Rarest Lugers~

[cirelaw]

I have never seen this question asked! Besides the 50 cartridge counters and 45cal, what are now the rarest lugers? What are most valuable not taking in their condition? If you could own just one, what would it be? Its a hard choice! Eric

[CAP Black]

From what I have heard included would be 1900 AE Tests, Carbines, Fat Barrels, Early Navys, Ones with GL markings and the engraved presentation models. Others with lots more knowledge will add many more - I am sure.
Jack

[cirelaw]

Jack You Have A Taste For Real Beauty~ 'Presentation, GL' Classy! TKS

[Dwight Gruber]

In the world of Lugers, rarity does not necessarily translate to high-dollar (unfortunately). There are many production variations of significantly small numbers—some only a handful. From the commercial database, here is a sampling of “rare” (100 or less reported) variations (this list does not include the various suspected-fake South American crested pistols).

Abercrombie & Fitch: 100 documented, many less authentically reported

Old Model Swiss commercial (c/B,U,G): 73 reported

P08 commercial army (pre-war): 42 reported (with and without stock lug)

Old Model Bulgarian: 38 reported

Alphabet Commercial Reichsmarine: 38 reported

Old Model Short Frame Dutch/German test (c/D): 36 reported

New Model Swiss commercial: 33 reported

New Model standard (not navy commercial) with GESCHERT safety: 29 reported

Alphabet Commercial i suffix grip safety Swiss: 24 reported

EJERCITO DE BOLIVIA: 20 reported

P08 5-digit grip safety: 20 reported (with and without stock lug)

P08 commercial army (Weimar): 16 reported (mostly police)

Old Model carbine in the New Model 50nnn serial range: 15 reported

P08 commercial navy: 13 reported authentic

Old Model unrelieved frame: 11 reported

P08 Basel police: 11 reported

French Transitional: 10 reported, most are fake

Old Model Dutch trials: 10 documented

Alphabet Commercial i suffix grip safety commercial: 8 reported

Manufacture Français des Armes et Cycles: 7 verifiable reports, most seen are fakes

Old Model Russian (disputed): 7 reported

P08 Dutch E. Indies Officers' School: 6 documented

Old Model 7-inch barrel, push-button stock “Chilean”: 6 reported

Alphabet Commercial n suffix grip safety Swiss: 5 reported

Old Model Short Frame Swiss (disputed): 4 reported

Old Model Ejercito Mexico (disputed): 4 reported

Alphabet Commercial n suffix grip safety commercial: 3 reported


And then there is always this.
P08 Norinco production prototype: 2 reported

--Dwight

[cirelaw]

Dwight, OMG, Way Cool! What year is the French that you have posted? 1906 or 1903? Eric

[cirelaw]

1906 I did some and a few 9mm were made also! Damn, I wish it was a 1903 Very Rare!! http://www.landofborchardt.com/1903FC-article.html

[sheepherder]

I would offer the 'Pocket Luger' (or 'Baby Luger') originally made in 9mm Kurtz (.380ACP) as rarest...IIRC, Sturgess & Goetz mentioned that No 4 was original and the rest were 'copies'...

Mike Krause made a copy as well...

Note that this is not a shortened & chopped full size Luger...

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...

Mike Krause made a copy as well...

He made a number of them.

[Ron Wood]

Originally Posted by cirelaw

...Damn, I wish it was a 1903 Very Rare!!...

Here is mine, with the manual.

[Norme]

Originally Posted by m1903a3

The current Navy List has 21 Navy accepted Commercial P08s
Rarer are the Imperial Navy contract P.08s - only 11 of them.

Hi Mike,
It's a small point I know, but "Commercial P08s" is a contradiction in terms, "P08" being a military designation. The correct name for these rare pistols is "1908 Commercial Navies".
Best regards, Norm

[spacecoast]

Two additions:

> New Model Bulgarian - 500 to 800 shipped, 25 reported (only 13 not converted to 9mm)

> New Model Crossed Rifles ("Russian") - unknown number (<1000) configured as such - 36 reported (a few suspected fakes)

I would also include the P08 Bulgarians on the rarity list. The total count is just over 100, but most are refinished, rebarreled or mismatched. Fewer than 50 seem to have all original parts and finish out of 6,500 to 10,000 shipped. This is perhaps the most "parted out" Luger in history.

Updated Counts:

> Old Model Bulgarian - 1000 shipped, 48 reported (at least 9 converted to 9mm)

> Unrelieved frame Old Models - 38 reported

[cirelaw]

A Diamond~Thank You Rich~ http://krausewerk.net/32-acp-baby-luger/

[m1903a3]

The current Navy List has 21 Navy accepted Commercial P08s
Rarer are the Imperial Navy contract P.08s - only 11 of them.

[cirelaw]

Ron, awesome toggle!! First time I actually saw a real one!! Can I be in your will! Eric

[StarOfTheWest]

Quite awesome! I didn't know there were only 15 of my Carbine!
"Old Model carbine in the New Model 50nnn serial range: 15 reported"
And I have 50001.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by StarOfTheWest

Quite awesome! I didn't know there were only 15 of my Carbine!
"Old Model carbine in the New Model 50nnn serial range: 15 reported"
And I have 50001.

15 "reported" does not mean only 15.
How about starting a new thread with pictures of your carbine!

[StarOfTheWest]

Search way back on my posts here, and there are some very interesting things I learned here concerning an 02 Carbine. Love how knowledgeable the pros are around here.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by StarOfTheWest

Search way back on my posts here, and there are some very interesting things I learned here concerning an 02 Carbine.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=18709

Oh goody! A big long thread! Banned members! Heated discussion!

All before my time...

[Edward Tinker]

Ok, I thought we were talking generalities, to be specific then

11 reported 1926 Simson Lugers (with of these - 2 way too high and 1 that is too low)
55 reported 1925 Simson Lugers
---------

[cirelaw]

At least for a while!!