Luger condition grading

wworker · 09-24-2005, 11:54 AM

What grading scale do you guys use to evaluate the condition of a Luger?

I have a book that grades Lugers much more strictly than the NRA grades.

Poor = 75% to 80%
Fair = 80% to 85%
Good = 85% to 90%
Very Good = 90% to 95%
Excellent = 95% to 100%

drbuster · 09-24-2005, 12:24 PM

Grading a luger is very subjective and depends on whether you are the seller or the buyer. The former usually grades higher than the latter. Factors that are taken into account include, the percent of the blue remaining, the quality (thinness) of the blue, the percent of the strawing (prior to 1937), the height of the diamonds on the grips, etc. Before one accepts the percent, one must (IMO) see good quality photographs, or even better, inspect the piece in person. All that said, a big can of worms may be opened up.

Ron Wood · 09-24-2005, 12:38 PM

Brightness also factors into the grading. A 95% dull original finish gun usually will not be perceived as in as good of condition as a 90% gun with a bright original finish. A gun that has been well maintained and oiled will keep a dark bright finish. A gun that is left dry and dusty will eventually take on a dull gray appearance.

Dwight Gruber · 09-24-2005, 12:46 PM

Wworker,

What is the book?

--Dwight

wworker · 09-24-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Grading a luger is very subjective and depends on whether you are the seller or the buyer.

Wise words indeed.

The book is "The Luger Handbook" by Aaron Davis.

The grading system is on page xiii

And I know that this may not be the most comprehensive book on Lugers, but it's a start.

On being subjective for the grading, that is also true as it does make a difference whether the observer sees the Luger in person or by way of photos.

wworker · 09-24-2005, 02:02 PM

On grading, here's an example of where I feel the seller is being overly optimistic.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=37762958

Dwight Gruber · 09-24-2005, 06:33 PM

Wworker,

Davis's book is generally held in very low esteem, due to his copious errors and misinformation in the text.

You will find that Luger collectors usually describe guns directly in the percentage vocabulary, rather than the NRA (or other) qualitative grades.

--Dwight

Sundance · 09-25-2005, 08:43 PM

Dwight,

I just finished the Aaron Davis book and would love to know what the general or specific errors are - I'm looking for my first Luger and don't want to follow the wrong lead. Are the determination criteria (markings, etc.) wrong?

Thanks!

Dwight Gruber · 09-26-2005, 02:01 AM

I haven't looked at Davis for quite a while, and cannot find my copy right now. The most egregious error I recall, was describing late Mausers as having strawed parts when, in fact, they do not. The rest of the text simply cannot be trusted. Best thing to do is to use the identification matrix at the beginning to determine what variation you might be looking at, then look it up in Kenyon's "Lugers At Random", or one of Still's volumes if it is a military or Weimar Luger.

--Dwight

09-24-2005, 11:54 AM	#1
wworker User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger condition grading What grading scale do you guys use to evaluate the condition of a Luger? I have a book that grades Lugers much more strictly than the NRA grades. Poor = 75% to 80% Fair = 80% to 85% Good = 85% to 90% Very Good = 90% to 95% Excellent = 95% to 100%

09-24-2005, 12:38 PM	#3
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	Brightness also factors into the grading. A 95% dull original finish gun usually will not be perceived as in as good of condition as a 90% gun with a bright original finish. A gun that has been well maintained and oiled will keep a dark bright finish. A gun that is left dry and dusty will eventually take on a dull gray appearance. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-24-2005, 12:24 PM	#2
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Grading a luger is very subjective and depends on whether you are the seller or the buyer. The former usually grades higher than the latter. Factors that are taken into account include, the percent of the blue remaining, the quality (thinness) of the blue, the percent of the strawing (prior to 1937), the height of the diamonds on the grips, etc. Before one accepts the percent, one must (IMO) see good quality photographs, or even better, inspect the piece in person. All that said, a big can of worms may be opened up.

09-24-2005, 12:46 PM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,889 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,281 Times in 423 Posts	Wworker, What is the book? --Dwight

09-24-2005, 02:02 PM	#6
wworker User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	On grading, here's an example of where I feel the seller is being overly optimistic. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=37762958

09-24-2005, 06:33 PM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,889 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,281 Times in 423 Posts	Wworker, Davis's book is generally held in very low esteem, due to his copious errors and misinformation in the text. You will find that Luger collectors usually describe guns directly in the percentage vocabulary, rather than the NRA (or other) qualitative grades. --Dwight

09-25-2005, 08:43 PM	#8
Sundance New User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Discovery Bay, California Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dwight, I just finished the Aaron Davis book and would love to know what the general or specific errors are - I'm looking for my first Luger and don't want to follow the wrong lead. Are the determination criteria (markings, etc.) wrong? Thanks!

09-26-2005, 02:01 AM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,889 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,281 Times in 423 Posts	I haven't looked at Davis for quite a while, and cannot find my copy right now. The most egregious error I recall, was describing late Mausers as having strawed parts when, in fact, they do not. The rest of the text simply cannot be trusted. Best thing to do is to use the identification matrix at the beginning to determine what variation you might be looking at, then look it up in Kenyon's "Lugers At Random", or one of Still's volumes if it is a military or Weimar Luger. --Dwight