Grading lugers

[Johnny Peppers]

Bill, as a good example of how the last percentage of finish is the highest priced, a friend of mine bought an early Swiss Commercial a few years back that is the best example of any Luger that I have ever seen. If there truly is a 99% finish pistol, this one is it. He had his choice of the 99% pistol which had no bright showing on the pistol anywhere or a 97/98% finish that showed bright metal on the high points of the sideplate hump, the right side frame rail, and the end of the barrel. Only the hump on the sideplate and the right side frame rail showed scuffing but no bright metal on the 99% pistol. The difference in price was $1000, but with the two pistols side by side there was no doubt which one to buy. The condition of the pistol puts it in the extremely rare category.