Buying a 1915 LP08...

[OC]

Hello there,

I am about to buy me an LP08. It's (or at least should be) rather a collectible than a shooter -- as much as I like shooting, I am afraid it'd be taking chances, esp. as the gun's (said) to be completely original with all matching numbers -- and the price is not negligible.

The thing is a bit hairy since it's to become my first 08 (yup, a newbie here). Whilst I happen to know a thing or two of these guns (and always wanted one), one thing's reading, another's an experience which I so far, alas, lack. Of course, it would be smarter to buy a cheaper shooter first and go for a collectible later with the experience, but then I might not be able to afford the collectible

Here are the pics (from the seller, not mine) -- I've put them to my server so that there's no need to shrink:

overall * left side * right side * top * left detail * barrel bottom * magazines

I went through some of the messages in this forum, but alas it's too big to read through completely, and I may have missed something of importance. Of course, I've read all the FAQ's I could find (and I thoroughly regret I can't get Ed Tinker with me to do all the things in the FAQ#17 which I am not sure I can check myself reliably ) Still, there are few questions I'd be very glad if someone of you can answer:

(i) is 1915 generally an advisable year for a collectible LP08? I regret to say I was not able to find the numbers of guns produced in particular years, so alas I have no idea whether this gun is rare or commonplace.

(ii) is the wear adequate? To my eye seems a bit too much (see please esp. the detailed left side picture -- well at least the probability of a re-blue's negligible ).

Actually, I'd be quite grateful if someone experienced would be kind enough to go through the pictures and tell me if there's anything suspicious there; also, I'd be very grateful of extra hints what you would double-check on this gun when buying.

Also, I would appreciate if anyone could guesstimate the value based on the photos.

(iii) was ever a drum magazine number-matched to the gun? Alas the drum magazine is not part of the deal (three standard magazines are); does that decrease the value considerably? Perhaps I blindly missed something obvious, but I haven't found much of the history of those drums; so far I've found just the technical stuff on type 1/2 etc...

(iv) finally, any advice whether there seems to be a way to learn the history of this particular 08 based on its 3160 SN? I've tried Google to no avail, but suppose there might be better sources out there

Thanks a very big lot, and do please forgive if my questions above are dumb,
OC

[Norme]

Hi Andrew, Welcome to the forum! We prefer that you post photos directly on the forum, it's more work for you but it's more convenient for forum members, and they don't disappear over time. Your LP08 appears to be original although well worn. The three magazines (one of which has a later beech wood base) have been renumbered. DWM magazines do not have inspection marks, which are an Erfurt feature. They should also have the serial suffix letter stamped on them. The stock looks like it could be original but the leather looks too good to be true. Drum magazines were not numbered to the gun, they had their own numbering sequence. Be very cautious buying a Type 2 drum, there are many fakes out there, and they are believed to originate in eastern Europe. Best regards, Norm

[OC]

Well I don't really see why the photos should disappear from my server , and there is very little extra work resizing them. The reason why I did not is that details are important, and shrinking kills them.

Nevertheless, if preferred, of course here they are -- but still, if anyone's going to help (which I do appreciate much), consider please the original images linked from my first message: they are considerably bigger and thus more precise. Thanks again!

[George Anderson]

The pistol by itself is realtively scarce and in its condition probably worth $3000 in the US. The magazines and the leather are fake or altered. Given that the leather is fake, I would assume that the stock may also be fake.

[OC]

Thanks!

Three grand equivalent in the local currency is roughly what the seller wants for the whole thing (incl. a cleaning rod which I am yet to see). Seemed a fair price for a match-number package, but since (at the very least) the mags definitely are not original -- heck, being warned, one can even see the scrubbing marks there -- I am not that sure anymore. Guess I'll try to get some discount and if the seller won't give, I'll wait for another chance.

Pity. Always wanted to have a nice LP08.

BTW do you see there some concrete points which prove the leather is fake, or is it just that it could hardly look this well if it was that old?

Thanks again,
OC

[George Anderson]

The magazine pouch and shoulder strap are absolutely fake. The hardware attaching the leather is fake. The boot and lower straps are definitely fake. I would have to see some good close-up photos of the front of the holster but I bet it's fake.

[lugerholsterrepair]

Andrew, I can tell you for 100% certainty that the holster is as fake as the rest of it. I don't need to see the front. Where the hinge ends at the left side it is squared off. The original german holsters are tapered up into the top lid, not squared. Also the top is molded so poorly on the left it cannot be anything but a reproduction. It is also the same color as the rest..Strike 3! it's out!
Even though the pistol date is rare as George says..the condition is horrible. The left side has been exposed to a caustic soloution or maybe fire. Either way it would be a deal killer for me.
If Artillery pistols are available in your neck of the woods, I would wait for one in better condition.

A couple more points..The double magazine pouch is a NAVY type not an Artillery. The Artillery was worn in the belt not on the carry strap.

Also the carry strap has a piece of spring steel riveted to it. Some genius at some time thought this would add authenticity to fake carry straps but in reality it is just a horrible annoyance.

any advice whether there seems to be a way to learn the history of this particular 08 based on its 3160 SN? No..The date tells the year of manufacture..not date of issue or to who. The serial number records if there were any were likely destroyed by the RAF or the Russians. At any rate they are gone.

[OC]

OK, thank you all very much! The information did help.

I'll get back next time I bump into a potentially interesting 08

[OC]

Just a FYI in case Y happen to I

Pointing out the problems discussed here (and some others, e.g., that there was no loading tool, that the "million-dollar chip" was broken, etc), I've got an offer of a 15 per cent discount. I've considered that for some time, and finally decided that I'll wait for another gun anyway, the discount not being enough.

Thanks again a big lot for all the help!

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by OC

Pointing out the problems discussed here (and some others, e.g., that there was no loading tool, that the "million-dollar chip" was broken, etc), I've got an offer of a 15 per cent discount. I've considered that for some time, and finally decided that I'll wait for another gun anyway, the discount not being enough.

Oohhhh...But it's an arty!!! And there can't be all that many of them in the CR!!! You may never get another chance!!! Someone else is sure to jump on this!!! And it's only money!!!

[nukem556]

Postino....the little devil sitting on the left shoulder...

[OC]

Right, but it's a wrong kind of an arty -- too pricey to shoot (also, it feels wrong to shoot matching numbers), not nice enough to store and cherish.

And there's an LP or two to have here, though by far not that many as in some other countries Actually the very now I can get a shooter (LP08, state seems comparable to this one, but no matching numbers) for about 3/4 the price -- when some of my clients feel like to pay an invoice, I'll consider that