Interarms from RIAC

[DonVoigt]

You do not have to be "home" to bid!

[alvin]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

You do not have to be "home" to bid!

I did not notice them initially. Only searched the word "broomhandle", no interest on all items displayed, so I went out and did not watch the auction. When I came back, the auction already finished, and I found these Interarms.

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by alvin

I did not notice them initially. Only searched the word "broomhandle", no interest on all items displayed, so I went out and did not watch the auction. When I came back, the auction already finished, and I found these Interarms.

Originally Posted by Mac Cat

nice pistols.
Didn't they retail for $5,000 originally ?

I noticed these multi-Parabellum lots soon after they were listed, and posted about them. I haven't been following the gun auction market for as long as many here, but I thought it unusual to see that many lots of Parabellums offered in pairs or trios--and all NIB. I think you did GREAT on your purchase!

IIRC, these sold in the $700 range when new. They are appreciated, but spurned a bit as collectibles, presumably because they're not "original, original." The manufacturer, even though still Mauser, was technically new, as was most of the tooling and many of the techniques used to fashion them, as well as parts of the design, such as the toggle ramps.

Aside from reported finish characteristics, such as parts that are plum color, porosity visible in some of the investment cast parts, and high-gloss buffed surfaces, they are fine pistols--just as accurate, dependable, and durable as the "real McCoy."

So, in the sense that they are generally regarded as reproductions, they command a little less money, on average, than would a decent old one. Five or six years ago, they were available for under a thousand unless it was a rare variation within the variation, as is the P.08 model, of which relatively fewer were made compared to the Swiss frame version. They are going for somewhat North of $1k these days, so they certainly can and do appreciate.

Mauser seems to have made some of each major variation, even carbines, cartridge counters, and Artillerys--though not very many! I suppose the commemoratives offered were. in part, a marketing strategy, but if you like a good commemorative, what the hey.

In actual numbers, with more than 3,000,000 originals made, the few thousands by Mauser are actually more rare. If you are patient, you'd eventually be able to find a Parabellum just about every configuration that had ever been made originally--barrel length/style, caliber, frame style. One obvious exception would be the post-'37 models with no strawed parts, e.g. the "Black Widow."

I hope this "Parabellum Primer" is helpful, and if I'm mistaken about any part, I hope the real experts will correct!