took it off Goering it's worth $390 4: If it's a cigarette lighter it's worth $50 Pay attention to the plating. Nickle is far more common than chrome. I'd put the same value on it either way. BTW: My mother used to work for a guy who really did capture a German officer of high rank. But he wasn't packing a Luger.

04-26-2005, 06:50 PM	#3
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	just bought and sold one...$250 both ways.

04-27-2005, 08:18 AM	#4
Captain Emo User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mid-West Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If I offer him $350 is this fair for both of us?

04-28-2005, 07:02 PM	#6
Captain Emo User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mid-West Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	He would not take less than $450. I passed. It was as he described - all matching 1936 S/42. Lightly buffed before chroming. All markings were present. Grips were wonderful.

04-28-2005, 07:29 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Then worth how much to you? I think the $350-$400 is fair, but less is always good...

04-29-2005, 12:19 AM	#8
Captain Emo User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mid-West Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	At $350 to $400 I would have bought it. I would use it as a shooter. Perhaps I would consider having the plating removed at some point. At $450 it was too much. Someone else will jump on it and they will be happy.

05-04-2005, 08:28 PM	#12
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Yeah, Ed. But then there's the guy like "TriggerHappy" who picks one up for $140..... Go figure..... He's throwing off the curve. :-P I never fall into those deals..... :-/ __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

05-04-2005, 09:57 PM	#13
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I would try to get him to drop the price down to 400-425. And if he wouldn't budge, I would probably buy it anyway and shoot the h*ll out of it. __________________ Dave

05-04-2005, 10:01 PM	#14
Captain Emo User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mid-West Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I passed on it. It was sold in an hour. I just couldn't pull the trigger on a "pimp" luger.