Would you buy this 1917 Luger?

Geo99 · 05-09-2016, 12:22 PM

RIA has offered me this 1917 Luger SN 3311 because the winning bidder backed out. I think the sideplate and muzzle may have been reblued because there is no wear in those areas. Yet the inside shows plenty of wear. What do you think? Would you buy this gun for $1400?

- Geo

Geo99 · 05-09-2016, 12:30 PM

Some more pictures. I tweaked the brightness and contrast on pictures 20a and 21a (the barrel) to try and see any imperfections in the finish. The sideplate looks very different in 21a than the rest of the gun. Another thing I noticed is the lack of wear INSIDE the sideplate.

- Geo

Sergio Natali · 05-09-2016, 12:30 PM

Geo

1,400.00 $ is not much, but it would be for a reblued Luger.
What is the barrel like? And the grips? From the pictures I wouldn't be so sure that it has been reblued, I see crisp markings, the sideplate is not shiny, nice Luger I would say.

Kind regards.

Norme · 05-09-2016, 12:49 PM

Hi Geo, I like the gun and I think it's cheap at $1,400.00, particularly since it has a matching number magazine. None of the signs that indicate a re-blue are present, including the L shaped lever inside the side-plate, which is properly "in the white". Imperial era side-plates frequently differ slightly in color from the rest of the gun, I believe it's due to the heat treatment that this part received.
Regards, Norm

4 Scale · 05-09-2016, 12:54 PM

I agree that the lack of wear on the muzzle and side plate suggests at least some touch-up, although I think i see halos on the barrel serial. Assuming the bore is good, IMO $1,400 is within the range of reasonable.

alanint · 05-09-2016, 01:10 PM

What worries me is that there seem to be halos on EVERYTHING.

Observe the tiny numbers on the extractor, as well as the number on the back of the rear toggle. You just don't normally see halos on these numbers, unless someone has put them there.

Eugen · 05-09-2016, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanint

What worries me is that there seem to be halos on EVERYTHING.

Observe the tiny numbers on the extractor, as well as the number on the back of the rear toggle. You just don't normally see halos on these numbers, unless someone has put them there.

Yep, I see halos! Note to self: be suspicious of halos.

Well, I learned something today.

Norme · 05-09-2016, 01:28 PM

Here you go guys, here are pictures of one of my guns, a 1916 DWM, and trust me, this gun is NOT refinished. Notice the color of the side-pate and the slight halos on the frame serial number, the extractor and the sear.
Regards, Norm

kurusu · 05-09-2016, 01:30 PM

I would buy it.

rhuff · 05-09-2016, 03:16 PM

I am certainly no Luger expert, but it looks good/correct to me. That price would not scare me for that Luger.

MikeP · 05-09-2016, 07:29 PM

Looks like an OK piece.
Mag is a big plus.
I'd go for it.

DonVoigt · 05-09-2016, 07:55 PM

George,
lot number may be 3341, serial number 482.
Was $1400 your bid?
I'd offer $1200.

May be fine, but use the "iffy" to get a better deal, JMHO.

Geo99 · 05-10-2016, 01:08 AM

Sergio - bore is lightly pitted, gray with good lands & grooves. Grip panels are unmarked on the back. There is a small grip chip repair.

Alan - I do see the many halos, but as Norm's pictures show, there are many original finish guns with halo on the extractor and in places other than the barrel. But now that you mention it, I've never seen a halo on the back of the rear toggle! I guess I'll only find out if it is truly original if I get my hands on it. With something like this I'm tempted to buy it just to see.

Norm - thanks for sharing the pics, they help me to decide. Do you think the matching mag is real?
I hadn't really considered it in the price.

- Geo

Geo99 · 05-10-2016, 01:11 AM

Everyone -
Thanks for the quick & honest replies! You have all convinced me to take a chance on it. I like Don's idea the best - I think I will make an offer!

- Geo

LU1900 · 05-10-2016, 07:13 AM

Don't like the bottom mag , big fake for me !
"4" and "2" not good , stamping too large , etc

Geo99 · 01-06-2017, 09:40 PM

Update - I was able to get it for $1200. Can't go wrong at that price!
And now that it is in hand, I'm convinced it is original bluing, but the straw has been redone - too dark and perfect , IMO.

- Geo

Sergio Natali · 01-07-2017, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo99

Update - I was able to get it for $1200. Can't go wrong at that price!
And now that it is in hand, I'm convinced it is original bluing, but the straw has been redone - too dark and perfect , IMO.

- Geo

Congratulations.
For that price I think you've done it well.

Ron Wood · 01-07-2017, 09:11 AM

Well done Geo...an excellent buy.
Ron

DonVoigt · 01-07-2017, 11:10 AM

Yes,
that is what it was/is worth!

John Sabato · 01-09-2017, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LU1900

Don't like the bottom mag , big fake for me !
"4" and "2" not good , stamping too large , etc

I think the gun is great... but I have to agree with Patrice that it looks IMHO that the mag has been renumbered.

05-09-2016, 12:22 PM	#1
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 400 Thanks: 102 Thanked 127 Times in 75 Posts	Would you buy this 1917 Luger? RIA has offered me this 1917 Luger SN 3311 because the winning bidder backed out. I think the sideplate and muzzle may have been reblued because there is no wear in those areas. Yet the inside shows plenty of wear. What do you think? Would you buy this gun for $1400? - Geo Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

05-09-2016, 12:30 PM	#2
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 400 Thanks: 102 Thanked 127 Times in 75 Posts	1917 - more pictures Some more pictures. I tweaked the brightness and contrast on pictures 20a and 21a (the barrel) to try and see any imperfections in the finish. The sideplate looks very different in 21a than the rest of the gun. Another thing I noticed is the lack of wear INSIDE the sideplate. - Geo Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

05-09-2016, 12:30 PM	#3
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Geo 1,400.00 $ is not much, but it would be for a reblued Luger. What is the barrel like? And the grips? From the pictures I wouldn't be so sure that it has been reblued, I see crisp markings, the sideplate is not shiny, nice Luger I would say. Kind regards. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

05-09-2016, 01:28 PM	#8
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Here you go guys, here are pictures of one of my guns, a 1916 DWM, and trust me, this gun is NOT refinished. Notice the color of the side-pate and the slight halos on the frame serial number, the extractor and the sear. Regards, Norm Attached Thumbnails

05-09-2016, 07:55 PM	#12
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,355 Times in 2,041 Posts	George, lot number may be 3341, serial number 482. Was $1400 your bid? I'd offer $1200. May be fine, but use the "iffy" to get a better deal, JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

05-09-2016, 12:49 PM	#4
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Geo, I like the gun and I think it's cheap at $1,400.00, particularly since it has a matching number magazine. None of the signs that indicate a re-blue are present, including the L shaped lever inside the side-plate, which is properly "in the white". Imperial era side-plates frequently differ slightly in color from the rest of the gun, I believe it's due to the heat treatment that this part received. Regards, Norm

05-09-2016, 12:54 PM	#5
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 490 Times in 251 Posts	I agree that the lack of wear on the muzzle and side plate suggests at least some touch-up, although I think i see halos on the barrel serial. Assuming the bore is good, IMO $1,400 is within the range of reasonable.

05-09-2016, 01:10 PM	#6
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	What worries me is that there seem to be halos on EVERYTHING. Observe the tiny numbers on the extractor, as well as the number on the back of the rear toggle. You just don't normally see halos on these numbers, unless someone has put them there.

05-09-2016, 01:30 PM	#9
kurusu User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 2,679 Thanked 930 Times in 509 Posts	I would buy it.

05-09-2016, 03:16 PM	#10
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,305 Thanks: 2,735 Thanked 991 Times in 727 Posts	I am certainly no Luger expert, but it looks good/correct to me. That price would not scare me for that Luger.

05-09-2016, 07:29 PM	#11
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	Looks like an OK piece. Mag is a big plus. I'd go for it.

05-10-2016, 01:08 AM	#13
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 400 Thanks: 102 Thanked 127 Times in 75 Posts	Sergio - bore is lightly pitted, gray with good lands & grooves. Grip panels are unmarked on the back. There is a small grip chip repair. Alan - I do see the many halos, but as Norm's pictures show, there are many original finish guns with halo on the extractor and in places other than the barrel. But now that you mention it, I've never seen a halo on the back of the rear toggle! I guess I'll only find out if it is truly original if I get my hands on it. With something like this I'm tempted to buy it just to see. Norm - thanks for sharing the pics, they help me to decide. Do you think the matching mag is real? I hadn't really considered it in the price. - Geo __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

05-10-2016, 01:11 AM	#14
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 400 Thanks: 102 Thanked 127 Times in 75 Posts	Everyone - Thanks for the quick & honest replies! You have all convinced me to take a chance on it. I like Don's idea the best - I think I will make an offer! - Geo __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

05-10-2016, 07:13 AM	#15
LU1900 User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE Posts: 911 Thanks: 46 Thanked 471 Times in 198 Posts	Don't like the bottom mag , big fake for me ! "4" and "2" not good , stamping too large , etc __________________ Best regards from France...Patrice https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/03/1...nd-snail-drum/

01-06-2017, 09:40 PM	#16
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 400 Thanks: 102 Thanked 127 Times in 75 Posts	Update - I was able to get it for $1200. Can't go wrong at that price! And now that it is in hand, I'm convinced it is original bluing, but the straw has been redone - too dark and perfect , IMO. - Geo __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

01-07-2017, 09:11 AM	#18
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: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	Well done Geo...an excellent buy. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-07-2017, 11:10 AM	#19
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,355 Times in 2,041 Posts	Yes, that is what it was/is worth! __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie