Franken Luger (Pics Added) Artillery Model

northwind · 10-01-2019, 10:51 AM

Need help. I got a Luger from a deceased friend's wife. She is interested in selling, but she not sure what the price range might be. Here's the problem, its made up of various part from a least two separate pistols. The frame is a 1917/1920 DWM with a 589 serial number. The barrel is 7" and is also a 589. Most of the other parts are 1432 Serial numbers. The pistol has been re-blued with a high luster bluing. The pistol also has fake mother of pearl grips. Lastly, the magazine has a wooden toggle with a 7110 serial number. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

DavidJayUden · 10-01-2019, 11:29 AM

Sounds like a shooter grade Luger but we don't know if it shoots. No one wants to be viewed as taking advantage of a widow, but proceed cautiously. Pictures would help, but it is sounding like a $600 gun to me.
I assume it is 9mm. Holster, spares, etc?
But let's see what the others say.
dju

northwind · 10-01-2019, 11:43 AM

I'm not buying, I'm just trying to get some sort of a guesstimate price for her, so she has a rough idea of value. I have a matching number WWII Mauser Luger of my own, so she came to me for help. This thing is way beyond my knowledge, though.
It is 9mm and as of yet, she hasn't found anything else that would go with it (holster, mags, etc). I assumed as you did, it would only be a shooter grade, but with the longer barrel (7inches), I thought that might bump the price up a little.

Karl · 10-01-2019, 11:52 AM

Dennis,

Sight unseen, your description seems to indicate that you see this as not an especially desirable Luger. Unless you are keen on buying this particular Luger I suggest shopping around for whatever suits your interests and budget. My, rough, off-the-cuff estimate for a mis-matched, re-blued, re-barreled?, buffed up? Luger would be around $700. If you want the gun, you might offer a set amount above an offer made by a local pawn shop.

KFS

Doubs · 10-01-2019, 01:14 PM

How are you measuring barrel length? Properly, you close the breech (unloaded, of course) and drop a pencil or other rod down the bore to contact the breech face. Mark the rod at the muzzle, remove and measure.

I ask because 7 inches is an unusual length.

DavidJayUden · 10-01-2019, 01:33 PM

Also, the rear sight is fixed on the toggle and non-adjustable?
dju

northwind · 10-01-2019, 02:48 PM

Learning a lot already. Miss measure on the barrel. After I did it the right way, it's 8 inches.

It has a ladder type sight. At least, that's what I think they call them. It adjusts to 800 yards.

Will try to send pictures.

sheepherder · 10-01-2019, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

Learning a lot already. Miss measure on the barrel. After I did it the right way, it's 8 inches.

It has a ladder type sight. At least, that's what I think they call them. It adjusts to 800 yards.

Will try to send pictures.

An artillery Luger with sharp edges (regardless if reblued) is in the $800 - $1000 range. Even if mismatched.

(With sharp edges means it hasn't had the snot buffed out of it).

DavidJayUden · 10-01-2019, 03:32 PM

We definitely need to see photos.
dju

lugerholsterrepair · 10-01-2019, 03:58 PM

Mismatched parts and monkeyed with some..it's a shooter IF IT SHOOTS but it may not. THAT would affect it's value.

northwind · 10-01-2019, 04:13 PM

Im a senior citizen, so computers is not my strong suit, but I have help. I will send a picture as soon as help arrives.

Tomorrow, I will take it to the range and see if it shoots. It looks like it should work just fine, but you never know.

Will keep everyone posted with the progress.

Have a friend that does bluing, ceracoat, and duracoat.
Will check with him about the sharp edges. He should know.

DavidJayUden · 10-01-2019, 04:58 PM

Numerous photos, the more the better. Close-ups.
dju

Mac Cat · 10-02-2019, 12:48 PM

If it looks as good as you say and if it shoots reliably, I think it's worth $1,000+ with the long barrel.
They are fun to shoot.

But, in cases like this, I'd happily pay too much for it.

lugerholsterrepair · 10-02-2019, 12:51 PM

It HAS to have a stock lug to be worth much.

northwind · 10-02-2019, 01:06 PM

Went to the range today. Took a box of Remington UMC 115gr FMJs. Shot two full mags. Gun worked perfectly. No failure to feed, no failure to eject, no jams. I thought that was great considering the UMCs aren't the best ammo. Did not try for accuracy, just function.

Picture guy should be here tonight, so will probably have pictures tomorrow.

Gun does have shoulder stock lug.

northwind · 10-02-2019, 08:09 PM

Her are some pictures. Let me know if any others are needed. I also found 2 more mags.

northwind · 10-02-2019, 08:17 PM

And some more

lugerholsterrepair · 10-02-2019, 08:44 PM

I've seen a lot worse for a re blue! Not buffed too badly. The MOP grips actually fit pretty well. With proper wood grips it would look a lot better IMO. Given your range report..It should be worth $1,000 as a shooter. Tough to squeak out too much more with the mismatched numbers..The mags you found COULD be worth a hundred each depending on originality.

DavidJayUden · 10-02-2019, 09:39 PM

I had quoted $600 earlier, but given the new info. I believe that $1000 is very reasonable. Lots of demand for artillery shooters, and few of us are willing to take a collector-grade gun to the range.
dju

sheepherder · 10-02-2019, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

I've seen a lot worse for a re blue! Not buffed too badly.

+1

You have 'fine tune' rear sight; I can't see well enough to make a judgement on the front...Ah, yes! The front sight is fine tune also.

10-01-2019, 10:51 AM	#1
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	Franken Luger (Pics Added) Artillery Model Need help. I got a Luger from a deceased friend's wife. She is interested in selling, but she not sure what the price range might be. Here's the problem, its made up of various part from a least two separate pistols. The frame is a 1917/1920 DWM with a 589 serial number. The barrel is 7" and is also a 589. Most of the other parts are 1432 Serial numbers. The pistol has been re-blued with a high luster bluing. The pistol also has fake mother of pearl grips. Lastly, the magazine has a wooden toggle with a 7110 serial number. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated. Last edited by northwind; 10-02-2019 at 08:21 PM.

10-01-2019, 03:58 PM	#10
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	Mismatched parts and monkeyed with some..it's a shooter IF IT SHOOTS but it may not. THAT would affect it's value. __________________ 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."

10-02-2019, 12:51 PM	#14
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	It HAS to have a stock lug to be worth much. __________________ 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."

10-02-2019, 08:09 PM	#16
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	Her are some pictures. Let me know if any others are needed. I also found 2 more mags. Attached Thumbnails

10-02-2019, 08:17 PM	#17
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	And some more Attached Thumbnails

10-01-2019, 11:29 AM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Sounds like a shooter grade Luger but we don't know if it shoots. No one wants to be viewed as taking advantage of a widow, but proceed cautiously. Pictures would help, but it is sounding like a $600 gun to me. I assume it is 9mm. Holster, spares, etc? But let's see what the others say. dju

10-01-2019, 11:43 AM	#3
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	I'm not buying, I'm just trying to get some sort of a guesstimate price for her, so she has a rough idea of value. I have a matching number WWII Mauser Luger of my own, so she came to me for help. This thing is way beyond my knowledge, though. It is 9mm and as of yet, she hasn't found anything else that would go with it (holster, mags, etc). I assumed as you did, it would only be a shooter grade, but with the longer barrel (7inches), I thought that might bump the price up a little.

10-01-2019, 11:52 AM	#4
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 239 Times in 111 Posts	Dennis, Sight unseen, your description seems to indicate that you see this as not an especially desirable Luger. Unless you are keen on buying this particular Luger I suggest shopping around for whatever suits your interests and budget. My, rough, off-the-cuff estimate for a mis-matched, re-blued, re-barreled?, buffed up? Luger would be around $700. If you want the gun, you might offer a set amount above an offer made by a local pawn shop. KFS

10-01-2019, 01:14 PM	#5
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	How are you measuring barrel length? Properly, you close the breech (unloaded, of course) and drop a pencil or other rod down the bore to contact the breech face. Mark the rod at the muzzle, remove and measure. I ask because 7 inches is an unusual length.

10-01-2019, 01:33 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Also, the rear sight is fixed on the toggle and non-adjustable? dju

10-01-2019, 02:48 PM	#7
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	Learning a lot already. Miss measure on the barrel. After I did it the right way, it's 8 inches. It has a ladder type sight. At least, that's what I think they call them. It adjusts to 800 yards. Will try to send pictures.

10-01-2019, 03:32 PM	#9
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	We definitely need to see photos. dju

10-01-2019, 04:13 PM	#11
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	Im a senior citizen, so computers is not my strong suit, but I have help. I will send a picture as soon as help arrives. Tomorrow, I will take it to the range and see if it shoots. It looks like it should work just fine, but you never know. Will keep everyone posted with the progress. Have a friend that does bluing, ceracoat, and duracoat. Will check with him about the sharp edges. He should know.

10-01-2019, 04:58 PM	#12
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Numerous photos, the more the better. Close-ups. dju

10-02-2019, 12:48 PM	#13
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 670 Thanks: 2,009 Thanked 542 Times in 292 Posts	If it looks as good as you say and if it shoots reliably, I think it's worth $1,000+ with the long barrel. They are fun to shoot. But, in cases like this, I'd happily pay too much for it.

10-02-2019, 01:06 PM	#15
northwind User Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 5 Posts	Went to the range today. Took a box of Remington UMC 115gr FMJs. Shot two full mags. Gun worked perfectly. No failure to feed, no failure to eject, no jams. I thought that was great considering the UMCs aren't the best ammo. Did not try for accuracy, just function. Picture guy should be here tonight, so will probably have pictures tomorrow. Gun does have shoulder stock lug.

10-02-2019, 08:44 PM	#18
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	I've seen a lot worse for a re blue! Not buffed too badly. The MOP grips actually fit pretty well. With proper wood grips it would look a lot better IMO. Given your range report..It should be worth $1,000 as a shooter. Tough to squeak out too much more with the mismatched numbers..The mags you found COULD be worth a hundred each depending on originality. __________________ 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."

10-02-2019, 09:39 PM	#19
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I had quoted $600 earlier, but given the new info. I believe that $1000 is very reasonable. Lots of demand for artillery shooters, and few of us are willing to take a collector-grade gun to the range. dju