Looking for first Luger - many questions

rochte · 01-10-2013, 12:15 AM

Hello all... I found this board after Googling for "what to look for in a Luger" and finding the FAQ. Nice document and very helpful - thank you for that!

I am 45 and live in the metro Detroit area. I am an avid collector of modern military-style rifles, along with the more common (and certainly less expensive) C&R long guns. I've gone through phases where I had to have five varieties of ARs, then G3s, then CETMEs, then FALs. FALs kept me busy for quite a while - and FALfiles.com is still where I spend most of my "forum time" (my username is the same on almost every board, including that one).

I'm ready for something completely different now, though, and that something different is a Luger.

I've always wanted a Luger - in particular, one from the WWII (or at least Nazi) era. I don't like safe queens, but then I also don't like ugly looking guns (e.g., 10% blue, sewer pipe bore, etc) either. If I buy a Luger, I want to be able to shoot it - and probably rather frequently. But I also want it to be reasonably attractive.

My budget will be determined by what I can get by either selling or trading a rifle. Specifically, I have a Daewoo DR200 rifle with ACE stock and pg conversion that I could probably sell (given the current hysteria) for $1200 or more, and I also have a custom-built DSA FAL carbine that might sell for $1500 or more. I want to get rid of one or the other of those, not both. And ideally, I would like to NOT participate in this hysterical market and instead find someone willing to trade.

So, given what I've said above, I'm wondering if someone might be able to advise me on the following points:

1. What are the specifics that I should be looking for in a Luger - condition, matching, manufacturer, etc? Again, in my mind, I would like an "attractive shooter" built somewhere between '33 and '45.

2. This one could trump question #1 immediately - is my whole idea of an "attractive shooter" just plain foolish?? That is, should I instead pick either an attractive, matching collectors piece, OR a shooter - instead of trying to do both?

3. Am I likely to find anyone on this board or perhaps in the wider Luger collector community who would be looking for a trade as I have described (i.e., for my DR200 or FAL)? Or should I just cash-out one of these rifles and go shopping?

4. Am I better off trying to find a private deal (e.g., on this forum) or going through one of the big dealers like Simpson Ltd?

Any other advice, slaps-up-side-the-head, etc are welcome and appreciated! I know almost nothing about Lugers and I am not one to pretend otherwise when I don't know. As I posted on FALfiles earlier tonight (thus far, no replies), "School me on Lugers"!

Thank you!

Regards,
Robert

01-10-2013, 12:15 AM	#1
rochte New User Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Looking for first Luger - many questions Hello all... I found this board after Googling for "what to look for in a Luger" and finding the FAQ. Nice document and very helpful - thank you for that! I am 45 and live in the metro Detroit area. I am an avid collector of modern military-style rifles, along with the more common (and certainly less expensive) C&R long guns. I've gone through phases where I had to have five varieties of ARs, then G3s, then CETMEs, then FALs. FALs kept me busy for quite a while - and FALfiles.com is still where I spend most of my "forum time" (my username is the same on almost every board, including that one). I'm ready for something completely different now, though, and that something different is a Luger. I've always wanted a Luger - in particular, one from the WWII (or at least Nazi) era. I don't like safe queens, but then I also don't like ugly looking guns (e.g., 10% blue, sewer pipe bore, etc) either. If I buy a Luger, I want to be able to shoot it - and probably rather frequently. But I also want it to be reasonably attractive. My budget will be determined by what I can get by either selling or trading a rifle. Specifically, I have a Daewoo DR200 rifle with ACE stock and pg conversion that I could probably sell (given the current hysteria) for $1200 or more, and I also have a custom-built DSA FAL carbine that might sell for $1500 or more. I want to get rid of one or the other of those, not both. And ideally, I would like to NOT participate in this hysterical market and instead find someone willing to trade. So, given what I've said above, I'm wondering if someone might be able to advise me on the following points: 1. What are the specifics that I should be looking for in a Luger - condition, matching, manufacturer, etc? Again, in my mind, I would like an "attractive shooter" built somewhere between '33 and '45. 2. This one could trump question #1 immediately - is my whole idea of an "attractive shooter" just plain foolish?? That is, should I instead pick either an attractive, matching collectors piece, OR a shooter - instead of trying to do both? 3. Am I likely to find anyone on this board or perhaps in the wider Luger collector community who would be looking for a trade as I have described (i.e., for my DR200 or FAL)? Or should I just cash-out one of these rifles and go shopping? 4. Am I better off trying to find a private deal (e.g., on this forum) or going through one of the big dealers like Simpson Ltd? Any other advice, slaps-up-side-the-head, etc are welcome and appreciated! I know almost nothing about Lugers and I am not one to pretend otherwise when I don't know. As I posted on FALfiles earlier tonight (thus far, no replies), "School me on Lugers"! Thank you! Regards, Robert