Advices on how to buy a decent P08 BULGARIAN

Sergio Natali · 09-16-2013, 05:24 AM

Recently I've had the opportunity to see three P.08 "Bulgarian" lugers, the ones made in 1909/1910 with the Bulgarian crest on the toggle link and the standing lion on right receiver. I feel quite tempted to get one, BUT, so far I've only seen either heavily refurbished ones or in very poor conditions, where they've got some mismatched parts, and all are with unmatching numbers; nonetheless I'm looking for something as original as possible, but I think I'd need to have somebody's else unbiased opinion.

alanint · 09-16-2013, 06:35 AM

From what I have learned here on the site, Bulgarians are usually found in less than perfect condition. The ones you are looking at seem to be typical of what is out there.

Dick Herman · 09-17-2013, 03:43 PM

I have two 1908 Bulgarian Lugers. The first Bulgarian I acquired was "sanitized" by removing most of the markings that would identify any country of origin. The Bulgarian crest, safety marking and DWM were removed. The extractor still has the Cyrillic loaded marking. The top half numbers match while the lower half matches with a different number. The gun has an attractive dip bluing with vertical grooved black bakelite grips. I did not get this from Shattuck, but he told this was a USSR rework for sale outside their nation. It is one of the Lugers that I enjoy taking to the range.

The second 1908 Bulgarian Lugar is mismatched and roughly finished reworked probably in Bulgaria. While it is one of the ugliest guns in my collection, it has all the correct marking in place plus an assortment of additional reworking marks. I was very proud to add this rare gun to my collection.

I do not have a problem with some of the legitimate reworked military Lugers. However, I am skeptical of near pristine Lugers from places where there is a history rebuilding their older weapons.

Geo99 · 09-17-2013, 10:48 PM

There is a mismatched one for sale at Simpsons -
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...4e3ee842338bc9

Looks pretty good to me

09-16-2013, 05:24 AM	#1
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Advices on how to buy a decent P08 BULGARIAN Recently I've had the opportunity to see three P.08 "Bulgarian" lugers, the ones made in 1909/1910 with the Bulgarian crest on the toggle link and the standing lion on right receiver. I feel quite tempted to get one, BUT, so far I've only seen either heavily refurbished ones or in very poor conditions, where they've got some mismatched parts, and all are with unmatching numbers; nonetheless I'm looking for something as original as possible, but I think I'd need to have somebody's else unbiased opinion. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

09-17-2013, 10:48 PM	#4
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 400 Thanks: 102 Thanked 127 Times in 75 Posts	There is a mismatched one for sale at Simpsons - http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...4e3ee842338bc9 Looks pretty good to me __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

09-16-2013, 06:35 AM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	From what I have learned here on the site, Bulgarians are usually found in less than perfect condition. The ones you are looking at seem to be typical of what is out there.

09-17-2013, 03:43 PM	#3
Dick Herman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 302 Thanks: 496 Thanked 356 Times in 138 Posts	I have two 1908 Bulgarian Lugers. The first Bulgarian I acquired was "sanitized" by removing most of the markings that would identify any country of origin. The Bulgarian crest, safety marking and DWM were removed. The extractor still has the Cyrillic loaded marking. The top half numbers match while the lower half matches with a different number. The gun has an attractive dip bluing with vertical grooved black bakelite grips. I did not get this from Shattuck, but he told this was a USSR rework for sale outside their nation. It is one of the Lugers that I enjoy taking to the range. The second 1908 Bulgarian Lugar is mismatched and roughly finished reworked probably in Bulgaria. While it is one of the ugliest guns in my collection, it has all the correct marking in place plus an assortment of additional reworking marks. I was very proud to add this rare gun to my collection. I do not have a problem with some of the legitimate reworked military Lugers. However, I am skeptical of near pristine Lugers from places where there is a history rebuilding their older weapons.