1900 Swiss Pictures, Value, Comments

Pete Ebbink · 06-30-2004, 11:07 PM

Hi Bob,...

I am away from my library this week, but will try to add a bit to the great info. Ron and others have posted :

1. I cannot recall where the M1900 Swiss luger switched from a type 2 thumb safety lever to a type 3. The luger in your photos has the type 3. When I get back near my Swiss luger books I will try to find the serial number range when this change occurred. From my memory, I think it happened in the # 2000 to # 3000 range...but I cannot be certain until I get some books in hand.

2. As Ron Wood has stated in the past in other postings, many of the Swiss lugers were refinished by the Bern arsenal and other official gunsmiths in CH. A Bern refinish does not seem to lower a Swiss luger value as other refinished luger...but to find an original factory finish would be best.

3. Since this M1900 luger is Ordnance stamped with the +/V stamping, it was a military pistol so should have the "metal insert" disc type wooden magazine. Some of the commercial M1900 Swiss lugers did come with plain wooden magazines (i.e. w/out the metal disc inserts...)

The Swiss wooden magazines are a little unique from the German magazines. The roundness of the two "knobs" are not sanded flat along the bottom surface of the wood and show their circular form. Is there a chance that you might have a close-up photo showing the bottom of the wooden magazine bottom ?

4. Another photo showing the "polished" area under the thumb stafety lever in detail might help others help you determine if this pistol has been refinished or not...

p.s. My WAG's on value...if original finish...maybe in the $ 4k to 4.5K price range...if a local refinish...maybe $ 2K to 2.5K...?

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

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06-30-2004, 11:07 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Hi Bob,... I am away from my library this week, but will try to add a bit to the great info. Ron and others have posted : 1. I cannot recall where the M1900 Swiss luger switched from a type 2 thumb safety lever to a type 3. The luger in your photos has the type 3. When I get back near my Swiss luger books I will try to find the serial number range when this change occurred. From my memory, I think it happened in the # 2000 to # 3000 range...but I cannot be certain until I get some books in hand. 2. As Ron Wood has stated in the past in other postings, many of the Swiss lugers were refinished by the Bern arsenal and other official gunsmiths in CH. A Bern refinish does not seem to lower a Swiss luger value as other refinished luger...but to find an original factory finish would be best. 3. Since this M1900 luger is Ordnance stamped with the +/V stamping, it was a military pistol so should have the "metal insert" disc type wooden magazine. Some of the commercial M1900 Swiss lugers did come with plain wooden magazines (i.e. w/out the metal disc inserts...) The Swiss wooden magazines are a little unique from the German magazines. The roundness of the two "knobs" are not sanded flat along the bottom surface of the wood and show their circular form. Is there a chance that you might have a close-up photo showing the bottom of the wooden magazine bottom ? 4. Another photo showing the "polished" area under the thumb stafety lever in detail might help others help you determine if this pistol has been refinished or not... p.s. My WAG's on value...if original finish...maybe in the $ 4k to 4.5K price range...if a local refinish...maybe $ 2K to 2.5K...? Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />