Collecting Shooters Shameful? Opinion/poll

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

If its shooter grade, to collectors, its either

--- import marked

--- reblued

--- mismatched parts

so, an import marking doesn't hurt value more - although bigger marking, the more it might take a hit

I don't believe an import mark on a rare (and expensive) luger makes it a shooter!

The marking is a distraction, but with today's rules importing a rare luger or even a nice more common one requires it.

Some of the pistols from the Sturgess and Dutch collections come to mind.

[DavidJayUden]

That gun is a gracefully crafterd work of art. Glad to hear that it is being retired.
dju

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by 4 Scale

Finding shooters is challenging. I recently tried to purchase a model 1906 AE shooter off GB. Pictures were poor, the pistol would not hold open, Mables front sight and seller didn't know if all parts matched. The price was a bit high for a shooter with mechanical problems but what I could see in the pictures seemed good, so I rolled the dice and won it.

I get the darn thing and it is all matching except grips, no rust, BUG proofed and with a good bore. The bluing is so nice that at first I suspected a re-blue, but comparison to my other AE under a microscope, halos etc. has convinced me the finish is original. Even the grip straps have almost no finish loss. Magazine is original and like new. The takedown lever has some scratches and the straw is more faded than the blueing. There are no other flaws. A $25 spring from Tom Heller fixed the hold open issue.

In other words my attempt to buy a shooter failed miserably as I won't shoot this. Below is a quick grab picture, I hope to take better pictures when the weather warms. The pistol's finish looks better than this picture shows, the "blemishes" are fingerprints. I guess my search for a 1906 .30 Luger shooter must continue.

Get a Mauser, any Mauser will do. Even if original finish and all matching, as long as it isn't in NIB condition ( and they seldom are), considering the number produced, I would never frown as it being used as a shooter.
Life's too short.
Or as it's said in my Country. Life's two days, Carnival is three. Even if you party all your life you're already missing one Carnival day.

[RShaw]

4 Scale,
"Problem for me is, although I bought it as a shooter I'm finding myself reluctant to shoot it because of all the matching parts."

Your story is very similar to mine.. I originally bought my collectible (1917 DWM) to shoot. So to resolve the dilemma ( decided to retire it) I looked for and found a good shooter (reblued matching 1918 DWM). At the end of the day, we all can weigh the arguments and positions of others, but we each have to make our own decision.

Yours is a very nice gun !! You're right. It IS difficult to figure out this shooter thing.

Keep looking for that special 1906 .30 Luger shooter. You'll find it. I'm still thinking about that Swiss 7,65 mm... the seller comes back from vacation next week.