Who needs bring back papers for 32 cal

[Dave Sanders]

I was going through some things and came across 2 papers, the customs declaration with the info on it and the certificate with the same info on it for a 32 cal pistol # 1966 b. If you have such an item, I can hook you up with these papers. I figure it would go pretty nicely with a 32 so numbered.

Dave

[Edward Tinker]

Dave, selling or gift to someone (should we move to WTS forum)?

[sheepherder]

My thought has always been that the paperwork has no monetary value. It has sentimental value if it belonged to a relative or close friend, but only intrinsically.

If being used in a display or diorama then third party papers do add to the ambiance of the display, but since they would have no emotional attachment to the display owner, not really be worth much in dollars. For display purposes, it is easy enough to print out simulated bringback papers. I've done it, and even posted comments on how I did it.

If I were leaving a gun show without having bought anything, and a bringback paper was selling for say $5, I might buy it just so it wouldn't be a totally wasted trip.

Others may have more positive opinions, but you tend to get into the 'buy the gun, not the story' area. Having a 'bringback' Luger or P38 that is stamped 'Germany' on it and has bringback papers to match is pretty much a giveaway that you're being scammed...

My $.02

[Dave Sanders]

I was thinking for postage. I think having bring back papers is a pretty neat conversation piece. For myself, it adds the cool factor to an artifact a bit more. That is my purpose in posting this, to see if these can match up the numbers to someones 32 Cal.

Dave

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Dave Sanders

I think having bring back papers is a pretty neat conversation piece. For myself, it adds the cool factor to an artifact a bit more. That is my purpose in posting this, to see if these can match up the numbers to someones 32 Cal.

Dave

By all means, figure out a value and post them in the For Sale forum. Opinions differ and even if the papers don't match someone's pistol, it would still add visually to a Luger, holster, medal, helmet, and photo display at a gun show. Many shows give out awards for the best displays.

Others here can maybe give you an idea of what an aged bringback paper and the customs dec would be worth.

Don't be afraid to post pics. Not only are there literally dozens of bringback papers pictures posted here, but Ed Tinker routinely posts pics of the papers in his Veterans Bringbacks books.

[Dave Sanders]

I will post a few pictures later today. If someone can't match them to a gun, then I will keep them. I just thought by some chance someone might have a number match, probably about the same chance as matching a mag. I'm not looking to make money off these.
Dave

[George Anderson]

Many capture papers I have seen over the years indicate pistols with American equivalent calibres such as .38 cal Lugers. With a four digit serial number and a letter suffix, I'd bet the pistol was a 1920 commercial 7.65 Luger.

[Dave Sanders]

Here are two pictures of the items. I imagine it is a wartime pistol with Dec 1945 date.
Dave

[wlyon]

I agree with George. Probably a luger. They did not worry much about descriptions on capture papers. Probably made out by a clerk who would not know a luger from a toothpick. I also agree with Rich I place no value on capture papers. Many have been faked. Have even seen ads for repro blank ones. Bill

[DonVoigt]

"Many" collectors do value papers that are numbered to the pistol; at the least legit papers help a "for sale" pistol stand out.

Not valuing papers because they have been faked or counterfeited is kind of like not taking US dollars because some are "fake". JMHO.

European papers are fairly plentiful, papers from the PTO seem to be scarcer.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

"Many" collectors do value papers that are numbered to the pistol; at the least legit papers help a "for sale" pistol stand out.

What dollar value would you assign to them???

[alvin]

It could bring in 5 - 10% more. There are people paying more on paper.. If you're not hot on it, no need to pay more. But sometimes, you like a gun, unfortunately, it has a paper coming with it, and seller expects a lot on that paper,,, but you can count that into gun's cost.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

What dollar value would you assign to them???

Depends entirely on what they are "with", where and when the papers originated, and the "type" papers.

No single $ value or %; kind of like some other things- you know how much when you see it.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Depends entirely on what they are "with", where and when the papers originated, and the "type" papers.

No single $ value or %; kind of like some other things- you know how much when you see it.

So, give us a high end value...We already know the low end is zero, or close to it...

Would you pay $100 for bringback papers for a collectible Luger??? Maybe an artillery???

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

So, give us a high end value...We already know the low end is zero, or close to it...

Would you pay $100 for bringback papers for a collectible Luger??? Maybe an artillery???

Why?
If I say any number, someone will find fault with it- too high or too low; or else want to sell me one with those $xx papers!


So this answer is "maybe"- see previous answer on papers in general.

At one time I had over 200 Japanese rifles and pistols, and only two with "papers", in each case the item and paper was priced together when I bought them- so I have no idea what the "paper" cost.

[Dave Sanders]

I agree with Don in that it is a personal preference. As we have seen with the replies here, some like papers with the artifacts and some don't care. I like them because that type of thing adds to the historical flavor of something I am getting. I don't know that I would pay a huge amount extra for papers, it would depend on the item and how much more, and all sorts of factors. That is why I was not going to put a $$ value on these, just trying to help out another collector if he happened to have the lucky numbers. Anyway, thanks for the comments.
Dave

[phillynick]

Could have been a FN 1922...

[alvin]

Only bought two Japanese pistols in the past,, one T14, and one T94. The T14 had capture paper. The paper came to me with no extra cost (or, counted in), I let it go with no extra cost. It's not hot in my impression, took a few weeks to sell. The T14 was 98% or above, had a nice canvas holster, and a genuine rare capture paper, came to me around $650, sold around $800 or $850 I forgot. That piece of paper was very fragile, had a steel stamp on it, it's a little bit different from those papers issued in Europe which usually has black ink stamp.

But consider the magazine was not matching... T14 with mismatching mag was not easy to go $850... so that paper probably helped a little bit. Say, $200 in dollar value. That's a rare paper though.. It's the only T14 with capture paper I have met.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

If I say any number, someone will find fault with it...So this answer is "maybe"...

OK, I'm not a collector, but I'll take a stab at setting a baseline price for bringback papers...

Say a seller has two double-date Erfurt artilleries, exact same condition, asking $2,500 for one, gun only w/mag...The other is gun w/mag and matching bringback papers, for $2,600...

I would say no deal on the one with the $100 paperwork...Not even for $50...But for $20, I would choose that one over its twin without papers...

But that's what to me is a 'high-end' Luger. Anything under say $1,500, I would not go $20. maybe $10, more likely $5.

But that's just me, a backwoods hick who doesn't know his buttcrack from a hole in the ground...
(If the seller had a really good story to go with the paperwork and the Luger, I'd buy him an egg salad sandwich too...)

[kkiley]

How about 1922 Browning , 32 cal and I've seen these into the a, b, c block , I have a b block kkiley