What is the best way to sell all or part of a luger collection?

calibrator · 11-17-2018, 01:43 PM

" You likely paid "retail" for them, and will be fortunate to get that back(JMHO); and anything you bought from Ralph is suspect to most of us- but you may have been lucky. "

+1 on the above. I know from experience. I had the experience of visiting the World Of Lugers at least 5-6 times to purchase items since I live very close, and a few times just to hear his tales about his life. Did I mention he "liked" my Wife, his Wife had notable animosity toward her after the 1st visit. I got a few good tales about how he got started as a dealer when he in his early teens, as well as a few deadly encounters he had as a Sheriff or a Marshal, I forget which jurisdiction.

Either Ralph was a shrewd pirate, or a victim of senile dementia, I don't know. I'll give 2 examples for your entertainment

, the 2nd is the most hair raising;

Went there one time with my Wife (Ralph liked my wife, likening her to "Marilyn"), and was shown a nice looking 1918 Arty. Re-finished, non-matching with a MecGar mag, he said he wanted 1500. Seeing something we wanted, my Wife said we would go to the bank and be right back, OK. Getting back and handing over 1500, Ralph says you're 100 shy. My Wife stood up to him and said NO you said 1500. After a bit of back-and-forth, Ralph says with a sly smile, Yeah, you're right.

2nd time;
Went there alone for the first time (mistake?) looking for Arty accessories. Had an Imperial stock, a Trommelmag, and a re-pro re-loader on the table in front of us. I said, how much for ALL the items on the table. The price he quoted seemed GREAT for all 3. I paid his price, he went into the back room with the cash, I started putting the items in my case. As I was putting the loader into my case, he magically appeared (was he watching ?) and said, HOLD ON THERE, YOU DIDN'T PAY ME FOR THAT LOADER.

WTF, what if I had put the loader in my case and left. Would I have been Blackmailed to prevent prosecution for theft ??? I AM of the opinion it was a set-up to force me into paying WAY above retail because of the "unease" created by the situation.

As a Machinist/Welder/Fabricator specializing in post-war Mercedes Benz Classic Restoration. I jokingly told Ralph at the first meeting that I was a "M-B Parts Counterfeiter", since I was actively making a LOT of parts for a project that re-created a one-of-a-kind 1952 race car (the parts were actually fooling old timers that worked on that car). Ralph said to me; WOW, those are skills I wish I would have had when I was a young man. (???)

Is it any wonder that I have predilection against trusting Dealers at first glance ?

11-17-2018, 01:43 PM	#15
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 340 Thanks: 67 Thanked 271 Times in 108 Posts	" You likely paid "retail" for them, and will be fortunate to get that back(JMHO); and anything you bought from Ralph is suspect to most of us- but you may have been lucky. " +1 on the above. I know from experience. I had the experience of visiting the World Of Lugers at least 5-6 times to purchase items since I live very close, and a few times just to hear his tales about his life. Did I mention he "liked" my Wife, his Wife had notable animosity toward her after the 1st visit. I got a few good tales about how he got started as a dealer when he in his early teens, as well as a few deadly encounters he had as a Sheriff or a Marshal, I forget which jurisdiction. Either Ralph was a shrewd pirate, or a victim of senile dementia, I don't know. I'll give 2 examples for your entertainment , the 2nd is the most hair raising; Went there one time with my Wife (Ralph liked my wife, likening her to "Marilyn"), and was shown a nice looking 1918 Arty. Re-finished, non-matching with a MecGar mag, he said he wanted 1500. Seeing something we wanted, my Wife said we would go to the bank and be right back, OK. Getting back and handing over 1500, Ralph says you're 100 shy. My Wife stood up to him and said NO you said 1500. After a bit of back-and-forth, Ralph says with a sly smile, Yeah, you're right. 2nd time; Went there alone for the first time (mistake?) looking for Arty accessories. Had an Imperial stock, a Trommelmag, and a re-pro re-loader on the table in front of us. I said, how much for ALL the items on the table. The price he quoted seemed GREAT for all 3. I paid his price, he went into the back room with the cash, I started putting the items in my case. As I was putting the loader into my case, he magically appeared (was he watching ?) and said, HOLD ON THERE, YOU DIDN'T PAY ME FOR THAT LOADER. WTF, what if I had put the loader in my case and left. Would I have been Blackmailed to prevent prosecution for theft ??? I AM of the opinion it was a set-up to force me into paying WAY above retail because of the "unease" created by the situation. As a Machinist/Welder/Fabricator specializing in post-war Mercedes Benz Classic Restoration. I jokingly told Ralph at the first meeting that I was a "M-B Parts Counterfeiter", since I was actively making a LOT of parts for a project that re-created a one-of-a-kind 1952 race car (the parts were actually fooling old timers that worked on that car). Ralph said to me; WOW, those are skills I wish I would have had when I was a young man. (???) Is it any wonder that I have predilection against trusting Dealers at first glance ?