New to the forum and looking for 1918/1920 Price Check

Peat · 03-24-2004, 08:31 PM

Just found your site today and have had a lot of fun reading the posts thus far. I always wanted a Luger and managed to pick one up last year. Not a pristine example, but at least within my price range. Could someone please give me an idea of its value...

- 1918 DWM
- 1920 Double date
- Police Unit stamps on frame were XXX'd out and a second set of numbers were stamped.
- 100% matching except mag
- Mag is aluminum bottom, waffenamt stamped
- Works flawlessly with any ammo I feed it
- Light to medium pitting on sides. Was obviously reblued at some point. Now very light holster wear.
- Walnut Grips are warn a little smooth, but are good condition and appear original
- No import stamps.

PS - I paid $365 from a small dealer with a shop in his basement that was going out of business.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Doubs · 03-24-2004, 11:53 PM

The reblue has devalued the pistol and going strictly on what you've provided, I estimate $400 - $500. You got a good deal at $365 and should be happy with it.

Dwight Gruber · 03-25-2004, 01:54 AM

Jim,

These days any Luger for $365 which is not a bare, mismatched wreck is quite a good deal.

Could you let us know what the unit marks are?

--Dwight

Peat · 03-25-2004, 09:38 AM

Yes I knew got a good deal because around here the only ones available are in gun shows and anything under $500 is a recent reblued Century Import.

The first unit mark is as follows:
S.L. Pol.
This is then overstruck with four big X's.
The second mark just below it is:
S.P.
L.
The gun appeared to be very crudely polished when it was reblued. Actually not that bad a job, but not up to the quality I would have expected from a typical US gunsmith. Also, the X-d out unit marks were partially polished out at that time, while the last marks are crisp. Could the reblue have occurred in Germany when it was re-issued?

Dwight Gruber · 03-25-2004, 10:07 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Peat:
Could the reblue have occurred in Germany when it was re-issued?<hr /></blockquote>"Official" reworks in Germany--police and the like--are usually of the highest quality.Take the pistol apart and look at the inside of the frame and the little stirrup which hangs down from the toggle and connects to the recoil spring. If the inside surfaces and the stirrup are blued, the gun was salt blued and assuredly not done in Germany as part of a rework program.

The unit markings are a head-scratcher. Are you sure there are no remnants of numbers which were polished out? Any chance of a photograph?

--Dwight

Peat · 03-25-2004, 08:02 PM

The stirrup and all internal parts are blued. Here are 2 pics of the old and new marks. I couldnt figure out how to paste them to the reply.

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/xd_out_unit_copy1.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/xd_out_unit_copy1.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/new_unit.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/new_unit.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

Edward Tinker · 03-25-2004, 09:16 PM

Jim, very interesting! I have a S.P.D. marked gun, in the same location. Can you provide other pictures of both sides?

Ed

Peat · 03-26-2004, 01:49 PM

Here are pics of the sides and top. Note that the grips are aftermarket. The originals are serial numbered to the gun and since this is a shooter i thought I would keep them in the gun case.

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarrightside.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarrightside.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarleftside.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarleftside.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugartop.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugartop.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

03-24-2004, 08:31 PM	#1
Peat User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New to the forum and looking for 1918/1920 Price Check Just found your site today and have had a lot of fun reading the posts thus far. I always wanted a Luger and managed to pick one up last year. Not a pristine example, but at least within my price range. Could someone please give me an idea of its value... - 1918 DWM - 1920 Double date - Police Unit stamps on frame were XXX'd out and a second set of numbers were stamped. - 100% matching except mag - Mag is aluminum bottom, waffenamt stamped - Works flawlessly with any ammo I feed it - Light to medium pitting on sides. Was obviously reblued at some point. Now very light holster wear. - Walnut Grips are warn a little smooth, but are good condition and appear original - No import stamps. PS - I paid $365 from a small dealer with a shop in his basement that was going out of business. Thanks in advance for any replies. __________________ Jim

03-25-2004, 09:38 AM	#4
Peat User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes I knew got a good deal because around here the only ones available are in gun shows and anything under $500 is a recent reblued Century Import. The first unit mark is as follows: S.L. Pol. This is then overstruck with four big X's. The second mark just below it is: S.P. L. The gun appeared to be very crudely polished when it was reblued. Actually not that bad a job, but not up to the quality I would have expected from a typical US gunsmith. Also, the X-d out unit marks were partially polished out at that time, while the last marks are crisp. Could the reblue have occurred in Germany when it was re-issued? __________________ Jim

03-25-2004, 10:07 AM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,305 Times in 429 Posts	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Peat: <strong>Could the reblue have occurred in Germany when it was re-issued?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">"Official" reworks in Germany--police and the like--are usually of the highest quality.Take the pistol apart and look at the inside of the frame and the little stirrup which hangs down from the toggle and connects to the recoil spring. If the inside surfaces and the stirrup are blued, the gun was salt blued and assuredly not done in Germany as part of a rework program. The unit markings are a head-scratcher. Are you sure there are no remnants of numbers which were polished out? Any chance of a photograph? --Dwight

03-25-2004, 08:02 PM	#6
Peat User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The stirrup and all internal parts are blued. Here are 2 pics of the old and new marks. I couldnt figure out how to paste them to the reply. <a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/xd_out_unit_copy1.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/xd_out_unit_copy1.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> <a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/new_unit.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/new_unit.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> __________________ Jim

03-25-2004, 09:16 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,028 Thanked 4,525 Times in 2,090 Posts	Jim, very interesting! I have a S.P.D. marked gun, in the same location. Can you provide other pictures of both sides? 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

03-24-2004, 11:53 PM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,695 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,677 Times in 551 Posts	The reblue has devalued the pistol and going strictly on what you've provided, I estimate $400 - $500. You got a good deal at $365 and should be happy with it.

03-25-2004, 01:54 AM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,305 Times in 429 Posts	Jim, These days any Luger for $365 which is not a bare, mismatched wreck is quite a good deal. Could you let us know what the unit marks are? --Dwight

03-26-2004, 01:49 PM	#8
Peat User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here are pics of the sides and top. Note that the grips are aftermarket. The originals are serial numbered to the gun and since this is a shooter i thought I would keep them in the gun case. <a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarrightside.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarrightside.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> <a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarleftside.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugarleftside.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> <a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugartop.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/lugartop.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> __________________ Jim