First Luger!

Hunterpeaks · 11-14-2013, 04:38 PM

Hi All,
Hesitant to post here, as it seems someone posts everyday about what they might have! I am most excited and just purchased this Luger at an estate sale.

I have done some searching here and elsewhere to do a bit of due diligence, so I don't look like a complete Oaf posting on here.

From what I have learned, it seems to be a Luftwaffe gun, based on the proofing marks. It also has a "G" date stamp. All matching numbers except for the Mag. It came with two mags, one is the aluminum and other appears to be a replica with plastic base. Is this a P-08 gun? Or is it something else? It is in amazing shape and a great piece. Am I correct in my identification of it? Would anyone care to venture a value as well? I have always wanted one, so tickled that I have such a nice one. Thanks and excited to join the club!
Hunter

Edward Tinker · 11-14-2013, 04:49 PM

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

Although the proof testing looks like an eagle 2 acceptance marking, from the books, it says that an eagle 63 eagle 63 would than have the test proof on the right, like yours. It appears your suffix is a C and that falls within the correct ones made during 1935 (G date).

Likely army and not air force.

Ed

Hunterpeaks · 11-14-2013, 05:06 PM

Thanks Ed. Much appreciated. Was really hoping it might be an Air force one! Any guess to value? I bought it with a few other items in a sort of lump sum price, so I ball parked it around $1000. Did I do good?
And point me to the best book that would cover this one and similar ones. I would love to continue learning!

Edward Tinker · 11-14-2013, 05:24 PM

its worth a $1,000 just as a shooter grade so if all original and it appears to be, I would guess its worth at least double that. you need to look at all the small parts, to include firing pin, hold open, etc.

Several good books on the Mauser era, Jan Stills 3rd Reich Lugers, the Mauser Parabellum by Hallock and de Kant.

Frank · 11-14-2013, 07:43 PM

Ed, Hunter, the suffix is an "e"!!

It's a Military Mauser completed about November 1935.

kzullick · 11-14-2013, 07:48 PM

Nice and Welcome to the forum.

Maestro · 11-14-2013, 07:49 PM

wow sweet find in a estate sale!!

any accessories? holster, tool?

DavidJayUden · 11-14-2013, 08:51 PM

Nice gun. Take a look at G date guns on Simpsons Ltd. for value ideas. If all the small parts match I'd say you did very well.
Also that plastic bottom mag. appears to be a late production mag. for the 1941-1942 guns and worth $150-$275 by itself. Referred to as an E63 mag, un-numbered and desirable for the late production guns.
dju

Hunterpeaks · 11-15-2013, 01:43 PM

Thanks guys. No accessories unfortunately. Only the two mags. Thanks for the info on the E63 Mag! Wow, I figured that was some POS replica or something, had no idea it was that valuable!

Thanks so much for your help guys, getting more and more excited!

Do I dare even shoot the thing? Its definitely a collectible and investment for me, so tend not to shoot those guns in my collection.

Hunter

DavidJayUden · 11-15-2013, 02:39 PM

"To shot or not to shoot", the never ending, and unanswerable question...
All we can say for certain that IF a numbered part breaks, and they really do, your gun will be worth approx. 1/2 of its matching value.
Will a part break the first shot fired? Probably not. Will a part break eventually with repeated firings? Yes.
Ultimately you have to answer the question.
dju

tackkjr · 11-15-2013, 06:47 PM

We ultimately got to this same point on the thread when I posted my p08 1941 black widow. After thinking about it, and talking to range/gun store owner here locally, I decided to not shoot it and buy a glock shooter for the range. I really struggled with the decision as I'll never sell the Luger (as it's a bring back from my Grandfather) so it's monetary value does not really matter to me. What made up my mind is that I want to leave it for my kids in the same condition that my Dad gave it to me.

11-14-2013, 04:38 PM	#1
Hunterpeaks New User Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	First Luger! Hi All, Hesitant to post here, as it seems someone posts everyday about what they might have! I am most excited and just purchased this Luger at an estate sale. I have done some searching here and elsewhere to do a bit of due diligence, so I don't look like a complete Oaf posting on here. From what I have learned, it seems to be a Luftwaffe gun, based on the proofing marks. It also has a "G" date stamp. All matching numbers except for the Mag. It came with two mags, one is the aluminum and other appears to be a replica with plastic base. Is this a P-08 gun? Or is it something else? It is in amazing shape and a great piece. Am I correct in my identification of it? Would anyone care to venture a value as well? I have always wanted one, so tickled that I have such a nice one. Thanks and excited to join the club! Hunter Attached Thumbnails

11-14-2013, 04:49 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	WELCOME TO THE FORUM! Although the proof testing looks like an eagle 2 acceptance marking, from the books, it says that an eagle 63 eagle 63 would than have the test proof on the right, like yours. It appears your suffix is a C and that falls within the correct ones made during 1935 (G date). Likely army and not air force. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

11-14-2013, 05:24 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	its worth a $1,000 just as a shooter grade so if all original and it appears to be, I would guess its worth at least double that. you need to look at all the small parts, to include firing pin, hold open, etc. Several good books on the Mauser era, Jan Stills 3rd Reich Lugers, the Mauser Parabellum by Hallock and de Kant. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

11-14-2013, 05:06 PM	#3
Hunterpeaks New User Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Ed. Much appreciated. Was really hoping it might be an Air force one! Any guess to value? I bought it with a few other items in a sort of lump sum price, so I ball parked it around $1000. Did I do good? And point me to the best book that would cover this one and similar ones. I would love to continue learning!

11-14-2013, 07:43 PM	#5
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Ed, Hunter, the suffix is an "e"!! It's a Military Mauser completed about November 1935.

11-14-2013, 07:48 PM	#6
kzullick Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Berwick, Pennsylvania Posts: 227 Thanks: 614 Thanked 100 Times in 81 Posts	Nice and Welcome to the forum.

11-14-2013, 07:49 PM	#7
Maestro User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: "Where the streets have no names" Posts: 504 Thanks: 192 Thanked 200 Times in 136 Posts	wow sweet find in a estate sale!! any accessories? holster, tool?

11-14-2013, 08:51 PM	#8
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Nice gun. Take a look at G date guns on Simpsons Ltd. for value ideas. If all the small parts match I'd say you did very well. Also that plastic bottom mag. appears to be a late production mag. for the 1941-1942 guns and worth $150-$275 by itself. Referred to as an E63 mag, un-numbered and desirable for the late production guns. dju

11-15-2013, 01:43 PM	#9
Hunterpeaks New User Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks guys. No accessories unfortunately. Only the two mags. Thanks for the info on the E63 Mag! Wow, I figured that was some POS replica or something, had no idea it was that valuable! Thanks so much for your help guys, getting more and more excited! Do I dare even shoot the thing? Its definitely a collectible and investment for me, so tend not to shoot those guns in my collection. Hunter

11-15-2013, 02:39 PM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	"To shot or not to shoot", the never ending, and unanswerable question... All we can say for certain that IF a numbered part breaks, and they really do, your gun will be worth approx. 1/2 of its matching value. Will a part break the first shot fired? Probably not. Will a part break eventually with repeated firings? Yes. Ultimately you have to answer the question. dju

11-15-2013, 06:47 PM	#11
tackkjr User Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	We ultimately got to this same point on the thread when I posted my p08 1941 black widow. After thinking about it, and talking to range/gun store owner here locally, I decided to not shoot it and buy a glock shooter for the range. I really struggled with the decision as I'll never sell the Luger (as it's a bring back from my Grandfather) so it's monetary value does not really matter to me. What made up my mind is that I want to leave it for my kids in the same condition that my Dad gave it to me.