Luger Value vs. Rig Value?

Dwight Gruber · 10-01-2004, 03:24 AM

Opinion.

The complete "rig" as you describe is worth the sum of its constituent parts, no more. Without provenance (bringback papers and pre-capture combination, for instance) there is no true historic association of the gun with its accessories, it is just a collection of...stuff. The matching mag scenario is different, and is properly a value-enhancing part of the gun itself (if not counterfeit!).

What you have described does not constitute a rig in my eyes.

To me, a "rig" would be a Luger and a holster with some kind of connection--a Police pistol with a matching unit marked holster and tool, or an Imperial unit marked gun with matching unit marked holster, or a Navy or LP-08 with matching-numbered stock-holsters. A unit-marked Imperial Luger with a holster marked to the same unit, but with different weapon numbers, does not truly constitute a "rig", but I might be willing to pay a small premium for the combination. Same with a Police marked not-quite-set.

Opinion off.

I talked to an acquaintance on the phone last night, a guy who acquires Lugers occasionally and mostly passes them on. In the course of the conversation--not having anything to do with this discussion--he mentioned that when he gets a Luger with a holster he usually sells them separately, he finds that he can get a bit more money for them thtat way.

Its true that he doesn't often have the top 98-percentile Lugers, and he doesn't break up truly matching sets.

--Dwight

10-01-2004, 03:24 AM	#10
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Opinion. The complete "rig" as you describe is worth the sum of its constituent parts, no more. Without provenance (bringback papers and pre-capture combination, for instance) there is no true historic association of the gun with its accessories, it is just a collection of...stuff. The matching mag scenario is different, and is properly a value-enhancing part of the gun itself (if not counterfeit!). What you have described does not constitute a rig in my eyes. To me, a "rig" would be a Luger and a holster with some kind of connection--a Police pistol with a matching unit marked holster and tool, or an Imperial unit marked gun with matching unit marked holster, or a Navy or LP-08 with matching-numbered stock-holsters. A unit-marked Imperial Luger with a holster marked to the same unit, but with different weapon numbers, does not truly constitute a "rig", but I might be willing to pay a small premium for the combination. Same with a Police marked not-quite-set. Opinion off. I talked to an acquaintance on the phone last night, a guy who acquires Lugers occasionally and mostly passes them on. In the course of the conversation--not having anything to do with this discussion--he mentioned that when he gets a Luger with a holster he usually sells them separately, he finds that he can get a bit more money for them thtat way. Its true that he doesn't often have the top 98-percentile Lugers, and he doesn't break up truly matching sets. --Dwight