1906-1908 Navy Luger.

autoloader · 03-15-2007, 10:43 PM

Hello, I am new to this site, as a matter of fact just joined a couple of hours ago. I spent a good hour or more reading every posts in this forum.

I collect guns old & new and just recently purchased an original German M. 1908 Navy Luger by DWM from a 83 year old neighbor who inherited from a 96 year old relative who recently died. Well he offered it to me at price I knew was under it's true value so I dug deep and purchased it.

Let me say I did some research on it before I bought it and I don't know much other than what I have found in gun collector books but I believe this to be an original 1908 Navy luger. It has 6" barrel, 9mm caliber. It has a stock lug, no grip safety & has the two-position sliding sight mounted on the rear toggle link. the chamber is blank and the safety & extractor are both marked. has the "Germany" export stamp on bottom of barrel. Has the "Crown M" military proof. Serial numer 5461 "b" suffix. All numbers match except for the clip which is an export stamped "Germany". I am not good on grading but I was told it probably was somewhere between good and very good. It also came with a holster but not original. The neighbor gave me original bullets and said go shoot it but I have'nt. It could be a 1906 like I said I'm no expert.

There is one thing on this gun I have never seen on another luger and that is it has a second safety on the left side in the top of the wooden grip there is a brass pin that when you push it up or down it activates the thumb safety, like the safety on my 1911. I don't know if this was something perhaps done at an armory for a prototype or some officer had it done at an armory or gunsmith but I can say I have taken the grips off an it was done a long time ago because the wood color is same all the way through. Maybe one of you experts could help for I tried sending pictures but said file was to big.

I am not sure if this is a gun I want to keep for my collection so I might consider selling it, I'll see. What is this guns true value ?

If anyone can help thanks !

Navy · 03-16-2007, 07:35 AM

Autoloader,

Welcome to the forum.

Your gun appears to be one someone has "improved" by removal of the stock attaching rails and the addition of the doo-hickie on the safety. Unfortunately, these modifications virtually negate any collector interest in your gun. I would be curious to see pictures of the safety alteration, though.

Tom A

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 09:32 AM

Hi Tom, Thanks for the response. No part of gun has been replaced but as you say has been improved or modified. The only thing that has been done is a slot cut in the top of the grip and a small hole was drilled into safety slide bar and a brass pin has been pressed into it . I am sure it does then take away from the collectibility but if you were to remove pin and replace the one grip it would then only have one part on gun not matching & clip. Also the small hole but covered by new grip. I am a tool & die maker and I know I could remove it without damaging anything. If I were to sell it I would be sure to tell buyer If I were to do it.

I am at work now and will try to soon post some pictures.

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 02:53 PM

Here are some pictures if they will upload.

Tried to upload four pictures last one was only one that went though. It is of the back side of safety slide where brass pin is pressed in. will now send more.

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 03:03 PM

Here is another of the gun's left side.

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 03:09 PM

Close up without grip, but notice the color of wood though out grip. This was done long ago.

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 03:16 PM

Markings under barrel.

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 03:21 PM

Last picture unless someone wants more.

Thanks,Mark

vtwoodchuck · 03-16-2007, 04:00 PM

Hi Autoloader, Please e-mail me at: vtwoodchuck@hotmail.com
Thanks. Doug

Navy · 03-16-2007, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the pix; a very unusual fix to an unknown problem.

Tom A

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 08:36 PM

So Tom, With the pix's and my information could you roughly give me a value of this gun ?

Thanks, Mark

MFC · 03-16-2007, 09:38 PM

Hi Autoloader,
You have your right and left mixed up, unless the gun is pointing at you.

The only thing I can think of for this modification is it's easier to accuate the safety with your thumb. You don't have to reach so far back. This is very simular to the (Baby Luger). But of course it didn't have the thumb safety lever.
Also it looks like it has a stock lug to me.
Mike C.

autoloader · 03-16-2007, 10:09 PM

Hi MFC, you are correct I did get my right & left mixed up. My mistake. Yes it does have a stock lug.
The only alteration is that brass safety other than that this straight up original. I will go back & edit my listings to correct side.

Thanks,
Mark

autoloader · 03-18-2007, 10:26 PM

Just wanted to say I finally got out to shoot this gun and I only had eight bullets. Well shoots great from 15 yards. First three were getting use to it having never shot it last five got in my groove. So now that I know it is a functioning gun could ANYONE tell me a value.

Thanks, Mark

Navy · 03-19-2007, 07:23 AM

Autoloader,

The problem you have with the gun is that the modification has essentially destroyed any collector value except as a true curio. I would guess that someone might pay $1500 or so for it as the basis for a restoration project. The pity is that, if it were unmolested, in the condition depicted, it would bring $3500-4000. Restored, it might bring $2000 or so.

Tom A

autoloader · 03-19-2007, 08:29 AM

Thanks Tom and have a great day.

Mark

03-15-2007, 10:43 PM	#1
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1906-1908 Navy Luger. Hello, I am new to this site, as a matter of fact just joined a couple of hours ago. I spent a good hour or more reading every posts in this forum. I collect guns old & new and just recently purchased an original German M. 1908 Navy Luger by DWM from a 83 year old neighbor who inherited from a 96 year old relative who recently died. Well he offered it to me at price I knew was under it's true value so I dug deep and purchased it. Let me say I did some research on it before I bought it and I don't know much other than what I have found in gun collector books but I believe this to be an original 1908 Navy luger. It has 6" barrel, 9mm caliber. It has a stock lug, no grip safety & has the two-position sliding sight mounted on the rear toggle link. the chamber is blank and the safety & extractor are both marked. has the "Germany" export stamp on bottom of barrel. Has the "Crown M" military proof. Serial numer 5461 "b" suffix. All numbers match except for the clip which is an export stamped "Germany". I am not good on grading but I was told it probably was somewhere between good and very good. It also came with a holster but not original. The neighbor gave me original bullets and said go shoot it but I have'nt. It could be a 1906 like I said I'm no expert. There is one thing on this gun I have never seen on another luger and that is it has a second safety on the left side in the top of the wooden grip there is a brass pin that when you push it up or down it activates the thumb safety, like the safety on my 1911. I don't know if this was something perhaps done at an armory for a prototype or some officer had it done at an armory or gunsmith but I can say I have taken the grips off an it was done a long time ago because the wood color is same all the way through. Maybe one of you experts could help for I tried sending pictures but said file was to big. I am not sure if this is a gun I want to keep for my collection so I might consider selling it, I'll see. What is this guns true value ? If anyone can help thanks !

03-16-2007, 02:53 PM	#4
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here are some pictures if they will upload. Tried to upload four pictures last one was only one that went though. It is of the back side of safety slide where brass pin is pressed in. will now send more. Attached Thumbnails

03-16-2007, 03:03 PM	#5
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here is another of the gun's left side. Attached Thumbnails

03-16-2007, 03:09 PM	#6
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Close up without grip, but notice the color of wood though out grip. This was done long ago. Attached Thumbnails

03-16-2007, 03:16 PM	#7
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Markings under barrel. Attached Thumbnails

03-16-2007, 07:35 AM	#2
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Autoloader, Welcome to the forum. Your gun appears to be one someone has "improved" by removal of the stock attaching rails and the addition of the doo-hickie on the safety. Unfortunately, these modifications virtually negate any collector interest in your gun. I would be curious to see pictures of the safety alteration, though. Tom A

03-16-2007, 09:32 AM	#3
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Tom, Thanks for the response. No part of gun has been replaced but as you say has been improved or modified. The only thing that has been done is a slot cut in the top of the grip and a small hole was drilled into safety slide bar and a brass pin has been pressed into it . I am sure it does then take away from the collectibility but if you were to remove pin and replace the one grip it would then only have one part on gun not matching & clip. Also the small hole but covered by new grip. I am a tool & die maker and I know I could remove it without damaging anything. If I were to sell it I would be sure to tell buyer If I were to do it. I am at work now and will try to soon post some pictures.

03-16-2007, 03:21 PM	#8
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Last picture unless someone wants more. Thanks,Mark Attached Thumbnails

03-16-2007, 04:00 PM	#9
vtwoodchuck User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Morrisville, Vermont Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Hi Autoloader, Please e-mail me at: vtwoodchuck@hotmail.com Thanks. Doug __________________ Doug

03-16-2007, 08:23 PM	#10
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Thanks for the pix; a very unusual fix to an unknown problem. Tom A

03-16-2007, 08:36 PM	#11
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So Tom, With the pix's and my information could you roughly give me a value of this gun ? Thanks, Mark

03-16-2007, 09:38 PM	#12
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Autoloader, You have your right and left mixed up, unless the gun is pointing at you. The only thing I can think of for this modification is it's easier to accuate the safety with your thumb. You don't have to reach so far back. This is very simular to the (Baby Luger). But of course it didn't have the thumb safety lever. Also it looks like it has a stock lug to me. Mike C. __________________ Mike C.

03-16-2007, 10:09 PM	#13
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi MFC, you are correct I did get my right & left mixed up. My mistake. Yes it does have a stock lug. The only alteration is that brass safety other than that this straight up original. I will go back & edit my listings to correct side. Thanks, Mark

03-18-2007, 10:26 PM	#14
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just wanted to say I finally got out to shoot this gun and I only had eight bullets. Well shoots great from 15 yards. First three were getting use to it having never shot it last five got in my groove. So now that I know it is a functioning gun could ANYONE tell me a value. Thanks, Mark Attached Thumbnails

03-19-2007, 07:23 AM	#15
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Autoloader, The problem you have with the gun is that the modification has essentially destroyed any collector value except as a true curio. I would guess that someone might pay $1500 or so for it as the basis for a restoration project. The pity is that, if it were unmolested, in the condition depicted, it would bring $3500-4000. Restored, it might bring $2000 or so. Tom A

03-19-2007, 08:29 AM	#16
autoloader User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Tom and have a great day. Mark