1906 -Is this real or 'enhanced'

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by CJS57

I agree with Ron Wood, it is a correct and original finish Luger. Only a hands on inspection will be the last word however. It looks like a crack but is 99.9% not a crack. It is a machining ledge that all of that era Lugers have. If you have a reference collection you can check yours and see they all have that ledge. The proof mark is also ok and fine. That proof was struck before the rust blue and that one is within the range of normal appearance and depth. The barrel serial and proofs were struck after the blue was on and those too have the right look and halos. Nice original gun. Good luck!

I'll be... You are right. I went and check, and sure enough there was the ledge. Let's call it an unfortunate picture.

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by kurusu

I'll be... You are right. I went and check, and sure enough there was the ledge. Let's call it an unfortunate picture.

This demonstrates how important it can be to have a gun in-hand. The pic gives the ledge a very crack-like appearance. Several of us stand corrected!

[spacecoast]

This picture made me think it's had touch-ups at the very least.

[Ron Wood]

All I see are scratches. dings and marks where something has marred/removed the blue. Note the raised edge around the takedown spring hole...I would think a refinish would certainly have obliterated that. But I could be wrong.
Ron

[rhuff]

Originally Posted by spacecoast

This picture made me think it's had touch-ups at the very least.

This looks like the after effects of a Birchwood-Casey Cold Bluing Pen. It will blue the spots, but not nearly as deep of bluing as factory/hot bluing.

[DavidJayUden]

Cold bluing frequently has a distinctive smell to it, so again a hands-on experience will tell all. But then realistically what difference will it make at that point?
dju

[siegersallee]

Hi Guys,

Well the luger did not sell and has been relisted. I have read through all of the posts on this and found all the analysis insightful. I know I have learned a lot.

Even though there is no consensus, I really do appreciate all the work you guys did to help me out.

Frankly, you guys are great!!!

I am still ambivalent on trying to win the relisted auction. I did bid the previous auction up to 2K.
I have no idea of a realistic dollar amount on this pistol but I suspect the reserve is much higher than I am thinking the pistol is worth.

Any opinions on value are also appreciated.

[spacecoast]

I have no idea of a realistic dollar amount on this pistol but I suspect the reserve is much higher than I am thinking the pistol is worth.

I wouldn't be surprised if the reserve is $3,500 or $4,000... you could always ask them. My experience watching other auctions of theirs is that they ask too much and hope to catch someone with more money than knowledge.

[siegersallee]

Was there a consensus that this was a crack in the metal?

[DonVoigt]

Yes, and it was "no,it is not a crack- it just looks like one".

[CJS57]

It is Not a crack. It is a ledge of metal that All of that type of Luger have in that position.

[siegersallee]

I wouldn't be surprised if the reserve is $3,500 or $4,000... you could always ask them. My experience watching other auctions of theirs is that they ask too much and hope to catch someone with more money than knowledge.

Yeah, I kinda thought they were fishing for a "sucker".

Maybe, however, if I get serious I can contact them and negotiate. Can't hurt.

I put the value of the piece at around 2500; but, I am not really a good judge of value.

[Sergio Natali]

I've not read all the previous comments, but I love those early lugers, and I like this one, I don't think it was reblued.
The only drawback for me would be that crack sort of thing.
This is one of those cases where a hands on inspection wold be necessary.

[siegersallee]

Well, I emailed the seller about the "crack".

He says it is a defect in the metal.
I am speaking about the fine jagged line in the center of the red circle.

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by siegersallee

Well, I emailed the seller about the "crack".

He says it is a defect in the metal.
I am speaking about the fine jagged line in the center of the red circle.

You mean this crack?



Or this one?



Seller doesn't known what he's talking about. All Lugers have that. Learnt that in this thread though.

[siegersallee]

I am no expert; but, the one you show is not jagged. The one in the picture I posted is jagged.
The one in your picture slopes downward. The one in the picture I posted has a slightly upward direction.

I am just pointing these pictures for discussion and not trying to argue. I really want the pistol to be "right-as-rain".

[Ron Wood]

It is just the lower edge of the relief cut for the grip. It appears jagged probably because it has picked up a few nicks in the sharp edge. It is not a crack.
Ron

[siegersallee]

Ok...yeah, I think you guys are right. What appears to be a crack is really the "ledge" and it is just banged up a bit.

I have put in a bid on the pistol. The seller's reserve must be way high as this is the third time that I know of that the pistol has been listed. It may well have been listed a few other times before I discovered it.

[DavidJayUden]

You can search under "completed sales" and find a complete bid history if you search the key words in the title line of the listing. Always interesting to see how much would not buy the gun.
dju