New owner with questions

[howare]

As a new user to this forum, I would like to express my thanks for the information I have acquired. Please review my note and pictures, because this LP08 seems to be unusual. Please help me identify and value this inheritance piece.

This 8 inch barrel does not have the adjustable sight. Makers mark is only on the receiver, not on the barrel. The chamber is blank on top, side, and stop lug. No Military or Commercial proof marks anywhere. (2./N.3.68) Military issue mark on front strap of frame. DWM on front toggle link. (162 suffix a) serial number on frame. 162 and 8.82 on barrel. 62 on; takedown lever, trigger side plate, trigger, safety lever (GESICHERT), safety bar, sear bar, rear toggle link, breechblock, hold open latch. Fireing pin S/N=66. Extractor has GELADEN on the side, but S/N=90 is on the bottom, not the top.
The following items are straw colored; takedown lever, trigger, safety lever, safety bar, hold open latch, ejector.
Again, thanks

[John Sabato]

Ed,

First, welcome to the forum. Your pistol is a former DWM manufactured P.08 military gun that has been privately customized by the installation of a long barrel. It has been refinished (because the interior of the frame is also blued, and for the vintage of your gun, it should be in the white, as the gun was originally rust blued by hand). Being refinished may account for the lack of proof marks that may have been buffed off during the reblue process.

The front sight and sight base are very unusual, but readily apparent as a custom effort. The holdopen is chipped, and I would obtain a reproduction or non-matching part to use for actual firing.

You pistol has markings stamped into the front grip strap, these are Unit numbers. Other may be able to tell you which unit these marks represent. The grips are likely to be Swiss or Italian reproductions in origin.

It should make a fine shooter, but because of the modifications, it is a shooter class gun and not a collectible.

Do let us know how it shoots.

[howare]

John Sabato,
Thank you sir for your quick and informative response.
I could not understand why it had no proof marks or dates. The grips do not have S/N's, so reproduction makes sence.
I have two magazines without S/N's. I was told to get a magazine without the wood base for shooting, since the wood may break.
Could you give me an idea of what a pretty blue shooter is worth?

[John Sabato]

I don't buy and sell much of anything anymore... I will let some of those members who are actively collecting give you a realistic value estmate.

My estimate would be somewhere between $700 to $1000 dollars in the condition shown, and the long barrel may put it at the higher end of my guess...

[howare]

John, I have no idea what this Lugar is worth. Your $700 to $1000 value is appreciated.

[lugerholsterrepair]

John is spot on.

[howare]

Thank you Jerry for the confirmation of the price. I hope to buy my parts and try out this Lugar.

[John Sabato]

It is spelled L-U-G-E-R...

[lfid]

very cool luger !

seems to me you could get an idea for value by adding up the parts and labor to recreate this very attractive luger

so - base gun mostly matching looks like no hacker involved - $700 up
barrel - really nice length and profile - even numbered same serial and also the diameter marking - $200
mechanical work remounting barrel ( and hopefully chambered ok - might be best to check / have it checked before shooting ) - $200
nice repro grips - $50
total at least $1150 ( and also the time to make all this happen ok )

but like a car restoration may not get anything for the time and varys significantly with venue offered

suggest if you decide to sell this one you place it in the WTS forum here - serious luger community and avoids up to 20% selling fees

possible that the extractor and firing pin are different numbers to avoid breakage of original like numbered parts - maybe your prior owner would have those parts somewhere
and maybe the firing pin was selected as a good match to the firing system parts - since overall looks like a case where the mechanic was very luger aware

what is barrel length including chamber ?

you could shoot without the holdopen while looking for a good one

thanks for sharing this one !
Bill

[Ron Smith]

The unit mark translates to Reichswehr Company 2 / Nachrichtenabteilung 3 ( Signal Corps Detachment 3) weapon #68

The serial number suffix is a. The donor pistol may have been a 1920 or 1921 new production for the 10,000 Lugers contracted by the Reichsheer. All of which are in the no suffix, a and b suffix range.