I Need Info On A Luger

Big Norm · 02-22-2002, 03:14 AM

I recently came in contact with a guy who has a 1913 'Squeeze Grip' Luger in the 71400 serial range. Does anybody know where I can get information on it?

I also have a chance for a 1904 Navy Luger that I have not examined yet. Does anyone know the price range for that one? I heard that Shattuck had one for sale recently for $8000. I don't know what it sold for or its condition.

Big Norm

Ron Wood · 02-22-2002, 11:45 AM

You found a couple of goodies! The 1913 is called a "1913 Commercial". It and the "1914 Commercial" were made approximately the same time, probably around late 1913 - early 1914. There were very few made with the grip safety and they are scarce as hen's teeth. If the one you found is authentic it is worth a chunk. The variation is pictured in Kenyon's "Lugers at Random" and Ralph Shattuck has listed it in his value guide, the last edition of which was in Mike Reese's soft cover Luger book, can't remember the title. If the 1904 Navy is in even "good" condition with matching numbers and an intact toggle-lock, you are looking at around $10K, minus a little/plus a lot. I have seen them listed at $17K.

Big Norm · 02-22-2002, 02:09 PM

Thanks Ron. I know that the 1904 Navy is rare but I wonder if it is out of my league. I have not seen it yet and I am trying to figure out a trade of some sort and the negotiations that may take some time to work out. The guy is sort of ify about selling it. I am thinking about making a package trade with a 1914 DWM arty w/matching original mag as my center piece. I have three of them an I got two of them with the idea of someday working out a trade of this sort. Could be a go but I have not seen the gun yet and I might have to make some late night obsene phone calls and hire someone to break some bones to work something out. I have all the Navies except for this one. This guy is a reputable collector and if he says he has one, I believe it.

The 1913 commercial threw me. I know about the 1936/06, but I didn't know about a 1913 commercial. I will try to locate it in the books that you mentioned and do a quick learning. So far, this reputable collector has opened the door and suggested a deal. He wants one of my few minty Mausers and some boot. I like the Imperial Era Lugers and usually don't do much with the Nazi Era.

Geez! All this started out with my just buying an old beat up arty to kill some trees while deer hunting.

Big Norm

Ron Wood · 02-22-2002, 03:40 PM

Imperial era Lugers rule!!! That is what I collect, and I have always maintained that anything made after 1918 is a reproduction (although I have a couple of later grip safety models).

Big Norm · 02-23-2002, 03:12 AM

Yah Ron!

That strawing adds just the right amount of machoism. And the bluing is great. My personal favorite is the model 1914 Navy Luger. But I love all the navies and I like the artilleries and the militaries are OK. That order. The navies have just that right balance in my hand.

But with any Luger, I try to pick it up and I try to feel its soul. I wish that it could talk to me and tell me what it went through. I think of Georg Luger trying to start a business from scratch with something new and trying to make a market with it. Trying to please everyone without making too many variations of the basic gun. Trying to make it not so expensive so that nobody could afford it.

I think of the individual hand craftsmanship of a mass produced Luger. Heck, even the grips had to be expensive to make by hand. Even in those days. Millions of them. Even today, with special machinery, we just can't seem to get it right. Somebody should write a book about a German worker making pistol grips seven days a week and ten hours a day. Could you fit all those tiny springs and pins in the breech block or a navy sight for that long of a time? It would drive me nuts.

I think that is why I am getting so interested in the history of 1894 to 1918 Germany. Its also the period when my grandparents came to America from Danzig and German controled Poland and when my parents where born.

Big Norm

02-22-2002, 03:14 AM	#1
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I Need Info On A Luger I recently came in contact with a guy who has a 1913 'Squeeze Grip' Luger in the 71400 serial range. Does anybody know where I can get information on it? I also have a chance for a 1904 Navy Luger that I have not examined yet. Does anyone know the price range for that one? I heard that Shattuck had one for sale recently for $8000. I don't know what it sold for or its condition. Big Norm

02-22-2002, 11:45 AM	#2
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: 7,051 Thanks: 1,121 Thanked 5,287 Times in 1,728 Posts	Re: I Need Info On A Luger You found a couple of goodies! The 1913 is called a "1913 Commercial". It and the "1914 Commercial" were made approximately the same time, probably around late 1913 - early 1914. There were very few made with the grip safety and they are scarce as hen's teeth. If the one you found is authentic it is worth a chunk. The variation is pictured in Kenyon's "Lugers at Random" and Ralph Shattuck has listed it in his value guide, the last edition of which was in Mike Reese's soft cover Luger book, can't remember the title. If the 1904 Navy is in even "good" condition with matching numbers and an intact toggle-lock, you are looking at around $10K, minus a little/plus a lot. I have seen them listed at $17K.

02-22-2002, 02:09 PM	#3
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: I Need Info On A Luger Thanks Ron. I know that the 1904 Navy is rare but I wonder if it is out of my league. I have not seen it yet and I am trying to figure out a trade of some sort and the negotiations that may take some time to work out. The guy is sort of ify about selling it. I am thinking about making a package trade with a 1914 DWM arty w/matching original mag as my center piece. I have three of them an I got two of them with the idea of someday working out a trade of this sort. Could be a go but I have not seen the gun yet and I might have to make some late night obsene phone calls and hire someone to break some bones to work something out. I have all the Navies except for this one. This guy is a reputable collector and if he says he has one, I believe it. The 1913 commercial threw me. I know about the 1936/06, but I didn't know about a 1913 commercial. I will try to locate it in the books that you mentioned and do a quick learning. So far, this reputable collector has opened the door and suggested a deal. He wants one of my few minty Mausers and some boot. I like the Imperial Era Lugers and usually don't do much with the Nazi Era. Geez! All this started out with my just buying an old beat up arty to kill some trees while deer hunting. Big Norm

02-22-2002, 03:40 PM	#4
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: 7,051 Thanks: 1,121 Thanked 5,287 Times in 1,728 Posts	Re: I Need Info On A Luger Imperial era Lugers rule!!! That is what I collect, and I have always maintained that anything made after 1918 is a reproduction (although I have a couple of later grip safety models).

02-23-2002, 03:12 AM	#5
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: I Need Info On A Luger Yah Ron! That strawing adds just the right amount of machoism. And the bluing is great. My personal favorite is the model 1914 Navy Luger. But I love all the navies and I like the artilleries and the militaries are OK. That order. The navies have just that right balance in my hand. But with any Luger, I try to pick it up and I try to feel its soul. I wish that it could talk to me and tell me what it went through. I think of Georg Luger trying to start a business from scratch with something new and trying to make a market with it. Trying to please everyone without making too many variations of the basic gun. Trying to make it not so expensive so that nobody could afford it. I think of the individual hand craftsmanship of a mass produced Luger. Heck, even the grips had to be expensive to make by hand. Even in those days. Millions of them. Even today, with special machinery, we just can't seem to get it right. Somebody should write a book about a German worker making pistol grips seven days a week and ten hours a day. Could you fit all those tiny springs and pins in the breech block or a navy sight for that long of a time? It would drive me nuts. I think that is why I am getting so interested in the history of 1894 to 1918 Germany. Its also the period when my grandparents came to America from Danzig and German controled Poland and when my parents where born. Big Norm