Year and Model?

Dwight Gruber · 02-24-2003, 11:06 AM

Hairy,

Lets see what can be made from all the foregoing.

1900 American Eagle, serial number indicating a fairly early piece. (One source has 12,000 manufactured.) Reblued, some pitting. Toggle latch missing from toggle. All matching--except you state that "apparently toggle has been replaced", possibly a misunderstanding on our part or yours--you are the only one in position to make the final determination on that. A missing toggle latch reduces a Luger's value some, but not seriously, depending on the condition of the rest of the piece; a replaced toggle seriously--perhaps fatally--devalues the gun.

As described, the most significant determiner of value is the reblue. This reduces the gun's value to a collector to insignificance. In the best of condition otherwise, one should not pay more than $800 for such a piece. Problems such as pitting or missing parts reduce a fair value towards $700; a serious parts mismatch such as a replaced toggle plummets this value towards $600 or less.

You don't say whether you are looking for a Luger having collector value, or merely a representitive item. This should play some part in your decision.

All the foregoing is strictly my opinion.

Good luck to you here, let us all know how it all works out.

--Dwight

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02-24-2003, 11:06 AM	#16
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Hairy, Lets see what can be made from all the foregoing. 1900 American Eagle, serial number indicating a fairly early piece. (One source has 12,000 manufactured.) Reblued, some pitting. Toggle latch missing from toggle. All matching--except you state that "apparently toggle has been replaced", possibly a misunderstanding on our part or yours--you are the only one in position to make the final determination on that. A missing toggle latch reduces a Luger's value some, but not seriously, depending on the condition of the rest of the piece; a replaced toggle seriously--perhaps fatally--devalues the gun. As described, the most significant determiner of value is the reblue. This reduces the gun's value to a collector to insignificance. In the best of condition otherwise, one should not pay more than $800 for such a piece. Problems such as pitting or missing parts reduce a fair value towards $700; a serious parts mismatch such as a replaced toggle plummets this value towards $600 or less. You don't say whether you are looking for a Luger having collector value, or merely a representitive item. This should play some part in your decision. All the foregoing is strictly my opinion. Good luck to you here, let us all know how it all works out. --Dwight