Question about the Million Dollar Chip

DaveinTN · 12-26-2006, 11:40 PM

Quick Question:

I've gotten acquainted with a guy I met at a gun show several months ago. He had several Lugers for sale (all of which I turned down so I could buy one here on the forum).

Anyway, I went to his house recently and he showed me two DWMs that were virtually in the same condition and the same year. They were also priced the same. He was kind enough to let me take down both pistols (which I enjoyed.)

The only difference I could see between the two guns was the dreaded "MILLION DOLLAR CHIP" missing from one and not the other.

Is there any general rule of thumb for the loss in value due to the missing chip? Both guns are priced under $1,400.

As always, thanks in advance for any information you can share.

Dave in TN.

PS: Have a Happy and prosperous New Year!

Edward Tinker · 12-27-2006, 12:22 AM

Dave, I know some folks will disagree, I do not like the chip, but I would not knock more than $50 off it I was the seller...

Ed

Dwight Gruber · 12-27-2006, 01:03 AM

Dave,

An opinion--offered two of the same variation in identical condition, I would certainly take the one without the chip missing.

If I am considering buying a Luger with the chip missing, if the grip is matching, I don't quibble about the flaw.

--Dwight

DaveinTN · 12-27-2006, 08:21 AM

Good advice!

If I look at the guns again, I'll have HIM take off the grips so I can check the numbers. If both sets match, then I'll consider the one that is un-chipped.

Thanks again for the quick response.

Dave in TN.

Ron Smith · 12-27-2006, 08:30 AM

Just to note. Should you ever buy one with a chipped grip? Hugh Clark is an expert at repairing the chip. It will be virtually invisible when he is done.

Ron

George Anderson · 12-27-2006, 09:01 AM

A little advice...have him remove the right grip of each. You should be able to determine how the left is marked by looking through the frame.

shadow · 12-27-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Smith
Just to note. Should you ever buy one with a chipped grip? Hugh Clark is an expert at repairing the chip. It will be virtually invisible when he is done.

Can Hugh make this fix if I dont have the missing piece?

Thanks,

Chris

Ron Smith · 12-27-2006, 09:56 AM

Hi Chris,

Yes, he is an master at replacing the wood and recheckering to original. This is one of my Astra 300s. The grip was missing the lobed part of the grip indicated from one arrow point to the other. This is the grip after he repaired it. Even with the naked eye , you cannot see where it was broken from the outside of the grip. The repair is barely visible from the inside.

Ron

Big Norm · 01-26-2007, 04:47 PM

Its nice to know that Hugh can do such a delicate resoration on the Lugers 'Million Dollar' chip. I have heard a gazillion different responses as to whether or not it can be repaired. I have tried and just gave up after much cussing. The Luger chip is a very small chip and difficult to handle. Its staying power is small. With that said, I would't refuse any otherwise good Luger, if the price was right.
Big Norm

thegundude · 01-26-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Smith
Just to note. Should you ever buy one with a chipped grip? Hugh Clark is an expert at repairing the chip. It will be virtually invisible when he is done.

Ron

I was not aware of that... This is good information to have...

Ron, that repair is great and the gun looks fantastic. Looks like I have a PM to send along to Mr. Clark...

Crotalus · 01-30-2007, 01:01 PM

Why is it referred to as a "million dollar chip" when someone snaps off the wood under the safety?

thegundude · 01-30-2007, 01:08 PM

Although it's a bit of an exaggeration, it refers to how that chip could be the difference between a perfect gun and a less than perfect gun.

Ron Wood · 01-30-2007, 02:06 PM

Folks figure that over the years the total of the reduction in price for all the Lugers that have been sold with the missing chip, and there are a lot of them, probably adds up to a million or more.

Pete Ebbink · 01-30-2007, 02:59 PM

This may be gun-show urban-legend stuff...but I have heard several times the "million dollar chip" terminology came up, initially, with Sid Abermann's .45 luger pistol...as that luger having the chip and preventing its market value to actually hit the $ 1M price mark...

I just call it the thumb-safety chip...try to use it for a price reduction when buying a luger.

wolf518 · 01-30-2007, 08:09 PM

I was of the opinion that the "chip" was in the area of the magazine release button... there isn't any wood near my "safety"! wolf

Curly1 · 01-30-2007, 08:32 PM

That is a really outstanding repair on that grip!

Pete Ebbink · 01-30-2007, 08:41 PM

Wolf,

I have borrowed a photo file off the Simpsons LTD web site to show the chipped wood just at the rounded cut-out in the wood for the lower portion of the thumb safety lever :

You see the wood on the left grip just above the magazine release button chipped out as well...but not as frequently.

I think the "million dollar chip" usually refers to the thumb safety problem area amongst most luger folks.

The Sid Abermann .45 luger pistol has its chip at the location shown in the Simpson LTD photo, posted above...

Hope this helps...

Pete Ebbink · 01-31-2007, 01:15 PM

TAC,

I do as you say when removing a left grip, but I also depress the magazine release button when doing so...

thegundude · 01-31-2007, 01:22 PM

I accomplish the task by holding my mouth just right and hoping real hard...

12-26-2006, 11:40 PM	#1
DaveinTN User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 186 Thanks: 3 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts	Question about the Million Dollar Chip Quick Question: I've gotten acquainted with a guy I met at a gun show several months ago. He had several Lugers for sale (all of which I turned down so I could buy one here on the forum). Anyway, I went to his house recently and he showed me two DWMs that were virtually in the same condition and the same year. They were also priced the same. He was kind enough to let me take down both pistols (which I enjoyed.) The only difference I could see between the two guns was the dreaded "MILLION DOLLAR CHIP" missing from one and not the other. Is there any general rule of thumb for the loss in value due to the missing chip? Both guns are priced under $1,400. As always, thanks in advance for any information you can share. Dave in TN. PS: Have a Happy and prosperous New Year!

12-27-2006, 12:22 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Dave, I know some folks will disagree, I do not like the chip, but I would not knock more than $50 off it I was the seller... Ed __________________ 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

12-27-2006, 08:30 AM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Just to note. Should you ever buy one with a chipped grip? Hugh Clark is an expert at repairing the chip. It will be virtually invisible when he is done. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

12-27-2006, 09:56 AM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Chris, Yes, he is an master at replacing the wood and recheckering to original. This is one of my Astra 300s. The grip was missing the lobed part of the grip indicated from one arrow point to the other. This is the grip after he repaired it. Even with the naked eye , you cannot see where it was broken from the outside of the grip. The repair is barely visible from the inside. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

01-30-2007, 01:08 PM	#12
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Although it's a bit of an exaggeration, it refers to how that chip could be the difference between a perfect gun and a less than perfect gun. __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

12-27-2006, 01:03 AM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Dave, An opinion--offered two of the same variation in identical condition, I would certainly take the one without the chip missing. If I am considering buying a Luger with the chip missing, if the grip is matching, I don't quibble about the flaw. --Dwight

12-27-2006, 08:21 AM	#4
DaveinTN User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 186 Thanks: 3 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts	Good advice! If I look at the guns again, I'll have HIM take off the grips so I can check the numbers. If both sets match, then I'll consider the one that is un-chipped. Thanks again for the quick response. Dave in TN.

12-27-2006, 09:01 AM	#6
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	A little advice...have him remove the right grip of each. You should be able to determine how the left is marked by looking through the frame.

01-26-2007, 04:47 PM	#9
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Its nice to know that Hugh can do such a delicate resoration on the Lugers 'Million Dollar' chip. I have heard a gazillion different responses as to whether or not it can be repaired. I have tried and just gave up after much cussing. The Luger chip is a very small chip and difficult to handle. Its staying power is small. With that said, I would't refuse any otherwise good Luger, if the price was right. Big Norm

01-30-2007, 01:01 PM	#11
Crotalus User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Why is it referred to as a "million dollar chip" when someone snaps off the wood under the safety?

01-30-2007, 02:06 PM	#13
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Folks figure that over the years the total of the reduction in price for all the Lugers that have been sold with the missing chip, and there are a lot of them, probably adds up to a million or more. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-30-2007, 02:59 PM	#14
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	This may be gun-show urban-legend stuff...but I have heard several times the "million dollar chip" terminology came up, initially, with Sid Abermann's .45 luger pistol...as that luger having the chip and preventing its market value to actually hit the $ 1M price mark... I just call it the thumb-safety chip...try to use it for a price reduction when buying a luger.

01-30-2007, 08:09 PM	#15
wolf518 New User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern Adirondack Mtns, 50 mi NW of Albany NY Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger Grip Chip I was of the opinion that the "chip" was in the area of the magazine release button... there isn't any wood near my "safety"! wolf

01-30-2007, 08:32 PM	#16
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,247 Thanks: 125 Thanked 717 Times in 374 Posts	That is a really outstanding repair on that grip! __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

01-30-2007, 08:41 PM	#17
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Wolf, I have borrowed a photo file off the Simpsons LTD web site to show the chipped wood just at the rounded cut-out in the wood for the lower portion of the thumb safety lever : You see the wood on the left grip just above the magazine release button chipped out as well...but not as frequently. I think the "million dollar chip" usually refers to the thumb safety problem area amongst most luger folks. The Sid Abermann .45 luger pistol has its chip at the location shown in the Simpson LTD photo, posted above... Hope this helps...

01-31-2007, 01:15 PM	#18
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	TAC, I do as you say when removing a left grip, but I also depress the magazine release button when doing so...

01-31-2007, 01:22 PM	#19
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	I accomplish the task by holding my mouth just right and hoping real hard... __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve