Luger prices

Johnny Peppers · 06-24-2001, 09:06 PM

Tom,

The changes to the Model 70 Winchester took place in 1964. Remember that Winchester had a complete overhaul of it's product line in 1964 and the collectors immediately wanted anything "pre 64", but the prices of the Model 70 did not spike up, but have been on a long and slow climb up. Along the way the collectors determined which models were truly rare, and which were more common. Since Winchester overhauled it's product line in 1964, the company has been in trouble ever since. But, to also see it from management's side, all the Winchester line of guns had seen a decline in sales. It was only after the "pre 64's" were discontinued that suddenly everyone wanted one. The Model 12 Winchester shotgun however did spike up in value, and except for the rare and high grade models are priced cheaper today than they were in the early 70's. Figure in inflation, and they are probably priced at half their 1970 value.

When I hear that the dipped Lugers and P38's are being put on the market at $650 to $750, I see no future in these pieces as collectibles, and we have not seen the true collectibles increase at anywhere near the rate of these recent imports. I recently had the opportunity to buy a strong 98% 1939 42 Code with matching magazine for $1250. I would have bought it but I have one just a fraction nicer. If this grade of Luger is still out there for $1250, the market is really skewed toward the recent imports. Maybe the 1939 42 Code was really a $2000 Luger and I have not yet realized it. I believe that the 1939 42 Code will be worth $1500 in a couple of years, but I just cannot visualize the recent imports approaching the $1000 mark in a stable market.

06-24-2001, 09:06 PM	#13
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Luger prices Tom, The changes to the Model 70 Winchester took place in 1964. Remember that Winchester had a complete overhaul of it's product line in 1964 and the collectors immediately wanted anything "pre 64", but the prices of the Model 70 did not spike up, but have been on a long and slow climb up. Along the way the collectors determined which models were truly rare, and which were more common. Since Winchester overhauled it's product line in 1964, the company has been in trouble ever since. But, to also see it from management's side, all the Winchester line of guns had seen a decline in sales. It was only after the "pre 64's" were discontinued that suddenly everyone wanted one. The Model 12 Winchester shotgun however did spike up in value, and except for the rare and high grade models are priced cheaper today than they were in the early 70's. Figure in inflation, and they are probably priced at half their 1970 value. When I hear that the dipped Lugers and P38's are being put on the market at $650 to $750, I see no future in these pieces as collectibles, and we have not seen the true collectibles increase at anywhere near the rate of these recent imports. I recently had the opportunity to buy a strong 98% 1939 42 Code with matching magazine for $1250. I would have bought it but I have one just a fraction nicer. If this grade of Luger is still out there for $1250, the market is really skewed toward the recent imports. Maybe the 1939 42 Code was really a $2000 Luger and I have not yet realized it. I believe that the 1939 42 Code will be worth $1500 in a couple of years, but I just cannot visualize the recent imports approaching the $1000 mark in a stable market.