Gun Show Report--Portland

Dwight Gruber · 09-07-2002, 09:35 PM

First big gun show (1000 tables or so) since beginning of summer. Hooked up with both Russ Withem and Orv Reichert, and met Steve Richards of our esteemed association (he has his own story to tell [img]biggrin.gif[/img] )

About 30 Lugers scattered throughout the hall, and three walk-ins that I know of (four, if you include the byf41 which I sold). Here's the rundown of items and prices.

DWM double-date police, marred sideplate, $500
byf 41 shiny reblue shooter, $600
1900 American Eagle, second model safety lever, really nice, $2k I really like this gun, its beyond my reach, the owner says it will probably end up on an auction site
John Martz baby, $2.8k
another shooter on this table, don't remember details, but comparably piced

1900 Commercial, cherry, $3.5k

1900AE, pretty good shape, supposedly has provenance, $1.6k

DWM rebarrel, don't remember date, rig, $750
DWM commercial, rig, $700

1906AE, looked cherry, $2.5k
DWM 1908, excellent, $1.75k
40/42 (I think) looked good, $1.5k these guns were all in a case, since I wasn't buying them I didn't want to trouble the owner and handle them so the estimation is visual only

1906AE pretty good $1.795k
1920 commercial same shape $1.595k
42 1939 reblue $695

Vickers pretty hard use, old arsenal refinish and mismatch (probably), very good bore, no brass side plate, $999

S/42 G, mismatch, $600ish (didn't write it down)
1906AE $600-ish (didn't write it down)
two Finnish Lugers, $499 each, mismatch and hard used

Erfurt mismatch/reblue Artillery shooter $700
DWM shooter, about $500
1906AE very good shape $900
DWM 1921 Police with unit marks $800 (probably the most interesting Luger in the show it sold before I made up my mind to buy it <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> )

42 1939 excellent $2.295k
1906AE excellent $3.495k
Artillery Commercial $2.850k this was Jerry Kramer's table, top shape as usual, but only four guns this show. The fourth one was an oddment, a DWM that someone had sleeved to .22lr, lightened the recoil spring, and ground the sleeve so that the normal extrctor functioned. Used an Erma .22 conversion kit mag. Wanted $1k for it.

The walk-in that I know about had a very nice (but refinished) DWM Artillery, changed hands twice in the course of an hour for $900 and more. Also had a 1906AE, average shape, and a DWM mismatch, don't know what the ultimate disposition of those was. He also had a Broomhandle Mauser with stock in very good original shape, my offer wasn't as good as the $900 he eventually got for it.

Other notable Luger items, a drum magazine, an Erma .22 conversion kit in box for $700, and a brown 1917 Navy holster with two magazine pouch (the whole rig belt-loop style) price rumored to be in the $600 range.

I think I missed a couple, but that's all I come up with right now.

--Dwight

Herb · 09-07-2002, 10:10 PM

Dwight, you had much better luck than I. Just got back form the giant Wasatch Gun Show in Rock Springs Wyoming. Had big hopes as that is true Cowboy country and Frontier 44's are prized, not Lugers. When I finally found it my hopes fell, a 400 mile trip and the show was in a building the size of a school gym, and room to spare. Saw a decent C96 for 1200, two P38's 450 to 550, one Luger, a commercial, about 50% for 850. Not all was lost, got a nice 50 cal ammo can for 5.00 and a really neat wooden motorcycle for 20. Guess it depends how you look at it. The wife had fun.

G.T. · 09-07-2002, 11:03 PM

You both had better luck then I did! Went to the big Phoenix crossroads show! Saw some really over priced lugers, but, I picked up some nice clips, and a bit of ammo! Nice day.... until some guy hit my truck (with me in it!)...He was going about 50 mph in the parking lot, I was going about one mph! He was racing someone for my parking spot.... My shoulder hurts a bit tonight...the thing that really ruffles my feathers is that my left shoulder was the only good joint I had left!! To add insult to injury, my 44 oz water cup flipped upside down on my just bought mags and ammo!! I feel I'm pretty tough though....going back tomorrow and let them take another shot at me! Till...later....G.T. <img src="graemlins/icon107.gif" border="0" alt="[icon107]" />

Herb · 09-07-2002, 11:25 PM

Gerry, don't even negotiate with the insurance company, get a lawyer if you are in the right. Problems surface weeks or even months later that are a result of the accident. I used to be a claim agent for the Southern Pacific Trans Co. My job was to buy em' as cheap as possible, I still have trouble sleeping.

G.T. · 09-07-2002, 11:45 PM

Thanks Herb! I'll give the whole episode a lot of thought over the weekend.....I very much appreciate the advice! till...later... GT <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Ron Wood · 09-08-2002, 12:09 AM

[quote] 1900 American Eagle, first model safety lever, really nice, $2k <hr></blockquote>

Dwight:
I haven't encountered an American Eagle with a first type safety lever (checkered nearly 1/2 of its length with a very low, almost flat, profile). The early Eagles that I have seen have the type two safety that is checkered but about the same height and length (just a tad longer) of that of the final type three safety, which has the parallel grooves. Did you happen to notice the serial number of this 1900 Luger?

Edward Tinker · 09-08-2002, 12:24 AM

Great reports guys. Sounds like some good stuff was out there.

Be careful out there GT, those guys are crazy in them thar parking lots. [img]eek.gif[/img]

Dwight Gruber · 09-08-2002, 11:12 AM

Ron, thank you for the prompt.

In my mind's eye I recognize that it is a -second- model safety lever as you describe (I have edited my report to reflect that fact). I don't have hands-on experience with the early safeties, and though I now remember having seen photos of all three types, in my enthusiasm for an early-safety gun I neglected to recall the fact and lumped both checkered safeties together in my mind.

A mistake which I shant make in the future, thanks again.

--Dwight

Michigan Gunner · 09-20-2002, 10:10 PM

A very interesting report! As is often the case at gun shows, some of the very best deals walk in the door, they are not on the tables. The prices
seem to run from "Not Bad" to "Way Over Priced"
which is about par for the course.

Sometime, your best bet is to stay near the door and see what comes in. I bought a mint, all original, 1942 M-1 Carbine that way about 5 years
ago. I payed $225.00 for it, that's what the seller wanted for it.

Some days you eat the bear!

Lock and Load! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

09-07-2002, 09:35 PM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Gun Show Report--Portland First big gun show (1000 tables or so) since beginning of summer. Hooked up with both Russ Withem and Orv Reichert, and met Steve Richards of our esteemed association (he has his own story to tell [img]biggrin.gif[/img] ) About 30 Lugers scattered throughout the hall, and three walk-ins that I know of (four, if you include the byf41 which I sold). Here's the rundown of items and prices. DWM double-date police, marred sideplate, $500 byf 41 shiny reblue shooter, $600 1900 American Eagle, second model safety lever, really nice, $2k I really like this gun, its beyond my reach, the owner says it will probably end up on an auction site John Martz baby, $2.8k another shooter on this table, don't remember details, but comparably piced 1900 Commercial, cherry, $3.5k 1900AE, pretty good shape, supposedly has provenance, $1.6k DWM rebarrel, don't remember date, rig, $750 DWM commercial, rig, $700 1906AE, looked cherry, $2.5k DWM 1908, excellent, $1.75k 40/42 (I think) looked good, $1.5k these guns were all in a case, since I wasn't buying them I didn't want to trouble the owner and handle them so the estimation is visual only 1906AE pretty good $1.795k 1920 commercial same shape $1.595k 42 1939 reblue $695 Vickers pretty hard use, old arsenal refinish and mismatch (probably), very good bore, no brass side plate, $999 S/42 G, mismatch, $600ish (didn't write it down) 1906AE $600-ish (didn't write it down) two Finnish Lugers, $499 each, mismatch and hard used Erfurt mismatch/reblue Artillery shooter $700 DWM shooter, about $500 1906AE very good shape $900 DWM 1921 Police with unit marks $800 (probably the most interesting Luger in the show it sold before I made up my mind to buy it <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> ) 42 1939 excellent $2.295k 1906AE excellent $3.495k Artillery Commercial $2.850k this was Jerry Kramer's table, top shape as usual, but only four guns this show. The fourth one was an oddment, a DWM that someone had sleeved to .22lr, lightened the recoil spring, and ground the sleeve so that the normal extrctor functioned. Used an Erma .22 conversion kit mag. Wanted $1k for it. The walk-in that I know about had a very nice (but refinished) DWM Artillery, changed hands twice in the course of an hour for $900 and more. Also had a 1906AE, average shape, and a DWM mismatch, don't know what the ultimate disposition of those was. He also had a Broomhandle Mauser with stock in very good original shape, my offer wasn't as good as the $900 he eventually got for it. Other notable Luger items, a drum magazine, an Erma .22 conversion kit in box for $700, and a brown 1917 Navy holster with two magazine pouch (the whole rig belt-loop style) price rumored to be in the $600 range. I think I missed a couple, but that's all I come up with right now. --Dwight

09-07-2002, 10:10 PM	#2
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dwight, you had much better luck than I. Just got back form the giant Wasatch Gun Show in Rock Springs Wyoming. Had big hopes as that is true Cowboy country and Frontier 44's are prized, not Lugers. When I finally found it my hopes fell, a 400 mile trip and the show was in a building the size of a school gym, and room to spare. Saw a decent C96 for 1200, two P38's 450 to 550, one Luger, a commercial, about 50% for 850. Not all was lost, got a nice 50 cal ammo can for 5.00 and a really neat wooden motorcycle for 20. Guess it depends how you look at it. The wife had fun. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

09-07-2002, 11:25 PM	#4
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Gerry, don't even negotiate with the insurance company, get a lawyer if you are in the right. Problems surface weeks or even months later that are a result of the accident. I used to be a claim agent for the Southern Pacific Trans Co. My job was to buy em' as cheap as possible, I still have trouble sleeping. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

09-08-2002, 12:09 AM	#6
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	[quote] 1900 American Eagle, first model safety lever, really nice, $2k <hr></blockquote> Dwight: I haven't encountered an American Eagle with a first type safety lever (checkered nearly 1/2 of its length with a very low, almost flat, profile). The early Eagles that I have seen have the type two safety that is checkered but about the same height and length (just a tad longer) of that of the final type three safety, which has the parallel grooves. Did you happen to notice the serial number of this 1900 Luger? __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-08-2002, 12:24 AM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Great reports guys. Sounds like some good stuff was out there. Be careful out there GT, those guys are crazy in them thar parking lots. [img]eek.gif[/img] __________________ 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

09-07-2002, 11:03 PM	#3
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,486 Thanks: 1,284 Thanked 3,583 Times in 989 Posts	You both had better luck then I did! Went to the big Phoenix crossroads show! Saw some really over priced lugers, but, I picked up some nice clips, and a bit of ammo! Nice day.... until some guy hit my truck (with me in it!)...He was going about 50 mph in the parking lot, I was going about one mph! He was racing someone for my parking spot.... My shoulder hurts a bit tonight...the thing that really ruffles my feathers is that my left shoulder was the only good joint I had left!! To add insult to injury, my 44 oz water cup flipped upside down on my just bought mags and ammo!! I feel I'm pretty tough though....going back tomorrow and let them take another shot at me! Till...later....G.T. <img src="graemlins/icon107.gif" border="0" alt="[icon107]" />

09-07-2002, 11:45 PM	#5
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,486 Thanks: 1,284 Thanked 3,583 Times in 989 Posts	Thanks Herb! I'll give the whole episode a lot of thought over the weekend.....I very much appreciate the advice! till...later... GT <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

09-08-2002, 11:12 AM	#8
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Ron, thank you for the prompt. In my mind's eye I recognize that it is a -second- model safety lever as you describe (I have edited my report to reflect that fact). I don't have hands-on experience with the early safeties, and though I now remember having seen photos of all three types, in my enthusiasm for an early-safety gun I neglected to recall the fact and lumped both checkered safeties together in my mind. A mistake which I shant make in the future, thanks again. --Dwight

09-20-2002, 10:10 PM	#9
Michigan Gunner User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Michigan, on the border Posts: 75 Thanks: 2 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts	A very interesting report! As is often the case at gun shows, some of the very best deals walk in the door, they are not on the tables. The prices seem to run from "Not Bad" to "Way Over Priced" which is about par for the course. Sometime, your best bet is to stay near the door and see what comes in. I bought a mint, all original, 1942 M-1 Carbine that way about 5 years ago. I payed $225.00 for it, that's what the seller wanted for it. Some days you eat the bear! Lock and Load! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]