Nickel Plated?

[Ron Wood]

canuto,
This is the appropriate forum to post your question, although it probably should be a new thread. The Luger you have acquired is probably one of the "presentation" Lugers perhaps assembled by "Mitchell's Mausers", "The American Historical Society", another specialty company or perhaps something created by a private individual. These organizations restore and refurbish original Lugers, adding engraving and custom cases. These Lugers have some collector interest but are of current modern maufacture and are not authentic period examples of Lugers actually produced. They look marvelous but they are roughly the equivalent of purchasing a brand new custom car as opposed to buying an antique Rolls Royce. The estimated value that you were quoted is probably what the going rate is from the companies producing them. The provenance of "unknown" is a polite way of saying it is not an original piece.