Luger value?

I inherited a luger from my father when he passed away, and was wondering if anyone could give me a general idea of what it is worth. The information I have on it is:


Toggle Inscription: 42 and 55

Chamber Inscription: 655 and 1940

Toggle knob type: squared and knurled

Grip Safety: not present

Stock Log: present

Caliper: 9mm

Grip type: walnut, checkered, no border

Thumb safety: markings: Gesichert; Safe position: rear

Barrel length: 3 1/8 inch

Markings: Right side of chamber- 2 eagles from Parabellum #47(the left eagle)-both over 655 and 1 eagle from Parabellum #47 (the smaller one on the right); Bottom of chamber above trigger guard- 7555 over 8.81 and symbol that looks like backwards lambda; Breechblock- smaller eagle from Parabellum #47(right picture) and symbol I do not recognize-

[John Sabato]

Welcome to the Lugerforum. Come back often and visit.


I hope the Luger is as precious to you as it was to your Dad. A pity that he never told you the story of how he acquired it. If you are aware of any of his Army buddies that are still among us, I encourage you to contact them and ask them if they know. (Be cautious of those who might say he got it from them and they want it back!


Now to the particulars:


Your Luger was made in 1940 by Mauser. The 42 on the toggle was a wartime code intended to hide the origin of manufacture from Germany's enemies... The serial number of 7555 on the front of the frame is not complete without the suffix letter that you described as a backwards lambda... you can determine which letter it really is by checking the Technical Information Link to you left and look under Markings and then Suffix1 or Suffix2. Make sure that this suffix letter is on any official paperwork that you might have, or need, to distinguish your Luger from many others numbered 7555 and their are many.


All parts should be blued for a pistol of that year since they stopped the strawing process in 1937 to reduce costs.


All matching numbers is great! but it is pretty normal for the magazine to not match... In the heat of battle these were often lost and replaced.


The barrel is actually measured from the end of the muzzle to the face of the breech block and you should find that this is 4 inches.


It's value for insurance purposes should be at least $500 and possibly as much as $1000 depending on the actual condition of the blueing... it is all in the eye of the beholder (prospective owner). If you have the original holster you can up the value by anywhere from $100 to around $400 depending on it's condition. Do a search on eBay for "Luger Holster" to get some idea of what some folks would pay for a holster in various conditions.


Treasure it, shoot it, enjoy it and pass this relic of history and marvel of engineering on to a member of the next generation of your family who would appreciate it...


You can learn much here about it. You'all come back now! Ya Hear!


regards,


JS

[Dok]

not because of any danger, but because if this is an all matching pistol (which it appears to be) it's value as John suggests could be $1000. In firing it, you run the risk that some 50 year old part will break, requiring replacement, which will cut its value in half! And while you may not consider selling it, wouldn't it be nice to preserve whatever value it has?


Dok (Webmaster)

[Thor]

I have broken two ejectors (years ago) firing too hot an ammo! ~Thor~

[Jim]

A friend had a luger with 1557 on top.It all so has it on bottom of barrel,along with M in a few different spots.57 is also a few times.It has 32 on the bottom of take down and somewhere else.The clip is wood on bottom the round part of it has circles carvedin them,the very bottom has a X carved in it.It has DWM on top.The grips are walnut with small checked pattern.I it was a 30 caliber.