Gun Show Report--Portland

Dwight Gruber · 03-23-2002, 10:21 PM

A relatively Luger-rich environment.

A 1900 Commercial, really excellent quality, asking a full $3.5k. Two more Lugers on the same table for $800 apiece, a 1913 DWM with a sear safety, and a blank-chamber DWM, looked like a 1908 Military 3rd issue.

Three Lugers on another table, a 1906 DWM refinished & new barre, 2 mags & holster, $675. Also two 1920 Commercials, one 9mm and one .30, pretty good shape, $650 each. A byf in .30 showed up on that table later, also priced at $650.

There was a singleton 1900 American Eagle which has been for sale for quite a while now at $1.7k.

Another display had what may have been the Luger bargain of the show (I didn't buy), an S/42 1936 date for $600, really good condition--he was selling it as a shooter. He also had a John Martz Baby for sale for $2.6k.

The oddment at this show was a Luger carbine. The seller told me that the guy who sold it to the guy who sold it to him said that it was made up of a kit that was marketed in the '50s--long barrel, artillery sight, forearm, and shoulder stock. The gun was made up of a garden-variety base Luger. He only wanted $1.5k for it, which seemed to me to be pretty reasonable under the circumstances. Does anyone know about such a kit being sold?

There were at least three walk-ins that I know of (four, if you count the byf), a 1920 Commercial (damn, there seem to be a lot of these around!) and two artilleries. One was a really gorgeous chamber-date 1913 DWM (I didn't even ask how much) and one chamber-date 1918 Frankenartillery. Yes, I paid too much for it, but it may give me a line on another, better Luger later.

Also picked up a set of ivory grips (yes they are real, and yes, they were -real- expensive!), which I will put away until I have a nice pim...er, flash gun to put them on.

There was not much else interesting this time around, only three P-38s (well, one P-1), and three broomhandle Mausers--but one of those was the Disaster Bolo I posted about a couple weeks ago, and one was an Astra.

Orv, sorry our paths didn't cross, the Expo Center is a pretty big place I guess.

--Dwight

03-23-2002, 10:53 PM

Darn. Now the Lugers come out when my son is moving back to Sacramento. I now have no excuse or place to stay to go to the Portland show.

Kyrie · 03-23-2002, 11:37 PM

Hi Dwight,

If you have a chance at a nice Astra M900 (Spanish Broomhandle) at a fair price, snap it up. These are harder to find that the C96.

Best regards,

Kyrie

Dwight Gruber · 03-24-2002, 12:11 AM

Kyrie,

Thanks for the tip. I don't recall the price on it, it seemed reasonable, I'm headed back tomorrow anyway, so I'll check.

Are they shootable?? And, can you fit a stock to them? Legally?

--Dwight

Orv Reichert · 03-24-2002, 01:47 AM

Yes...I was there from noon to 3:00 ...perhaps, next time?

Orv

Big Norm · 03-24-2002, 09:59 PM

Dwight,

did I read your thread right? You said that you saw a chamber dated 1913 Artillery Luger? Ain't no such animal. Artilleries started in 1914 at both DWM and Erfurt.

Big Norm

Dwight Gruber · 03-25-2002, 02:52 AM

I could have mis-read the date, I was peering over someone's shoulder. No way to find out what it really was now, I guess. Aaron Davis's book (not the last word, obviously, but what I carry at gun shows) allows for the logical possibility of an artillery with a chamber date of 1913. Jeez, I could swear that was the number, particularly because I was looking at the 1918 I bought at the same time, and I briefly confused the two numbers in my notes. I guess I'm embarrresed!

--Dwight

Dwight Gruber · 03-25-2002, 10:30 PM

Gave the guy with the Artillery a call this evening (turns out I have his card), he said that it is a 1915 DWM Artillery. He was looking for about $2k for it.

--Dwight

03-23-2002, 10:21 PM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,308 Times in 429 Posts	Gun Show Report--Portland A relatively Luger-rich environment. A 1900 Commercial, really excellent quality, asking a full $3.5k. Two more Lugers on the same table for $800 apiece, a 1913 DWM with a sear safety, and a blank-chamber DWM, looked like a 1908 Military 3rd issue. Three Lugers on another table, a 1906 DWM refinished & new barre, 2 mags & holster, $675. Also two 1920 Commercials, one 9mm and one .30, pretty good shape, $650 each. A byf in .30 showed up on that table later, also priced at $650. There was a singleton 1900 American Eagle which has been for sale for quite a while now at $1.7k. Another display had what may have been the Luger bargain of the show (I didn't buy), an S/42 1936 date for $600, really good condition--he was selling it as a shooter. He also had a John Martz Baby for sale for $2.6k. The oddment at this show was a Luger carbine. The seller told me that the guy who sold it to the guy who sold it to him said that it was made up of a kit that was marketed in the '50s--long barrel, artillery sight, forearm, and shoulder stock. The gun was made up of a garden-variety base Luger. He only wanted $1.5k for it, which seemed to me to be pretty reasonable under the circumstances. Does anyone know about such a kit being sold? There were at least three walk-ins that I know of (four, if you count the byf), a 1920 Commercial (damn, there seem to be a lot of these around!) and two artilleries. One was a really gorgeous chamber-date 1913 DWM (I didn't even ask how much) and one chamber-date 1918 Frankenartillery. Yes, I paid too much for it, but it may give me a line on another, better Luger later. Also picked up a set of ivory grips (yes they are real, and yes, they were -real- expensive!), which I will put away until I have a nice pim...er, flash gun to put them on. There was not much else interesting this time around, only three P-38s (well, one P-1), and three broomhandle Mausers--but one of those was the Disaster Bolo I posted about a couple weeks ago, and one was an Astra. Orv, sorry our paths didn't cross, the Expo Center is a pretty big place I guess. --Dwight

03-23-2002, 10:53 PM	#2
Tracy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Gun Show Report--Portland Darn. Now the Lugers come out when my son is moving back to Sacramento. I now have no excuse or place to stay to go to the Portland show.

03-23-2002, 11:37 PM	#3
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Gun Show Report--Portland Hi Dwight, If you have a chance at a nice Astra M900 (Spanish Broomhandle) at a fair price, snap it up. These are harder to find that the C96. Best regards, Kyrie

03-24-2002, 12:11 AM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,308 Times in 429 Posts	Re: Gun Show Report--Portland Kyrie, Thanks for the tip. I don't recall the price on it, it seemed reasonable, I'm headed back tomorrow anyway, so I'll check. Are they shootable?? And, can you fit a stock to them? Legally? --Dwight

03-24-2002, 01:47 AM	#5
Orv Reichert RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SW Washington State Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gun Show Report--Portland Yes...I was there from noon to 3:00 ...perhaps, next time? Orv

03-24-2002, 09:59 PM	#6
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Gun Show Report--Portland Dwight, did I read your thread right? You said that you saw a chamber dated 1913 Artillery Luger? Ain't no such animal. Artilleries started in 1914 at both DWM and Erfurt. Big Norm

03-25-2002, 02:52 AM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,308 Times in 429 Posts	Re: Gun Show Report--Portland I could have mis-read the date, I was peering over someone's shoulder. No way to find out what it really was now, I guess. Aaron Davis's book (not the last word, obviously, but what I carry at gun shows) allows for the logical possibility of an artillery with a chamber date of 1913. Jeez, I could swear that was the number, particularly because I was looking at the 1918 I bought at the same time, and I briefly confused the two numbers in my notes. I guess I'm embarrresed! --Dwight

03-25-2002, 10:30 PM	#8
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,308 Times in 429 Posts	1913 Artillery...NOT Gave the guy with the Artillery a call this evening (turns out I have his card), he said that it is a 1915 DWM Artillery. He was looking for about $2k for it. --Dwight