1917 Artillery Luger Value?

Scott H. · 12-03-2003, 09:13 PM

I have a few Lugers, but none are Artillery types. I am trying to educate myself as to value on this type of Luger. I saw an Artillery Luger at an auction this week and I was curious as to it's true value. Here is the information:

1917 DWM Artillery Luger, blue about 75% with some light pitting, grips look original-good condition, non-matching serial numbers-the upper half of the Luger was all one serial and the lower grip portion was all another serial, the magazine was nickel with an aluminum base with a still different serial, the bore was poor with rust and pitting. The Luger also came with a brown leather holster with no markings. The holster looked excellent and may have been a reproduction. The Luger and holster went for $950. The auction house thought it would sell for $1,800 to $2,200. Did someone get a good buy or did they still pay too much for a non- matching Luger?

PANZERSOLDAT · 12-03-2003, 09:40 PM

IMO, I believe they got a poor deal, in the condition you described. The 1917 DWM is the most common of this type. I last purchased one of the same that was all matching with excellent bore, 90-95% finish, one WWI and one WWII mag(both not serialed to gun), for around $1400. For what the auction house expected you would have to find a 1917 at95% or better, or one with decent matching leather or accessories in good condition.

Scott H. · 12-03-2003, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the reply PANZERSOLDAT. I also believe that the price was too high. I could not believe that the auction house really thought that it was worth $1800 plus. At one point I thought that I might bid on it as a shooter, but the poor bore made me think otherwise. In the future I will buy an artillery as a shooter so I am trying to educate myself as to what shooter grade Artillery Lugers sell for.

Dwight Gruber · 12-03-2003, 10:44 PM

Scott,

That Luger went for about $300 more than it should have. On the other hand, last spring the same auction house another LP-08, mismatched upper and lower, no holster but in better shape, went for more than $2k, about twice their estimation at the time.

If you are patient and lucky you should be able to find a decent Artillery for $1.2k or so. $1.4k-$1.6k is a more usual price.

--Dwight

Scott H. · 12-03-2003, 11:11 PM

Dwight,

I saw the Luger at O'Gallerie Auction in Portland (www.ogallerie.com). This Luger was up for sale this past Monday. Did you happen to look at it? Thanks for all of the information about prices. I have learned a lot here in just a few minutes. Some of this "real world" price information just can't be found in books.

Dwight Gruber · 12-04-2003, 12:34 AM

Scott,

No, I didn't preview the pistol, I took a look at their online catalog picture and decided I wasn't interested at any price. Its being a mismatch just makes me feel that much better about my decision.

--Dwight

12-03-2003, 09:13 PM	#1
Scott H. User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 66 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1917 Artillery Luger Value? I have a few Lugers, but none are Artillery types. I am trying to educate myself as to value on this type of Luger. I saw an Artillery Luger at an auction this week and I was curious as to it's true value. Here is the information: 1917 DWM Artillery Luger, blue about 75% with some light pitting, grips look original-good condition, non-matching serial numbers-the upper half of the Luger was all one serial and the lower grip portion was all another serial, the magazine was nickel with an aluminum base with a still different serial, the bore was poor with rust and pitting. The Luger also came with a brown leather holster with no markings. The holster looked excellent and may have been a reproduction. The Luger and holster went for $950. The auction house thought it would sell for $1,800 to $2,200. Did someone get a good buy or did they still pay too much for a non- matching Luger?

12-03-2003, 09:40 PM	#2
PANZERSOLDAT User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: CLARKSVILLE, TN Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	IMO, I believe they got a poor deal, in the condition you described. The 1917 DWM is the most common of this type. I last purchased one of the same that was all matching with excellent bore, 90-95% finish, one WWI and one WWII mag(both not serialed to gun), for around $1400. For what the auction house expected you would have to find a 1917 at95% or better, or one with decent matching leather or accessories in good condition.

12-03-2003, 10:21 PM	#3
Scott H. User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 66 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks for the reply PANZERSOLDAT. I also believe that the price was too high. I could not believe that the auction house really thought that it was worth $1800 plus. At one point I thought that I might bid on it as a shooter, but the poor bore made me think otherwise. In the future I will buy an artillery as a shooter so I am trying to educate myself as to what shooter grade Artillery Lugers sell for.

12-03-2003, 10:44 PM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Scott, That Luger went for about $300 more than it should have. On the other hand, last spring the same auction house another LP-08, mismatched upper and lower, no holster but in better shape, went for more than $2k, about twice their estimation at the time. If you are patient and lucky you should be able to find a decent Artillery for $1.2k or so. $1.4k-$1.6k is a more usual price. --Dwight

12-03-2003, 11:11 PM	#5
Scott H. User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 66 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dwight, I saw the Luger at O'Gallerie Auction in Portland (www.ogallerie.com). This Luger was up for sale this past Monday. Did you happen to look at it? Thanks for all of the information about prices. I have learned a lot here in just a few minutes. Some of this "real world" price information just can't be found in books.

12-04-2003, 12:34 AM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Scott, No, I didn't preview the pistol, I took a look at their online catalog picture and decided I wasn't interested at any price. Its being a mismatch just makes me feel that much better about my decision. --Dwight