Luger Automatic Pistol, $24.45

Mauser720 · 09-22-2007, 11:04 PM

"Luger Automatic Pistol, $24.45 30-Caliber, 8 Shots.

"Modeled after the celebrated Maxim gun, automatically reloads and cocks as long as there is a cartridge in the chamber. Absolutely safe against accidental discharge. Nine shots can be fired in less than five seconds. This pistol can also be used as single loader for traget practice. The Luger pistol has the endorsement of the United States and several foreign governments. Very simple to operate; has few parts. The pistol can be dismounted without the aid of any tools in a few seconds time, and as easily assembled. Shoots special 30-Caliber Luger smokeless cartridges, either soft point or metal patched bullets. Range, over 1,500 yards. Weight, 1 pound 13 ounces. Length over all, 9 inches. Length of barrel, 4 amd 5/8 inches.

"No. 6K 1640 30-Caliber Luger Automatic Pistol

"Price.................................................................$ 24.45
"If by mail, postage extra, 48 cents"

SOURCE: SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO. CATALOG No. 117, 1908, page 735

Don M · 09-23-2007, 10:08 AM

Ah, the good old days!

policeluger · 09-23-2007, 10:43 AM

I have a copy of Shotgun News from about the mid 60's, the priced will drive you crazy....and Ye Ol' Hunters Lodge adds from the late 50's.....

SS109 · 11-06-2007, 10:28 PM

I used to have one of those old Sears catalogs, makes you drool.
Of course, what were people getting paid? Was $30 a month's wages?

I ran the numbers once on C-96's and inflation adjusted, the used ones now are going for about what the new ones were then. Not a significant price increase.

rayman1 · 11-06-2007, 11:14 PM

Wow! If only... But you can imagine what $24.00 was in 1908. I can't remember where I saw it but I found a site on the internet that showed the varying values of $10, $50, and $100 from about 1800 to present in today's dollars. Will try to find it again and post a link.

var99 · 11-07-2007, 05:05 AM

I'd like to post the following quote from a book on gun collecting:

"Is Luger collecting really dead? Some collectors are fed-up with paying the stupendously high prices commanded for the Luger and have turned to other fields, saying that that Lugers have "dried-up".

This paragraph was written in 1972, and appears in a book called " Collectors & Traders Guide to Gun Collecting". The prices listed that he is referring to seem quite reasonable, even by early '70's standard.

What is interesting is the comparative value of Lugers in this price list, since the authors list the common S/42's and 1920 commercials at $165, but Krieghoff at only $250, 02 AE at $500, 1914 Navy at $350, and Arty's at $200!!
Obviously the rarer pieces have appreciated by 20x, and the more common ones only by 10x, validating the old maxim of always save your money the best and rarest.
In any case, Lugers have been a good investment, I was collecting US civil war swords at the time, and a good M1860 calvary sword ran $200-300 then, today they are only around double that. In 10 years or less, when Arty's are running at $10-15K, we'll look back at the good old days of the early 2000's

Vince

Dwight Gruber · 11-07-2007, 01:36 PM

Here is a link to a good inflation calculator: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

The 1908 Sears price is $520.62 in 2006 dollars, still not a bad price.

The comparisons from Vince's list:
S/42, 1920 Commercial @ $165: $793.47
Krieghoff @ $250: $1,202.23
1902 AE @ $500: $2,404.45
1914 Navy @ $350: $1,683.12
LP-08 @ $200: $961.78

--Dwight

SS109 · 11-07-2007, 05:51 PM

Lugers still look like good investments.

Plus you can shoot them, unlike bonds.

09-22-2007, 11:04 PM	#1
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Luger Automatic Pistol, $24.45 "Luger Automatic Pistol, $24.45 30-Caliber, 8 Shots. "Modeled after the celebrated Maxim gun, automatically reloads and cocks as long as there is a cartridge in the chamber. Absolutely safe against accidental discharge. Nine shots can be fired in less than five seconds. This pistol can also be used as single loader for traget practice. The Luger pistol has the endorsement of the United States and several foreign governments. Very simple to operate; has few parts. The pistol can be dismounted without the aid of any tools in a few seconds time, and as easily assembled. Shoots special 30-Caliber Luger smokeless cartridges, either soft point or metal patched bullets. Range, over 1,500 yards. Weight, 1 pound 13 ounces. Length over all, 9 inches. Length of barrel, 4 amd 5/8 inches. "No. 6K 1640 30-Caliber Luger Automatic Pistol "Price.................................................................$ 24.45 "If by mail, postage extra, 48 cents" SOURCE: SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO. CATALOG No. 117, 1908, page 735

09-23-2007, 10:08 AM	#2
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	Ah, the good old days! __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

11-06-2007, 10:28 PM	#4
SS109 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jefferson, CO Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I used to have one of those old Sears catalogs, makes you drool. Of course, what were people getting paid? Was $30 a month's wages? I ran the numbers once on C-96's and inflation adjusted, the used ones now are going for about what the new ones were then. Not a significant price increase. __________________ 1916 LP08 1923 9mm P08 Commercial Import 1920 .30 Luger Commercial

11-07-2007, 05:51 PM	#8
SS109 User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jefferson, CO Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lugers still look like good investments. Plus you can shoot them, unlike bonds. __________________ 1916 LP08 1923 9mm P08 Commercial Import 1920 .30 Luger Commercial

09-23-2007, 10:43 AM	#3
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	I have a copy of Shotgun News from about the mid 60's, the priced will drive you crazy....and Ye Ol' Hunters Lodge adds from the late 50's.....

11-06-2007, 11:14 PM	#5
rayman1 User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wow! If only... But you can imagine what $24.00 was in 1908. I can't remember where I saw it but I found a site on the internet that showed the varying values of $10, $50, and $100 from about 1800 to present in today's dollars. Will try to find it again and post a link.

11-07-2007, 05:05 AM	#6
var99 User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: FL Posts: 114 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I'd like to post the following quote from a book on gun collecting: "Is Luger collecting really dead? Some collectors are fed-up with paying the stupendously high prices commanded for the Luger and have turned to other fields, saying that that Lugers have "dried-up". This paragraph was written in 1972, and appears in a book called " Collectors & Traders Guide to Gun Collecting". The prices listed that he is referring to seem quite reasonable, even by early '70's standard. What is interesting is the comparative value of Lugers in this price list, since the authors list the common S/42's and 1920 commercials at $165, but Krieghoff at only $250, 02 AE at $500, 1914 Navy at $350, and Arty's at $200!! Obviously the rarer pieces have appreciated by 20x, and the more common ones only by 10x, validating the old maxim of always save your money the best and rarest. In any case, Lugers have been a good investment, I was collecting US civil war swords at the time, and a good M1860 calvary sword ran $200-300 then, today they are only around double that. In 10 years or less, when Arty's are running at $10-15K, we'll look back at the good old days of the early 2000's Vince

11-07-2007, 01:36 PM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Here is a link to a good inflation calculator: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ The 1908 Sears price is $520.62 in 2006 dollars, still not a bad price. The comparisons from Vince's list: S/42, 1920 Commercial @ $165: $793.47 Krieghoff @ $250: $1,202.23 1902 AE @ $500: $2,404.45 1914 Navy @ $350: $1,683.12 LP-08 @ $200: $961.78 --Dwight