1917 Artillary find

hayhugh · 05-12-2019, 10:25 AM

Went to a small auction in a small town in rural NY yesterday that my LGD informed me had a artillery Luger listed. Had everything from cars, saws, used bent nails to pots and used anything. Had about 40 long guns a dozen hand guns and one Luger. Without a strip down it looked pretty good and there was a holster w/ shoulder board w/ matching number to the gun. Asked man behind counter if holster came with gun an he said yes. Waited almost two hours for the auction to get to the guns. When they got to the Luger I won it at $2000.00 and them he held up the holster for bidding and I said that the holster was suppose to go with the gun. They said that the holster and gun were not pictured together and that was that! I won the holster for another $400.00. Later I found out the holster had been with a box of holster and someone had figgered that it would probably sell better with the guns. Anyway I later got together with one of the guys conducting the auction and told him the story from my perspective and he nocked off $200.00. So with vig I got the rig for @$2500.00. All matching even grips and magazine if I look at it at a certain angle in the right light (very light 1 and 9 and I can imagine another 9) to make the SN 199d. When the rain goes away pictures will follow. Today I have a question about markings on back of grip: R.J.R.254.2K.14. Hugh

Norme · 05-12-2019, 10:45 AM

Reserve Infantry Regiment #254, 2nd Company, Weapon #14.
Norm

DonVoigt · 05-12-2019, 10:54 AM

Good deal for you!
Congrats.

k98mike · 05-12-2019, 08:38 PM

What a deal! My artillery with matching stock, holster, mag pouches, was nearly $6,000. It's a beauty though!

hayhugh · 05-14-2019, 09:47 AM

Still raining here so just mess'n around. Trying to make this read 199d but its either not enough sunshine, bad camera or maybe my eyesight is not up to the task!

Ron Wood · 05-14-2019, 12:27 PM

To my eye that is indeed a "d".
Ron

hayhugh · 05-14-2019, 03:48 PM

Sorry only one photo this afternoon weather is rather fickle...

lugerholsterrepair · 05-15-2019, 10:52 AM

Stock with it?

Eugen · 05-15-2019, 08:46 PM

Hayhugh, sounds like you got a deal, despite the hassle you had to deal with. Congrats.

Scottrt · 05-15-2019, 09:46 PM

You must be quite pleased with the day's efforts, I sure would be. I am curious how many other serious bidders did you have to persevere over?

hayhugh · 05-16-2019, 06:34 AM

Yes it came with a stock numbered to the gun 199d. When I unlaced the stock from the holster I found a lot of dried mud. The were literally stuck together. Not too much damage to the holster but the stock suffered loss of varnish or whatever it was originally finished with. Loading tool was present but no cleaning rod. The leather was dried out but flexible (soft but cracked). Will try again today to get photos posted.

hayhugh · 05-16-2019, 08:19 AM

Mor'n effort:

DonVoigt · 05-16-2019, 08:47 AM

Oh No!
You cleaned off the "Flander's" mud?

Nice find.

DavidJayUden · 05-16-2019, 09:32 AM

A very nice piece with just the right amount of patina.
dju

Sergio Natali · 05-16-2019, 09:39 AM

For what I can see that looks like an interesting piece, try taking some close ups, pictures should be taken preferably outdoors in open shade or on a cloudy day.

hayhugh · 05-16-2019, 09:51 AM

[QUOTE]Oh No!
You cleaned off the "Flander's" mud? Ya know I thought about that. I had brushed off quite a bit of "whatever" dust before taking the photo this morning. It might have just been wiped off and never taken apart before being put away for all these years.

Let me know what you want close-ups of and I will give it a try. Hugh

lugerholsterrepair · 05-16-2019, 10:27 AM

Hugh, Flanders? Might have been Mississippi mud. To preserve history you had best consider good preservation techniques. That holster and stock iron need it. You had best look inside the iron. Delicate springs and screws in there need help. Rust NEVER sleeps. You can put a coat of lanolin on the holster..then wipe it off..it will help remove crud and soften the exterior leather..if you start bending the holster anywhere dry it will start cracking..that cannot be reversed.

hayhugh · 05-16-2019, 12:21 PM

[QUOTEYou had best look inside the iron. Delicate springs and screws in there need help. Rust !NEVER sleeps. ][/QUOTE] Thank you Jerry for the iron info! Took the iron apart, all dry w/no rust. Cleaned all up and with a light coat of oil put it back together. Should be good for another 100 years.

hayhugh · 05-16-2019, 02:39 PM

Some marking on Holster1916. Leather on board: MAU C Co and under that line: OFFEN ACH

05-12-2019, 10:54 AM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,678 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	Good deal for you! Congrats. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

05-12-2019, 08:38 PM	#4
k98mike User Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Newnan, GA Posts: 141 Thanks: 280 Thanked 48 Times in 30 Posts	Good job What a deal! My artillery with matching stock, holster, mag pouches, was nearly $6,000. It's a beauty though!

05-14-2019, 09:47 AM	#5
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	Still raining here so just mess'n around. Trying to make this read 199d but its either not enough sunshine, bad camera or maybe my eyesight is not up to the task! Attached Images

05-14-2019, 12:27 PM	#6
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: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	To my eye that is indeed a "d". Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-14-2019, 03:48 PM	#7
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	Sorry only one photo this afternoon weather is rather fickle... Attached Thumbnails

05-12-2019, 10:25 AM	#1
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	1917 Artillary find Went to a small auction in a small town in rural NY yesterday that my LGD informed me had a artillery Luger listed. Had everything from cars, saws, used bent nails to pots and used anything. Had about 40 long guns a dozen hand guns and one Luger. Without a strip down it looked pretty good and there was a holster w/ shoulder board w/ matching number to the gun. Asked man behind counter if holster came with gun an he said yes. Waited almost two hours for the auction to get to the guns. When they got to the Luger I won it at $2000.00 and them he held up the holster for bidding and I said that the holster was suppose to go with the gun. They said that the holster and gun were not pictured together and that was that! I won the holster for another $400.00. Later I found out the holster had been with a box of holster and someone had figgered that it would probably sell better with the guns. Anyway I later got together with one of the guys conducting the auction and told him the story from my perspective and he nocked off $200.00. So with vig I got the rig for @$2500.00. All matching even grips and magazine if I look at it at a certain angle in the right light (very light 1 and 9 and I can imagine another 9) to make the SN 199d. When the rain goes away pictures will follow. Today I have a question about markings on back of grip: R.J.R.254.2K.14. Hugh Last edited by hayhugh; 05-14-2019 at 03:24 PM. Reason: add photos

05-12-2019, 10:45 AM	#2
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,415 Thanks: 225 Thanked 2,594 Times in 931 Posts	Reserve Infantry Regiment #254, 2nd Company, Weapon #14. Norm

05-15-2019, 10:52 AM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,865 Thanked 3,104 Times in 1,429 Posts	Stock with it? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-15-2019, 08:46 PM	#9
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 768 Thanks: 371 Thanked 603 Times in 320 Posts	Hayhugh, sounds like you got a deal, despite the hassle you had to deal with. Congrats. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

05-15-2019, 09:46 PM	#10
Scottrt User Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: So. Minnesota Posts: 33 Thanks: 20 Thanked 20 Times in 9 Posts	You must be quite pleased with the day's efforts, I sure would be. I am curious how many other serious bidders did you have to persevere over?

05-16-2019, 06:34 AM	#11
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	Yes it came with a stock numbered to the gun 199d. When I unlaced the stock from the holster I found a lot of dried mud. The were literally stuck together. Not too much damage to the holster but the stock suffered loss of varnish or whatever it was originally finished with. Loading tool was present but no cleaning rod. The leather was dried out but flexible (soft but cracked). Will try again today to get photos posted.

05-16-2019, 08:19 AM	#12
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	Mor'n effort: Attached Thumbnails

05-16-2019, 08:47 AM	#13
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,678 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	Oh No! You cleaned off the "Flander's" mud? Nice find. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

05-16-2019, 09:32 AM	#14
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	A very nice piece with just the right amount of patina. dju

05-16-2019, 09:39 AM	#15
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	For what I can see that looks like an interesting piece, try taking some close ups, pictures should be taken preferably outdoors in open shade or on a cloudy day. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

05-16-2019, 09:51 AM	#16
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	[QUOTE]Oh No! You cleaned off the "Flander's" mud? Ya know I thought about that. I had brushed off quite a bit of "whatever" dust before taking the photo this morning. It might have just been wiped off and never taken apart before being put away for all these years. Let me know what you want close-ups of and I will give it a try. Hugh

05-16-2019, 10:27 AM	#17
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,865 Thanked 3,104 Times in 1,429 Posts	Hugh, Flanders? Might have been Mississippi mud. To preserve history you had best consider good preservation techniques. That holster and stock iron need it. You had best look inside the iron. Delicate springs and screws in there need help. Rust NEVER sleeps. You can put a coat of lanolin on the holster..then wipe it off..it will help remove crud and soften the exterior leather..if you start bending the holster anywhere dry it will start cracking..that cannot be reversed. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-16-2019, 12:21 PM	#18
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	[QUOTEYou had best look inside the iron. Delicate springs and screws in there need help. Rust !NEVER sleeps. ][/QUOTE] Thank you Jerry for the iron info! Took the iron apart, all dry w/no rust. Cleaned all up and with a light coat of oil put it back together. Should be good for another 100 years.

05-16-2019, 02:39 PM	#19
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 885 Thanks: 851 Thanked 508 Times in 271 Posts	Some marking on Holster1916. Leather on board: MAU C Co and under that line: OFFEN ACH