What is my Luger (and what's it worth?)

[lugermom]

Thanks Mr. Erick. Please know I'm trying to hold up my end of the research and larnin' but I'm a bit handicapped by not understanding much about the overall context. Later today, I'll put all these very helpful posts and replies together so I can get a better overall view.

I'm blown away with how generous you folks are with your knowledge.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

On the contrary, Boehler barrels are original to some 1913 and 1914 DWM P08s. They were not used as replacements.

George, I corrected my post. Thank You!

(I'll make a mental note that Bȍhler barrels were not used as replacements).

[DavidJayUden]

Regarding who owned it and when, there is no way to determine the history of the gun beyond the year and place of mfg, unless there are unit markings, which there are not in this case. However in your case we do know who imported it from Canada.
dju

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

George, I corrected my post. Thank You!

(I'll make a mental note that Bȍhler barrels were not used as replacements).

May as well get it all out-
Boehler did not make the barrels, only the steel- which in some cases was tracked by DWM(who did make the barrels) and the barrels subsequently marked with the lot number of the Boehler steel from which they were produced.

[mrerick]

Originally Posted by lugermom

So you could have the barrel replaced and still keep the same serial number?

Which is bringing me to my next question--how much can we tell about the history of a Luger just from the marks on it? I assume some of the marks show the factory in which it was made, and that the barrel was replaced in Erfurt. I know we can't get to "this pistol was owned by Fred Schmidt and was a gift from his wife" or "this pistol was used in xyz regiment" without further markings, but--

--how close can we get?

Part of studying Lugers involves understanding:

• things that the factories that produced them normally did
• the ways that the factory and it's workers marked them
• the ways that the Lugers were inspected by the factory and the military that ordered them
• how they were marked when they were tested including firing proof testing and acceptance
• the ways firearms were reworked

In most cases, the factories and inspectors used metal dies to stamp markings. These are often prolific on Lugers, and have very specific characteristics, as does their use either before or after the steel was finished in one of several approaches to bluing (really oxidation of the steel).

With enough study and experience, you can start to recognize things normally done by the factory, and things that were done later. This takes time to develop, and never is completely finished.

These things make a difference to the value of Lugers, which are most highly valued in as close to their original manufactured state as possible. These are the ones considered collectible by collectors today.

There are some that are so rare that even when parts have been changed, or they have been refinished they are still considered collectible - but the preference is still for Lugers in their original state.

Understand that in rare Lugers, there is a cottage industry in faking the markings and other manufacturing characteristics. A $1500 Luger could be quintupled in value by manipulating the right markings in a way that would fool an experienced collector. "Luger University" has some self-protection motivations.

Welcome to the addiction.

[Pistol]

Originally Posted by lugermom

Hey Pistol, I think I got the information in just one photo! Please let me know if it’s not right.
I didn’t even know there was lettering under the barrel/on the frame, so I’m excited to see what it means.

Yes, looks good!

[lugermom]

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

However in your case we do know who imported it from Canada.
dju

Jeez, do you guys have a list somewhere?

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by lugermom

Jeez, do you guys have a list somewhere?

The OP said it was imported from Canada.

[lugermom]

[lugermom]

So gang, I kept wondering why when I clicked on the link to the FAQ .pdf, nothing happened. I forgot that on my computer, .pdfs don't always open in a new window, you have to click on the bottom toolbar to get them to open. (Facepalm.)

Thank you so much for your patience in giving me so much information, some of which I could have looked up myself if I had remembered how to open a blankety-blank .pdf file!

I owe you all a box of donuts.

[DavidJayUden]

I say that about the import mark only because I have seen multiple others imported from Canada that were likewise stamped very discretely.
dju

[Sergio Natali]

Welcome to this Luger forum from Italy.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I'm not new to this hobby by any means, FWIK you seem to have a pretty good collectible LUGER, and your close up pictures will surely help the veteran collectors on this site to advise you in the correct direction.

[Pistol]

So, "one down" with how many more to go?

Keep the photos coming.

[lugermom]

Three more to go. One isn't in the country yet.

Next 3 will be easier!

[lugermom]

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

I say that about the import mark only because I have seen multiple others imported from Canada that were likewise stamped very discretely.
dju

Naw, it's all good. And yes, I'm appreciating the subtle/small/neat import marks. I've heard that not all importers do such a neat job.

[DonVoigt]

I'm sure we are all curious about how much it cost to complete an export/import to the US?

There are some lugers in Canada that I've thought about- but the usual answer is that "it costs too much to do the export/import".

[DavidJayUden]

I actually bought a couple of Lugers from some Canadian on this forum a number of years ago. Not sure what the seller had to go thru, but it was a complete nothing-burger for me.

[lugermom]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

I'm sure we are all curious about how much it cost to complete an export/import to the US?

There are some lugers in Canada that I've thought about- but the usual answer is that "it costs too much to do the export/import".

It's not all that hard or expensive to do the export/import from Canada to the US, once you figure out how it works. I think if you're only importing one weapon, it's about $300, but if you're sending a bunch, there is a "bulk discount." That price includes removing the gun from the Canadian registry, doing the paperwork, stamping the gun(s) for import into the US, and shipping them to a FFL near you. Once they arrive at the FFL, they transfer the gun(s) to you. I paid $25 each for this service.

So maybe that sounds like a lot, but it's offset by the fact that quite a few handguns are classed as "prohibited" in Canada, which means they can only be owned by law enforcement, military, etc., and their heirs who are grandfathered in IF they can obtain the necessary licensure and meet the storage requirements, etc. (I think the Canadian government is being circumspect about giving out new permissions to own prohibs--I'm not at all sure that younger LE/Military even qualify--would have to check on that.) So as you can imagine, it's an ever shrinking group, which makes it tough to sell these weapons in Canada. If they're not already selling at a fraction of what they'd go for in the US, I think they will be as the number of possible owners continues to shrink.

One other note is that there seems to be a perception among Canadian gun owners that the government will make it impossible to export to the US--they'll tie the whole thing up in interminable paperwork. But that wasn't our impression--the Registry people were generally very helpful. My impression is that while they don't necessarily want these weapons in the country, they don't want the bad publicity of destroying them, either! The registry people even have a page on their website laying out how to do the export.

If it would be of interest to the group, I'd be happy to write up something specific and fact-checked (as opposed to my sort of general statements here) about how to do the export/import. It seems to me that there are probably quite a number of prohibs in Canada whose owners would be ok with letting them go but don't know how to go about it. US buyers who have the information might be able to make some good purchases!

[Edward Tinker]

Just an FYI - for each new gun, four pictures minimum can tell a lot - 1. full top (shows date or no date), 2. full right, 3. full left, 4. front of the frame where the serial number is and if any suffix.

Then add if any stray markings (unit markings, odd markings that are exterior, not interior unless asked (most interior markings are worker markings an dno one can tell you what they mean).

Ed

[DonVoigt]

Thanks for the detailed info.
I was under the impression that a Canadian exporter had to ship the imported pistol to a US "importer" - who then marked it and would sell it on.

I still don't think it can go to just any FFL dealer directly- but then I may be wrong again.

Or your exporter may also have a location in the US and is both exporter and importer?