Luger-ly Challenged....need an approximate value

[Piggy]

Well, this seems like as good as any place to start. I know very little about this gun. It was given to me by my Uncle about 10 years ago as he didn't want it. I'm trying to figure out anything about it that I can. I know it's old, it's German and there's still ammo with it that I won't be shooting anytime soon.

I'd like to find out a little bit more about it and an approximate value. I'm considering selling it off.

Thanks.

[LugerVern]

Piggy

I think I see Eagle/6's on barrel and frame, if so it is a Simson rework of a 1918 DWM.
You also have mixed parts noted by the different two digit numbers.

Can you tell us if the numbers on the magazines match the number on the frame below the barrel?

I will let the other members talk to you about total value, I don't know anything about holsters, but some of our members specialize in them.

Vern

[Piggy]

Yes, the mags have a wooden base but on the bottom they are marked with 6942.

[Piggy]

I should have taken different pictures. I'm not sure if they are mixed parts of not because with the slide pulled back, you can't see the full number on the frame which was 6942, but the rest of the gun parts just have the last two digits of 42.

Also, I found some other markings on it that I took pictures of below, no idea what they mean. Thanks for taking a look!

[Piggy]

I can't post the other photos to the initial post but here is a link to the photos:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...cs/Photo11.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...cs/Photo12.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...cs/Photo13.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...ics/Photo1.jpg

[MFC]

Piggy,
Everthing is matching, the S# is 6942 plus a lower case cursive letter under the S# on the front of the frame. S# 6942d or (a) which is hard to see in your photo.The 42 is covered by the side plate with the toggle locked back. One of the mags should be marked with a +, which is for the extra mag.
Very nice rig
Mike C.

[LugerVern]

Piggy

Things are looking much better for your gun, all matching --thats a very good thing!!! If your magazines prove to be proper it will add several dollars to the value.

Can we see clear pictures of the magazine bottoms to be sure?


Sorry about the confusion on the Eagle /6's couldn't see very well.


Vern

[Piggy]

No problem about the confusion Vern, I just appreciate the time you're taking to look at this stuff. Very kind of all of you.

Here's the bottom of the magazine. It looks like it has a few additional markings on it below the serial number.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/Magazine.jpg

Also, I just noticed on the holster there appears to be a signature of some kind. I can't get my digital camera to take close up pictures very well and so far I haven't got one to make out the signature.

There is another spot on the holster below the straps that would hold it onto your belt. The spot is a square with the intials LZ.St.Stgt

It also still has the little tool inside the holster which I guess would be used for field stripping or some other purpose?

[Edward Tinker]

Eric, appears to be a very nice 1918 DWM; if all original (interior parts should match also, to include firing pin and grips), value, retail wise would be around $1300-$1400. Holster looks very nice, but can't see if rear has been messed with, value $125-$350, tool another $40-$85 (depending on if marked or not), while an exatra magazine like this is worth $50-$90

Everything depends on originality, it appears okay, but lets talk if reblued or mismatched parts; then it is worth about $800 for all; if all original and in correct shape, probably $1500. If you brought it to a show I was set up at, I'd probably offer about $800 cash, maybe $900. A gun shop would likely offer half that.

Ed

[LugerVern]

Eric

Take a look at this web site, Simpson LTD, they have several 1918's for sale, look under DWM guns.

http://www.simpsonltd.com/

Prices you see will be high retail and toward the max a retail shop would charge you if you bought the gun from them. A basic rule of thumb is to take 60% to 70% of that value as what you could expect to get for your gun. This is just basic business 101. Everyone wants to make at least 30% profit, anything less than that and they soon go out of business.

For example they currently have a 1918 much like yours listed for $2250, using my formula that places your expected value between $1359 and $1575.

Pretty much what Ed just told you just arrived at using math and a reference.

If you think this still sounds low, monitor some of the auction sites such as Gunbroker.com, you will see about the same thing going on.

They made a lot of 1918 Lugers, so even though your gun is collectible it isn't rare.

Vern

By the way, welcome to the forumâ??why not just keep the gun, itâ??s a pretty nice one to start a collection with

[Edward Tinker]

Originally posted by LugerVern
Eric

Vern

By the way, welcome to the forumâ??why not just keep the gun, itâ??s a pretty nice one to start a collection with

nah, let Ed buy it for a cheaper price and make a profit later in the fall


Eric, you can offer it on here on the forum, or try gunbroker.com (they will charge you a fee, but its not that much $30-$45.


ed

[John Sabato]

IF it were mine (It Isn't), and IF I had to sell it (I Wouldn't), I would not take less that $1500 for the entire rig... and I would price it at $2000 and leave room for haggling with a prospective buyer...

IF you don't NEED to sell this rig, then DON'T... consider what you have in it to be an investment. It's value will only increase with time.

Welcome to the Lugerforum.

[Aaron]

Gentlemen, in my opinion you are seriously underestimating the value of this nice rig. With two matching magazines. I would estimate the full retail value at $4000 and if I had a chance to buy it at the prices you are quoting, I would grab it immediately. The market is now very hot for high quality Lugers with matching mags. My estimate would be as follows: With one non-matching mag, $1300, with one matching mag, $2200, with two matching mags, $4000.

[Ron Wood]

I have a really hard time thinking that two matching magazines can more than triple the value of a Luger. I guess like everything else, rarity and availability drives how much collectors with the necessary disposable income will be willing to pay...but MAN!!!...that is one heck of a jump.

[Zamo]

Piggy, check your private mail...

[abukafura]

I think Aaron's estimate is pretty much on target, altho the $4000 is on the high side. Collectible Imperial Lugers are bringing very nice prices, those with 2 matched mags being much sought after. There are some listed on websites right now that have prices over $6000. While they are not moving quickly at that price, my guess is that they will sell for near that price due to their condition and the increasing difficulty of finding them. Gunbroker and GunsAmerica right now have very nice Imperial Lugers for sale without even one matched mag and the going prices are close to $3k. If I had the money right now I would chase them quickly. Again, I agree with Aaron that the prices cited on this thread are low. Nice gun and holster, BTW.

[Ron Wood]

Something has been bugging me ever since Vern said he thought he saw Eagle/6 markings. I keep looking at that barrel proof and it sure looks like an Erfurt proof on a DWM gun...now that is odd. That isn't out of the ordinary for a LP08 but I do not recall seeing it on a 4" DWM barrel before.