Help with inherited Navy Luger

steven_robert_lee · 11-09-2013, 12:44 PM

Thank-you very much for your quick replies. My wife and I have researched this past week on the web and felt there was something different with this unit. I received a quote from Lugerman of $2500 to restore the gun with an estimated value of $7000-$8500 after restoration, which seems worth the effort on the surface. However, I want to ensure a quality restoration and not ruin its authenticity. Does this seem accurate, or should I keep looking? Any recommendations for someone to restore it? Thanks again - I should have started with this forum. I have received offers from $400-$1000 from dealers with no help to restore. I have been told that the gun looks worse in the pictures than actual. They were taken with a DSLR to show detail.

Norme · 11-09-2013, 03:25 PM

Hi Rob, First, some history. 1906 Navy #6050 is a known gun. It was first reported in a list of surviving Navy Lugers put out by a Mr Pat Redmond in 1975, and then was listed in "World of Lugers" by Sam Costanzo in 1977. I'm presently carrying the Navy List torch, and it's nice to finally set eyes on this piece, although it's sad to see it in such pitiful condition.
I really don't know how to advise you going forward. This double matching rig is of great interest to serious Navy collectors but it's condition is too poor as it now stands, and they wouldn't touch it once it's been restored. Lugerman does do excellent work, but he's painfully slow. I would expect a job of this complexity to take him at least a year. If you think I'm exaggerating search "Lugerman" on this forum! Furthermore, I think his estimate of a finished value of over $7,000.00 is very optimistic. If someone offers you $3,000.00 for the rig in it's unrestored state, I'd suggest you take it. Perhaps Lugerman would be interested?
Regards, Norm

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11-09-2013, 12:44 PM	#1
steven_robert_lee New User Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank-you very much for your quick replies. My wife and I have researched this past week on the web and felt there was something different with this unit. I received a quote from Lugerman of $2500 to restore the gun with an estimated value of $7000-$8500 after restoration, which seems worth the effort on the surface. However, I want to ensure a quality restoration and not ruin its authenticity. Does this seem accurate, or should I keep looking? Any recommendations for someone to restore it? Thanks again - I should have started with this forum. I have received offers from $400-$1000 from dealers with no help to restore. I have been told that the gun looks worse in the pictures than actual. They were taken with a DSLR to show detail.

11-09-2013, 03:25 PM	#2
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Rob, First, some history. 1906 Navy #6050 is a known gun. It was first reported in a list of surviving Navy Lugers put out by a Mr Pat Redmond in 1975, and then was listed in "World of Lugers" by Sam Costanzo in 1977. I'm presently carrying the Navy List torch, and it's nice to finally set eyes on this piece, although it's sad to see it in such pitiful condition. I really don't know how to advise you going forward. This double matching rig is of great interest to serious Navy collectors but it's condition is too poor as it now stands, and they wouldn't touch it once it's been restored. Lugerman does do excellent work, but he's painfully slow. I would expect a job of this complexity to take him at least a year. If you think I'm exaggerating search "Lugerman" on this forum! Furthermore, I think his estimate of a finished value of over $7,000.00 is very optimistic. If someone offers you $3,000.00 for the rig in it's unrestored state, I'd suggest you take it. Perhaps Lugerman would be interested? Regards, Norm