Grandfathers 1917 Artillery Luger

Lugernut123 · 04-28-2012, 06:13 PM

Hi there,

I recently acquired a good condition 1917 DWM Artillery Luger from my grandfather. IT appears to be in quite good condition. I had a question:

What kind of lube is acceptable to use on the luger, and where should I apply it? I have some waffenfett vaseline which I use for my other handguns and it works great, would this be acceptable?

Also when I get around to it, i will post pictures for you guys to take a look. I'd like to see what kind of money its worth. I have it complete with the holster and butt stock.

Edward Tinker · 04-28-2012, 07:53 PM

not sure what waffenfett vaseline is?

'John smith' you must get teased a lot for having a common name? (no offense, but that sounds like the movie Mr and Mrs Smith, if it is your real name, I apologize in advance)

Any oil would be fine, oil, NOT WD40, not some lube thick oil, but some gun oil like Hoppes or Breakfree or the like.

Ed

Lugernut123 · 04-29-2012, 01:46 PM

Thanks for your reply.

Lol, yea John Smith is my real name. I know.

I have yet to have a chance to take pics of it, but i had a couple of questions regarding my lugers worth.

1. Where would I find the serial number on the magazine and butt stock?

2. The strap at the bottom of the holster that holds the butt stock on is broken, how much does this decrease the value of it? It is otherwise in pretty good condition.

3. This is kind of a strage one. On the front part of the grip on the metal, underneat the trigger guard, my great grandfather etched his Social security number on it for ID purposes. I am wondering how much this would decrease the value of the Luger? Its otherwise in very nice condition. (From what I can tell, I will post pics soon)

Thanks

lugersrkewl · 04-29-2012, 05:10 PM

3. This is kind of a strage one. On the front part of the grip on the metal, underneat the trigger guard, my great grandfather etched his Social security number on it for ID purposes. I am wondering how much this would decrease the value of the Luger? Its otherwise in very nice condition. (From what I can tell, I will post pics soon)

not good.

Lugernut123 · 04-29-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugersrkewl

3. This is kind of a strage one. On the front part of the grip on the metal, underneat the trigger guard, my great grandfather etched his Social security number on it for ID purposes. I am wondering how much this would decrease the value of the Luger? Its otherwise in very nice condition. (From what I can tell, I will post pics soon)

not good.

Care to elaborate?

Although I am curious of the value, I am not looking to sell the luger. It been in my family for 3 generations now and to me is a family heirloom. I know its unfortunate that he engraved his SSN on there, but he probably did it 50 years ago! No point crying over spilt milk now.

Curly1 · 04-29-2012, 06:41 PM

It's not good from a value point having the SSN etched on it.

But then as you said it is an heirloom and not for sale.

Lugernut123 · 04-29-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly1

It's not good from a value point having the SSN etched on it.

But then as you said it is an heirloom and not for sale.

Thanks. I assume its still worth something though? The SSN isn't etched very deep from what I can tell.

Curly1 · 04-29-2012, 11:57 PM

Yes it does have value but pics would be helpful in giving you a determination.

CJS57 · 04-30-2012, 06:56 AM

A good Luger restorer can remove the SS number and touch it up to look decent if not perfect.

alanint · 04-30-2012, 08:38 AM

Yes, but you must then weigh whether the reblue this would involve add or detract from the pistol's value over just leaving it alone. If the pistol has its original blue, I would leave it alone.

CavScoutEurope · 04-30-2012, 12:14 PM

Is it his SSN or his serial number that he was given while in the service? I know that my grandfather had both memorized. and he would often put his old serial number on things to ID that they were his. My dad did the same thing when he was in the Army, and I also did it when I was in the Army. everything that I did this to was never stolen by my fellow soldiers.

Sieger · 05-01-2012, 02:23 AM

Hi:

Since the Luger already has a serial number, one would wonder why someone would feel the necessity to add another one.

Sieger

lugerholsterrepair · 05-01-2012, 11:41 AM

Sieger There was a craze in the US in the late 60's early 70's where Police dept's all over advocated using an electropencil to put yout SS number on everything you thought might be worth stealing. I suspect that's what happened in this case.

alanint · 05-01-2012, 01:46 PM

Obviously before the era when concealing your SSN from the public became a necessity, thanks to identity theft.

Gary H · 05-01-2012, 07:39 PM

My Grandfather's Artillery had his driver's license number lightly etched on the front grip strap and the stock lug was ground off by the prior owner! (in the late 20's or early 30's).

Oh well, it's just that much less incentive to sell a family heirloom!

Gary

alanint · 05-01-2012, 07:50 PM

Sad, they would both be large impediments to collectors. Still, enjoy your heirloom!

04-28-2012, 06:13 PM	#1
Lugernut123 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 15 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Grandfathers 1917 Artillery Luger Hi there, I recently acquired a good condition 1917 DWM Artillery Luger from my grandfather. IT appears to be in quite good condition. I had a question: What kind of lube is acceptable to use on the luger, and where should I apply it? I have some waffenfett vaseline which I use for my other handguns and it works great, would this be acceptable? Also when I get around to it, i will post pictures for you guys to take a look. I'd like to see what kind of money its worth. I have it complete with the holster and butt stock.

04-29-2012, 06:41 PM	#6
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,228 Thanks: 111 Thanked 702 Times in 364 Posts	It's not good from a value point having the SSN etched on it. But then as you said it is an heirloom and not for sale. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

04-29-2012, 11:57 PM	#8
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,228 Thanks: 111 Thanked 702 Times in 364 Posts	Yes it does have value but pics would be helpful in giving you a determination. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

05-01-2012, 11:41 AM	#13
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,850 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,426 Posts	Sieger There was a craze in the US in the late 60's early 70's where Police dept's all over advocated using an electropencil to put yout SS number on everything you thought might be worth stealing. I suspect that's what happened in this case. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

04-28-2012, 07:53 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	not sure what waffenfett vaseline is? 'John smith' you must get teased a lot for having a common name? (no offense, but that sounds like the movie Mr and Mrs Smith, if it is your real name, I apologize in advance) Any oil would be fine, oil, NOT WD40, not some lube thick oil, but some gun oil like Hoppes or Breakfree or the like. Ed

04-29-2012, 01:46 PM	#3
Lugernut123 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 15 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for your reply. Lol, yea John Smith is my real name. I know. I have yet to have a chance to take pics of it, but i had a couple of questions regarding my lugers worth. 1. Where would I find the serial number on the magazine and butt stock? 2. The strap at the bottom of the holster that holds the butt stock on is broken, how much does this decrease the value of it? It is otherwise in pretty good condition. 3. This is kind of a strage one. On the front part of the grip on the metal, underneat the trigger guard, my great grandfather etched his Social security number on it for ID purposes. I am wondering how much this would decrease the value of the Luger? Its otherwise in very nice condition. (From what I can tell, I will post pics soon) Thanks

04-29-2012, 05:10 PM	#4
lugersrkewl Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ussr Posts: 425 Thanks: 198 Thanked 75 Times in 58 Posts	3. This is kind of a strage one. On the front part of the grip on the metal, underneat the trigger guard, my great grandfather etched his Social security number on it for ID purposes. I am wondering how much this would decrease the value of the Luger? Its otherwise in very nice condition. (From what I can tell, I will post pics soon) not good.

04-30-2012, 06:56 AM	#9
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	A good Luger restorer can remove the SS number and touch it up to look decent if not perfect.

04-30-2012, 08:38 AM	#10
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Yes, but you must then weigh whether the reblue this would involve add or detract from the pistol's value over just leaving it alone. If the pistol has its original blue, I would leave it alone.

04-30-2012, 12:14 PM	#11
CavScoutEurope User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 86 Thanks: 102 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Is it his SSN or his serial number that he was given while in the service? I know that my grandfather had both memorized. and he would often put his old serial number on things to ID that they were his. My dad did the same thing when he was in the Army, and I also did it when I was in the Army. everything that I did this to was never stolen by my fellow soldiers.

05-01-2012, 02:23 AM	#12
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi: Since the Luger already has a serial number, one would wonder why someone would feel the necessity to add another one. Sieger

05-01-2012, 01:46 PM	#14
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Obviously before the era when concealing your SSN from the public became a necessity, thanks to identity theft.

05-01-2012, 07:39 PM	#15
Gary H User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 31 Thanks: 22 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My Grandfather's Artillery had his driver's license number lightly etched on the front grip strap and the stock lug was ground off by the prior owner! (in the late 20's or early 30's). Oh well, it's just that much less incentive to sell a family heirloom! Gary

05-01-2012, 07:50 PM	#16
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Sad, they would both be large impediments to collectors. Still, enjoy your heirloom!