Luger Inheirited part 2

XavierBreath · 09-11-2003, 08:39 AM

My wife has inheirited a Military Luger that is now part of an estate to be divided. You can see quite a few pictures of it at this link. Xavier's Luger

Unfortunately, more pictures will be difficult to take at this time, as the pistol is out of our hands at the moment. My wife will likely receive this pistol in division of the estate at the expense of other valuable assets. What I need to know is what is this pistol's fair market value. A range is OK. If you are an experienced appraiser, please state your credentials, as this thread may be used to clarify things. Because a hands on apparaisal is so valuable, I would also like to know of any reputable Luger appraiser in the Little Rock, Arkansas or Monroe, Louisiana area.

Many thanks for any help given.

Original thread on this Luger

Edward Tinker · 09-11-2003, 11:48 AM

I doubt anyone will want to "appraise" a Luger without physically seeing it. A wide range for an Imperial would be shooter grade $350-$550, and a nice one $700-$1200.

Can be more, any holster, tools etc with it?

The M on the grips can detract to most collectors.

If you take it to a gunshop, they will pull out a blue book and probably tell you $400-$800, but the only way to get a good appraisal is to send it to a well known collector / appraiser or find one in the area.

Ed

lugerholsterrepair · 09-11-2003, 12:00 PM

Ed, I agree with your analysis of this Luger. Frankly, it does not appear from the photo's to be in a collector status. Pretty rough shape from the looks of it. I agree with your opinion about anyone wanting to appraise it without seeing it in person.I also do not believe an appraisal that costs any money would be a wise idea. It is unit marked and that has some appeal but the grips cancel that out for me.

From what I can see I would appraise this pistol no higher than $700.00 and I have no credentials whatsoever. Jerry Burney

Ron Wood · 09-11-2003, 12:37 PM

Jerry,
I would say your estimate is pretty close. The Kurassier marking and the 1910 date are both somewhat difficult to find so this adds some premium to the gun, but the overall condition does detract. It is definately a cut above shooter grade but the value to the familiy because of its history probably outweighs the market value.

John Sabato · 09-11-2003, 01:33 PM

Do a search for "peppers"... and when you find a post by Johnny H. Peppers... he lives in Calion, Arkansas and should know someone who can assist you...if he can't himself.

Send him a private message and he will be notified by email that you did...you can mention my name when you send him the message... I am sure he will be glad to assist.

George Anderson · 09-11-2003, 08:44 PM

This pistol is rather in rare in the unit mark to a Kurissaier unit. You mention Little Rock, perhaps you could have a reputable collector evaluate the pistol for you in Tulsa. The Tulsa show is in October.

Heydrich · 09-12-2003, 09:11 AM

Xavier, you’re probably blowing smoke up your backside if you really think those M carvings are pre-capture. Those defiling letters fit into the same crude style of all the other bring-backs I’ve seen that a vet carved his initial on. Also, notice that the carving on the left grip has obviously less patina and crud in it than the rest of the grip. Looks like some American chopped it after the pistol had seen 7-8 years of hard use. It also wasn’t uncommon for captured P.08s to have a string of owners (poker games, debts, stealing, trades, etc.) before a final owner. To be blunt, those M carvings make that pistol look like hell. So if I were you, I’d send those grips to Hugh to be re-checkered, he might be able to machine out the M’s. (No collector value now anyway to start.) With cool looking re-checkered grips, and a massive cleaning, you also might be able to fake out non-collectors into thinking it’s a collector’s piece. I used to have the stock for a G33/40 that had the same style of M carved into the bolt handle cut-out that your Luger has on its grips. Made me wonder for a sec.

Robert W. Simms · 09-25-2003, 07:24 PM

I've looked at so many Lugers for sale in the Nashville, Tennessee area recently that I feel like I ought to be an appraiser (I'm not). Unfortunately, these other guys have already forgotten more than I'll ever know about Lugers. However, one thing that did finally sink in from all my searching is that if the gun functions, has all matching numbers, and no importers marks it will bring a minimum of $600 in the Nashville area regardless of finish. You have to really luck up here to pay less than that for one meeting the criteria above.
-Robert W. Simms

09-11-2003, 08:39 AM	#1
XavierBreath User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bayou Country Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger Inheirited part 2 My wife has inheirited a Military Luger that is now part of an estate to be divided. You can see quite a few pictures of it at this link. Xavier's Luger Unfortunately, more pictures will be difficult to take at this time, as the pistol is out of our hands at the moment. My wife will likely receive this pistol in division of the estate at the expense of other valuable assets. What I need to know is what is this pistol's fair market value. A range is OK. If you are an experienced appraiser, please state your credentials, as this thread may be used to clarify things. Because a hands on apparaisal is so valuable, I would also like to know of any reputable Luger appraiser in the Little Rock, Arkansas or Monroe, Louisiana area. Many thanks for any help given. Original thread on this Luger __________________ Xavier's Guns

09-11-2003, 11:48 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I doubt anyone will want to "appraise" a Luger without physically seeing it. A wide range for an Imperial would be shooter grade $350-$550, and a nice one $700-$1200. Can be more, any holster, tools etc with it? The M on the grips can detract to most collectors. If you take it to a gunshop, they will pull out a blue book and probably tell you $400-$800, but the only way to get a good appraisal is to send it to a well known collector / appraiser or find one in the area. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-11-2003, 12:00 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Ed, I agree with your analysis of this Luger. Frankly, it does not appear from the photo's to be in a collector status. Pretty rough shape from the looks of it. I agree with your opinion about anyone wanting to appraise it without seeing it in person.I also do not believe an appraisal that costs any money would be a wise idea. It is unit marked and that has some appeal but the grips cancel that out for me. From what I can see I would appraise this pistol no higher than $700.00 and I have no credentials whatsoever. Jerry Burney __________________ 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."

09-11-2003, 12:37 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: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Jerry, I would say your estimate is pretty close. The Kurassier marking and the 1910 date are both somewhat difficult to find so this adds some premium to the gun, but the overall condition does detract. It is definately a cut above shooter grade but the value to the familiy because of its history probably outweighs the market value. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-11-2003, 01:33 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Do a search for "peppers"... and when you find a post by Johnny H. Peppers... he lives in Calion, Arkansas and should know someone who can assist you...if he can't himself. Send him a private message and he will be notified by email that you did...you can mention my name when you send him the message... I am sure he will be glad to assist. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-11-2003, 08:44 PM	#6
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	This pistol is rather in rare in the unit mark to a Kurissaier unit. You mention Little Rock, perhaps you could have a reputable collector evaluate the pistol for you in Tulsa. The Tulsa show is in October.

09-12-2003, 09:11 AM	#7
Heydrich Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Xavier, you’re probably blowing smoke up your backside if you really think those M carvings are pre-capture. Those defiling letters fit into the same crude style of all the other bring-backs I’ve seen that a vet carved his initial on. Also, notice that the carving on the left grip has obviously less patina and crud in it than the rest of the grip. Looks like some American chopped it after the pistol had seen 7-8 years of hard use. It also wasn’t uncommon for captured P.08s to have a string of owners (poker games, debts, stealing, trades, etc.) before a final owner. To be blunt, those M carvings make that pistol look like hell. So if I were you, I’d send those grips to Hugh to be re-checkered, he might be able to machine out the M’s. (No collector value now anyway to start.) With cool looking re-checkered grips, and a massive cleaning, you also might be able to fake out non-collectors into thinking it’s a collector’s piece. I used to have the stock for a G33/40 that had the same style of M carved into the bolt handle cut-out that your Luger has on its grips. Made me wonder for a sec.

09-25-2003, 07:24 PM	#8
Robert W. Simms User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mount Juliet, TN Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've looked at so many Lugers for sale in the Nashville, Tennessee area recently that I feel like I ought to be an appraiser (I'm not). Unfortunately, these other guys have already forgotten more than I'll ever know about Lugers. However, one thing that did finally sink in from all my searching is that if the gun functions, has all matching numbers, and no importers marks it will bring a minimum of $600 in the Nashville area regardless of finish. You have to really luck up here to pay less than that for one meeting the criteria above. -Robert W. Simms