Going shopping tomorrow.... for Lugers!

mr.109 · 01-08-2011, 11:32 AM

I will embark on an expedition tomorrow that I would bet not many Forum members have had the opportunity to experience. A friend of mine who collected Lugers for years is in poor health and must sell off his collection. He had over 100 Lugers in the collection ranging from 1906 Navies to post WWII with everything in between. I have seen many of these guns over the years and I now have the opportunity to buy one or all (providing I have deep pockets, which I don't!). Some have sold, mostly WWII era, but I am interested in getting two WWI era Lugers, one which was an exceptional DWM 1914 Military that I hope is still available. The irony of all this is that I am not a Luger collector, although it is one of my favorite guns and I own a matching WWII S/42 1938, I recognize an opportunity when I see one. The sale is being handled by a close friend of his so we don't know if that gun is still available. None the less it is going to be an unforgettable day on Sunday!

spartacus38 · 01-08-2011, 01:14 PM

What a great opportunity.Please let us know the results.

Bob

Norme · 01-08-2011, 02:15 PM

Hi Tom, Take a camera! Pictures of the Navy Lugers would be of great interest as would the serial numbers for the Navy List. Regards, Norm.

mr.109 · 01-08-2011, 04:52 PM

Norm,

I will do my best to get some photos of the Navies and serial numbers. My friend stored his Lugers in bags after being wiped down with a silicone cloth and then put into a holster. My guess this is what I will encounter and my time may be limited as it will be a 2 hour round trip for me.

Tom

mr.109 · 01-10-2011, 08:30 AM

Well, it was an interesting day! The gun I really wanted wasn't what I thought it was and turned out to be a refinish (hence the nice condition!). Got to look at a lot of Lugers and picked out the interesting ones and then weeded those down to the two I ended up buying (Norm, the Navies were gone, sorry). I bought 2 DWM Military's, one a 1915 date, all matching including the mag and a 1915 holster and spare unmatching mag and in 90%+ finish, the other a 1916 date, all matching with no matching mag and regimental marked, also in 90%+ finish. Most of the Luger's were in the 85% to 95% range. He had two Death's Head Luger's and I didn't want to go down that road! All in all a productive day!

Tom

01-08-2011, 11:32 AM	#1
mr.109 User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Going shopping tomorrow.... for Lugers! I will embark on an expedition tomorrow that I would bet not many Forum members have had the opportunity to experience. A friend of mine who collected Lugers for years is in poor health and must sell off his collection. He had over 100 Lugers in the collection ranging from 1906 Navies to post WWII with everything in between. I have seen many of these guns over the years and I now have the opportunity to buy one or all (providing I have deep pockets, which I don't!). Some have sold, mostly WWII era, but I am interested in getting two WWI era Lugers, one which was an exceptional DWM 1914 Military that I hope is still available. The irony of all this is that I am not a Luger collector, although it is one of my favorite guns and I own a matching WWII S/42 1938, I recognize an opportunity when I see one. The sale is being handled by a close friend of his so we don't know if that gun is still available. None the less it is going to be an unforgettable day on Sunday!

01-08-2011, 01:14 PM	#2
spartacus38 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Lake Tahoe,CA. Posts: 695 Thanks: 0 Thanked 70 Times in 56 Posts	What a great opportunity.Please let us know the results. Bob

01-08-2011, 02:15 PM	#3
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 225 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Tom, Take a camera! Pictures of the Navy Lugers would be of great interest as would the serial numbers for the Navy List. Regards, Norm.

01-08-2011, 04:52 PM	#4
mr.109 User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Norm, I will do my best to get some photos of the Navies and serial numbers. My friend stored his Lugers in bags after being wiped down with a silicone cloth and then put into a holster. My guess this is what I will encounter and my time may be limited as it will be a 2 hour round trip for me. Tom

01-10-2011, 08:30 AM	#5
mr.109 User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Well, it was an interesting day! The gun I really wanted wasn't what I thought it was and turned out to be a refinish (hence the nice condition!). Got to look at a lot of Lugers and picked out the interesting ones and then weeded those down to the two I ended up buying (Norm, the Navies were gone, sorry). I bought 2 DWM Military's, one a 1915 date, all matching including the mag and a 1915 holster and spare unmatching mag and in 90%+ finish, the other a 1916 date, all matching with no matching mag and regimental marked, also in 90%+ finish. Most of the Luger's were in the 85% to 95% range. He had two Death's Head Luger's and I didn't want to go down that road! All in all a productive day! Tom