Just how bad would this be considered?

crffl · 01-17-2016, 01:19 AM

.

Looking at a possible trade and hoping to get some direction from those more knowledgeable than I. This is what I've been told:

it is matching on the outside.
Functioning with no issues.
The grips have no numbers on it.
The mag is a reproduction.
It is reblued.
9mm

I have no others and at first I thought this would be a decent trade for a shooter. What caught my attention is in the last pic where it appears the bluing has flaked off, I havent' seen that before or maybe a trick of the lighting? Realistically what is this worth in its current condition?

Thanks for any opinions.

.

ithacaartist · 01-17-2016, 01:32 AM

I've seen pics of worse, but this is probably as bad as it usually gets. If it weren't for the long barrel, this would make a great carry gun--it's so smooooth it would not snag.

Sergio Natali · 01-17-2016, 04:15 AM

Welcome to this Forum.

For what can see: heavily pitted and rebuffed, for any other consideration it'd need a proper hands on inspection, then have it checked by a serious gunsmith if you want to use it at the range.
Shoot safe.

DavidJayUden · 01-17-2016, 09:09 AM

Regarding value, these can be all over the place, but I'd not consider much beyond $800. Yah, she may shoot good, but she really has been thru the works.
dju

Edward Tinker · 01-17-2016, 09:21 AM

800-1000

You can usually get over a thousand for an artillery, but the heavy buffing might slow folks down - my reblued Erfurt artillery is the sweetest shooter I have

Lugerdoc · 01-17-2016, 10:08 AM

I recently sold a couple of better reblued, unpitted LPO8s @$850 + a bit more for repro stock/holster rig. TH

TheRomanhistorian · 01-17-2016, 12:15 PM

I paid $950 for a similar 1917 DWM all matching (externally) LP08 but it was just as buffed and refinished (though it came with a period magazine). One of my favourites and I thought it well worth the money.

Mac Cat · 01-17-2016, 01:38 PM

Sounds and looks like a good "shooter" to me.
You definitely need to have a gunsmith go through it and made sure that's part of the deal.
3 days is customary, but unless you have already lined up a gunsmith you trust, that's not long enough if you have to ship it.

The insides are pretty important.

Hopefully, the heavy buffing was limited to the exterior.
You can get it re-blued or partly re-bluing, if that concerns you.
I'd be more worried about the pitting that lead to all the buffing.
You have to wonder how the outside would have needed so much buffing, but not the inside !?

The artillery model is one of the most accurate and easy to shoot guns I have ever used.
It's sweet and nicely balanced. I have a 1917 with matching parts, which cost me $2,000.
I have shot it, but only enough to be sure it worked properly. Now I just enjoy keeping it well oiled and carefully stored. Finding a authentic holster will keep me busy for a while, too!

crffl · 01-18-2016, 12:40 AM

.

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated.

.

Desperado · 01-18-2016, 04:31 PM

I have a 1017 LP.08 shooter that is buffed like that. Be certain to check the side plate (didn't see it in the pictures). Mine was buffed as much as the rest of the pistol resulting in a loose fit. Wouldn't fire every time I squeezed the trigger. I had to replace the side plate to fix that.

If you are going to use it as a shooter, test the tangent rear sight. Grab it behind the release button (used to allow movement of the sight) and see if you can force the slide up the ramp without pressing the release button. If you can, the slide will walk up the ladder from the recoil of each shot. After two or three shots you are ramped up for 200-300 meters when you are shooting at a target 50 meters away. You will miss the paper and not know why. This seems to be a common problem with LP.08s that have seen much service. Can be fixed with a reproduction rear sight (About $350) or a plastic wire tie tightened down in front of the slider (goes under the barrel). All you really need is a good ladder, but those are rare.

01-17-2016, 01:19 AM	#1
crffl New User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Just how bad would this be considered? . Looking at a possible trade and hoping to get some direction from those more knowledgeable than I. This is what I've been told: it is matching on the outside. Functioning with no issues. The grips have no numbers on it. The mag is a reproduction. It is reblued. 9mm I have no others and at first I thought this would be a decent trade for a shooter. What caught my attention is in the last pic where it appears the bluing has flaked off, I havent' seen that before or maybe a trick of the lighting? Realistically what is this worth in its current condition? Thanks for any opinions. .

01-17-2016, 01:32 AM	#2
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,283 Thanks: 7,007 Thanked 2,476 Times in 1,319 Posts	I've seen pics of worse, but this is probably as bad as it usually gets. If it weren't for the long barrel, this would make a great carry gun--it's so smooooth it would not snag. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

01-17-2016, 04:15 AM	#3
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Welcome to this Forum. For what can see: heavily pitted and rebuffed, for any other consideration it'd need a proper hands on inspection, then have it checked by a serious gunsmith if you want to use it at the range. Shoot safe. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

01-17-2016, 09:21 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	800-1000 You can usually get over a thousand for an artillery, but the heavy buffing might slow folks down - my reblued Erfurt artillery is the sweetest shooter I have __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-17-2016, 10:08 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	I recently sold a couple of better reblued, unpitted LPO8s @$850 + a bit more for repro stock/holster rig. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

01-17-2016, 09:09 AM	#4
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Regarding value, these can be all over the place, but I'd not consider much beyond $800. Yah, she may shoot good, but she really has been thru the works. dju

01-17-2016, 12:15 PM	#7
TheRomanhistorian User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 301 Thanks: 170 Thanked 88 Times in 64 Posts	I paid $950 for a similar 1917 DWM all matching (externally) LP08 but it was just as buffed and refinished (though it came with a period magazine). One of my favourites and I thought it well worth the money. __________________ Michael Nos morituri te salutant - Supposed saying of the gladiators to the emperor ('We, who are about to die, salute you.') 'We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind' - From Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers

01-17-2016, 01:38 PM	#8
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 670 Thanks: 2,009 Thanked 542 Times in 292 Posts	Sounds and looks like a good "shooter" to me. You definitely need to have a gunsmith go through it and made sure that's part of the deal. 3 days is customary, but unless you have already lined up a gunsmith you trust, that's not long enough if you have to ship it. The insides are pretty important. Hopefully, the heavy buffing was limited to the exterior. You can get it re-blued or partly re-bluing, if that concerns you. I'd be more worried about the pitting that lead to all the buffing. You have to wonder how the outside would have needed so much buffing, but not the inside !? The artillery model is one of the most accurate and easy to shoot guns I have ever used. It's sweet and nicely balanced. I have a 1917 with matching parts, which cost me $2,000. I have shot it, but only enough to be sure it worked properly. Now I just enjoy keeping it well oiled and carefully stored. Finding a authentic holster will keep me busy for a while, too!

01-18-2016, 12:40 AM	#9
crffl New User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	. Thanks for all the input, much appreciated. .

01-18-2016, 04:31 PM	#10
Desperado User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Murphy, TX (near Dallas) Posts: 38 Thanks: 16 Thanked 46 Times in 16 Posts	I have a 1017 LP.08 shooter that is buffed like that. Be certain to check the side plate (didn't see it in the pictures). Mine was buffed as much as the rest of the pistol resulting in a loose fit. Wouldn't fire every time I squeezed the trigger. I had to replace the side plate to fix that. If you are going to use it as a shooter, test the tangent rear sight. Grab it behind the release button (used to allow movement of the sight) and see if you can force the slide up the ramp without pressing the release button. If you can, the slide will walk up the ladder from the recoil of each shot. After two or three shots you are ramped up for 200-300 meters when you are shooting at a target 50 meters away. You will miss the paper and not know why. This seems to be a common problem with LP.08s that have seen much service. Can be fixed with a reproduction rear sight (About $350) or a plastic wire tie tightened down in front of the slider (goes under the barrel). All you really need is a good ladder, but those are rare.