Greetings and Thank you in Advance

dannyt · 07-22-2013, 02:41 PM

I am new to the whole War era collecting of guns. I really like the hobby and have picked up some really interesting pieces. My next interest is this 1918 Luger. I would appreciate any feedback anyone has on this pc including markings and approximate value. Again thank you in advance for anyone that can help me understand what it is i have here.

Edward Tinker · 07-22-2013, 03:25 PM

welcome to the forum

looks like a nice 1918, what are you trying to find out?

is it yours or something you are looking at?

dannyt · 07-22-2013, 03:33 PM

Thank you for the welcome sir. Yes this my newest addition. Im trying to find out any and all info I can from it. I am not familiar with the markings on the Lugers and am curious as to the approx value of the piece. Looks to be all #s matching. Didnt know if there was something special with it or if it just a run of the mill Luger? Any info at all with it is appreciated. I also have the holster with it and is in good condition.

Edward Tinker · 07-22-2013, 03:40 PM

I think the approx value is what you paid for it?

Erfurt quit making lugers in 1918 when the war stopped, so this was the last year of production for them, lots made in 1918, so that does not make them rare. However, any luger is fairly valuable, even a shooter is worth $700-$800 usually.

What books do you have so far? Jan Still's Central Powers covers WW1 era very well.

dannyt · 07-22-2013, 03:59 PM

Thank you Mr Tinker for the reply. I must say that i ran into a very sweet deal on this piece, lets just say around the 400.00 mark. Im not one to part with something after i buy so not shy disclosing what i paid. This will stay with me and be passed down to my son when the time comes. I do not have any books so far to do any research on. I will be aquiring some in near future as i am intriqued with all the variables associated with these guns. I was merely just trying to find out if i had anything unique here or not with markings? I did know that the Erfurt mfgr guns did have sub par finishes when made. I didnt know how much that brought the value down? My first guess as to the value of it was around the 1000.00 range, but was looking for an experienced persons opinion? Again sir thank you for your replys!

DavidJayUden · 07-22-2013, 04:21 PM

The magazine is from the wrong era and a correct model would probably increase the value a bit. And maybe a straight swap for what is in it now.
The second photo makes some parts on the left side look "beat on", particularly around the sliding safety bar. Just my eyes?
I too feel that Erfurts were not as nicely finished as the DWM models, but that will probably arouse the ire of some fellows onboard here. They have never been accused of being dis-functional or inferior.
Overall a nice honest old gun. I'd ballpark it at around $1000, but you probably need to take it apart to check more numbers and to clean it thoroughly, using great care with the grip panels.
Welcome aboard.
dju

dannyt · 07-22-2013, 04:30 PM

DavidJayUden can you tell me what the era is of the mag that is in it now? I appreciate your opinion. Thank you

alanint · 07-22-2013, 05:37 PM

Your magazine is a later Mauser magazine which saw police service at one time. Your gun should have a WW1 era wooden based magazine, ideally with a matching serial number or at least Erfurt marked.

DavidJayUden · 07-22-2013, 05:58 PM

As Alan said, yours will be the silver colored body with the wooden bottom, with the Erfurt marking on it. Not too bad to find.
Try posting yours in the "for sale" column below with a note that you would like to trade. Or keep that alloy mag. as a shooter, but DO NOT use the wooden ones as the spring pressure is very bad ju-ju.
dju

Edward Tinker · 07-22-2013, 06:01 PM

Danny, I just like to find out if it is yours or one that you're looking to buy. On more than one occasion someone gets excited about lugers and posts scores of 'how's this look' from gunbroker or the like, so sometimes I am a bit gun-shy.

Buying books is very important if you are going to collect. $400 is a very low amount to pay for a luger, I bought one recently, although mine was missing a few parts, so you did very well. Check the small parts and see if it matches.

The later erfurts did have a rougher finish, but nothing to think of as sub-par IMO.

mrerick · 07-22-2013, 06:27 PM

Whether or not the parts match, you bought this at a low shooter price.

If they all match, you did very well on a collectable Luger worth 3 x what you paid...

Marc

Ron Wood · 07-22-2013, 06:51 PM

Wow! You only paid 400 bucks for that! What a deal. You did very well indeed.

07-22-2013, 03:25 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	welcome to the forum looks like a nice 1918, what are you trying to find out? is it yours or something you are looking at? __________________ 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

07-22-2013, 03:40 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	I think the approx value is what you paid for it? Erfurt quit making lugers in 1918 when the war stopped, so this was the last year of production for them, lots made in 1918, so that does not make them rare. However, any luger is fairly valuable, even a shooter is worth $700-$800 usually. What books do you have so far? Jan Still's Central Powers covers WW1 era very well. __________________ 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

07-22-2013, 06:01 PM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	Danny, I just like to find out if it is yours or one that you're looking to buy. On more than one occasion someone gets excited about lugers and posts scores of 'how's this look' from gunbroker or the like, so sometimes I am a bit gun-shy. Buying books is very important if you are going to collect. $400 is a very low amount to pay for a luger, I bought one recently, although mine was missing a few parts, so you did very well. Check the small parts and see if it matches. The later erfurts did have a rougher finish, but nothing to think of as sub-par IMO. __________________ 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

07-22-2013, 06:27 PM	#11
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	Whether or not the parts match, you bought this at a low shooter price. If they all match, you did very well on a collectable Luger worth 3 x what you paid... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

07-22-2013, 06:51 PM	#12
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: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,090 Times in 1,675 Posts	Wow! You only paid 400 bucks for that! What a deal. You did very well indeed. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

07-22-2013, 03:33 PM	#3
dannyt User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: indiana Posts: 10 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you for the welcome sir. Yes this my newest addition. Im trying to find out any and all info I can from it. I am not familiar with the markings on the Lugers and am curious as to the approx value of the piece. Looks to be all #s matching. Didnt know if there was something special with it or if it just a run of the mill Luger? Any info at all with it is appreciated. I also have the holster with it and is in good condition.

07-22-2013, 03:59 PM	#5
dannyt User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: indiana Posts: 10 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you Mr Tinker for the reply. I must say that i ran into a very sweet deal on this piece, lets just say around the 400.00 mark. Im not one to part with something after i buy so not shy disclosing what i paid. This will stay with me and be passed down to my son when the time comes. I do not have any books so far to do any research on. I will be aquiring some in near future as i am intriqued with all the variables associated with these guns. I was merely just trying to find out if i had anything unique here or not with markings? I did know that the Erfurt mfgr guns did have sub par finishes when made. I didnt know how much that brought the value down? My first guess as to the value of it was around the 1000.00 range, but was looking for an experienced persons opinion? Again sir thank you for your replys!

07-22-2013, 04:21 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	The magazine is from the wrong era and a correct model would probably increase the value a bit. And maybe a straight swap for what is in it now. The second photo makes some parts on the left side look "beat on", particularly around the sliding safety bar. Just my eyes? I too feel that Erfurts were not as nicely finished as the DWM models, but that will probably arouse the ire of some fellows onboard here. They have never been accused of being dis-functional or inferior. Overall a nice honest old gun. I'd ballpark it at around $1000, but you probably need to take it apart to check more numbers and to clean it thoroughly, using great care with the grip panels. Welcome aboard. dju

07-22-2013, 04:30 PM	#7
dannyt User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: indiana Posts: 10 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	DavidJayUden can you tell me what the era is of the mag that is in it now? I appreciate your opinion. Thank you

07-22-2013, 05:37 PM	#8
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Your magazine is a later Mauser magazine which saw police service at one time. Your gun should have a WW1 era wooden based magazine, ideally with a matching serial number or at least Erfurt marked.

07-22-2013, 05:58 PM	#9
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	As Alan said, yours will be the silver colored body with the wooden bottom, with the Erfurt marking on it. Not too bad to find. Try posting yours in the "for sale" column below with a note that you would like to trade. Or keep that alloy mag. as a shooter, but DO NOT use the wooden ones as the spring pressure is very bad ju-ju. dju