What's my Luger worth?

medenjaci · 03-20-2011, 09:53 PM

My friend is considering selling his Luger. His grandfather (GI) brought it back form WWI or WWII, not sure since he was in both. It's in great shape and riffling in barrel looks grate. I think is military model since has SN markings on all parts including magazine. All numbers match.
SN is unusual 5555.
What is worth and any historical info is welcome.
Thanks

drbuster · 03-20-2011, 10:18 PM

Sasha, this is a fairly typical World War 1 military luger, one of 90,000 made that year, according to Jan Still's Imperial Lugers. The magazine is unmatched and is damaged. The condition looks fairly good. A seller of this luger would get $1200-$1500 from a honest dealer, perhaps $200-$300 more if it had a holster to go with it. A pawn shop dealer would give you $800-$1000 if you are lucky. Best to try to sell it on this or the other Luger Forum or Gunbroker.com.

mrerick · 03-20-2011, 10:21 PM

The numbered magazine may be a candidate for restoration. Check with "G.T." on this forum.

Marc

DavidJayUden · 03-20-2011, 10:25 PM

It seems like a better-than-average WW1 gun. Magazine matches but is chipped pretty badly making it a wash in my book. I'm just going to guess in the $1500 neighborhood, maybe a bit more. Not sure on the holster, but it looks like it's from an early US or UK revolver. I'll be interested in reading what value the more advanced collecters place on it all. Overall a very nice gun!
dju

Mauser720 · 03-20-2011, 10:49 PM

You have a 1917 Deutsch Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) Luger. So it is definitely a World War One example.

The matching magazine is a big plus; however, the broken wooden bottom is a big minus too. Do you know if the grips match too?

A dealer has one of these with a matching magazine too, 96% blue remaining, but a frosted bore, for $1,650.00. So you have a "great" bore, but a damaged wooden bottom on the matching magazine.

I am not sure what to make of that holster. Are there any markings on it? Is it "homemade"? Maybe someone else can help you with the holster.

Hope this helps.

lugerholsterrepair · 03-21-2011, 12:17 AM

Holster appears to be British or Canadian. Essentially worth ...not much.

If that's the original bluing and it looks like it might be... the pistol has an impressive finish. It would look a lot better if it were field stripped, cleaned and properly oiled.

alanint · 03-21-2011, 01:26 AM

Although your friend's Luger has made it in great shape so far...tell your friend NOT to keep it in that canvas holster. Canvas will attract and hold moisture and although this gun has been heavily greased it will eventually start rusting,

Edward Tinker · 03-21-2011, 01:52 AM

I was going to say the values above were high, but it looks like it is in very nice shape

Try to see if you can find out any info on how it was acquired, although it sounds like the grandfather has passed on (I collect real stories of bring backs).

Nice gun, although you never know when a holster and gun came together, that is a WW2 version I believe...

Ed

medenjaci · 03-21-2011, 10:38 AM

Does SN 5555 add any value to it?

Mauser720 · 03-21-2011, 10:52 AM

There is no intrinsic value in the serial number being 5555. The novelty of it might be an added incentive to some when considering colleting it. (although in I personally would not pay any premium for that) Factors such as the matching numbers; the condition of the original finish; the bore condition; a matching magazine; the number of examples originally produced, etc.; are far more important.

Ron Wood · 03-21-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medenjaci

Does SN 5555 add any value to it?

Not really, and the serial number is actually 5555b. I agree with the other folks by the way...nice looking gun.

03-20-2011, 09:53 PM	#1
medenjaci New User Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What's my Luger worth? My friend is considering selling his Luger. His grandfather (GI) brought it back form WWI or WWII, not sure since he was in both. It's in great shape and riffling in barrel looks grate. I think is military model since has SN markings on all parts including magazine. All numbers match. SN is unusual 5555. What is worth and any historical info is welcome. Thanks Attached Thumbnails

03-20-2011, 10:21 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	The numbered magazine may be a candidate for restoration. Check with "G.T." on this forum. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-20-2011, 10:49 PM	#5
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	You have a 1917 Deutsch Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) Luger. So it is definitely a World War One example. The matching magazine is a big plus; however, the broken wooden bottom is a big minus too. Do you know if the grips match too? A dealer has one of these with a matching magazine too, 96% blue remaining, but a frosted bore, for $1,650.00. So you have a "great" bore, but a damaged wooden bottom on the matching magazine. I am not sure what to make of that holster. Are there any markings on it? Is it "homemade"? Maybe someone else can help you with the holster. Hope this helps. __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

03-21-2011, 12:17 AM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,761 Thanks: 4,857 Thanked 3,101 Times in 1,427 Posts	Holster appears to be British or Canadian. Essentially worth ...not much. If that's the original bluing and it looks like it might be... the pistol has an impressive finish. It would look a lot better if it were field stripped, cleaned and properly oiled. __________________ 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."

03-21-2011, 01:26 AM	#7
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Although your friend's Luger has made it in great shape so far...tell your friend NOT to keep it in that canvas holster. Canvas will attract and hold moisture and although this gun has been heavily greased it will eventually start rusting, Last edited by alanint; 03-21-2011 at 06:26 AM.

03-20-2011, 10:18 PM	#2
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Sasha, this is a fairly typical World War 1 military luger, one of 90,000 made that year, according to Jan Still's Imperial Lugers. The magazine is unmatched and is damaged. The condition looks fairly good. A seller of this luger would get $1200-$1500 from a honest dealer, perhaps $200-$300 more if it had a holster to go with it. A pawn shop dealer would give you $800-$1000 if you are lucky. Best to try to sell it on this or the other Luger Forum or Gunbroker.com.

03-20-2011, 10:25 PM	#4
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	It seems like a better-than-average WW1 gun. Magazine matches but is chipped pretty badly making it a wash in my book. I'm just going to guess in the $1500 neighborhood, maybe a bit more. Not sure on the holster, but it looks like it's from an early US or UK revolver. I'll be interested in reading what value the more advanced collecters place on it all. Overall a very nice gun! dju

03-21-2011, 01:52 AM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,912 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	I was going to say the values above were high, but it looks like it is in very nice shape Try to see if you can find out any info on how it was acquired, although it sounds like the grandfather has passed on (I collect real stories of bring backs). Nice gun, although you never know when a holster and gun came together, that is a WW2 version I believe... Ed __________________ 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

03-21-2011, 10:38 AM	#9
medenjaci New User Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sn 5555 Does SN 5555 add any value to it?

03-21-2011, 10:52 AM	#10
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	There is no intrinsic value in the serial number being 5555. The novelty of it might be an added incentive to some when considering colleting it. (although in I personally would not pay any premium for that) Factors such as the matching numbers; the condition of the original finish; the bore condition; a matching magazine; the number of examples originally produced, etc.; are far more important. __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."