1906 Brazilian(?)

bobs · 05-02-2010, 03:55 PM

I'll attach photos of what I think is a 1906 30 cal Brazilian Luger. It has a "B" stamped on the left side of the receiver, no other markings other than "DMW" on toggle. I am also interseted in the bluing condition. It looks pretty good with some pitting on the barrel, and some light ware on the frame and grip safety. The frame its normal looking dark blue, but the receiver, toggle, and barrel are more of a purplish blue and highly polished. Is this normal? I have taken it down and "ALL" the numbers I can find match, barrel, frame, grip safety, toggle, etc, even the clip. I don't know if it has been refinished, but if it was, it was a long time ago.
Also any clues to value?

Ron Wood · 05-02-2010, 05:08 PM

I have found that quite a few Brazilian Lugers are refinished. The high humidity and tropical conditions were not kind to the guns, particularly those carried regularly in leather holsters. Consequently a significant number of them were refinished in country with a salt blue process rather than the original rust blue. This refinish varied quite a bit according to the skill of the refinisher and the amount of deterioration that needed to be fixed. The contours on your gun appear to be well preserved and the "B" is still visible so evidently some care was exercised in its rework. It is nice to find these guns in original condition, but they are quite scarce. Refinished Brazilian Lugers reflect their history. The condition of your Luger appears to be among the better ones.

Edward Tinker · 05-02-2010, 05:54 PM

I paid around $1200 for a Brazilian last fall and felt I got a good deal.

I think $1500-$1800 depending on condition is a good bet.

Welcome to the forum!

Ed

bobs · 05-02-2010, 07:09 PM

thank you for the responces. I am assuming this would fall more into the colletor catigory than a shooter. All orignal parts, wouldn't want anything to break. I paid $735 and will probably just keep as a collector.

Edward Tinker · 05-02-2010, 07:12 PM

Very good price for a shooter in 7.65mm in my opinion!

Ed

Douglas Jr. · 05-05-2010, 10:45 AM

Would you mind to share its serial number?
I have a personal interest on such guns.
Mostly Brazilian Lugers I have seen are refinished. Even to find a matching gun is a tough mission, as many had their parts "cannibalized" to be used on serviceble guns. They serve for more than three decades in the Brazilian Army, under very variable and rigorous weather conditions (from the rainforest in the North, to the semi-arid Northeast, up to the colder and and tempered Southern areas).

Congratulations for this nice gun.

Douglas

Thanks in advance

bobs · 05-05-2010, 10:53 AM

s/n 16xx. all parts I ghave seen are marked with last two digits of s/n. even clip.

Douglas Jr. · 05-05-2010, 03:15 PM

Bob,

Thanks for the information.
As you probably know, only 5000 were made for the Brazilian Army, with a specific serial number range (from 1 to 5000).

Greetings,

Douglas.

DavidJayUden · 05-05-2010, 11:26 PM

I recently picked up #342 from a fellow Forum member. It is very nicely restored, probably by the Lugerman, so some #'s may be restamped/force matched. It is a beautiful gun. Then I had our own Hugh clean up the grips. For you who have never seen his work it is breath taking.
dju

bobs · 05-10-2010, 04:11 PM

took the pistol to the range today. It shot very well, only a slight problem with the original clip not allowing the round to chamber from open bolt. with new clip, it worked perfectly. From pass experience, the top of the old clip needs to be bent tighter because the round is sitting to high. The cases expanded about .002". Might get the barrel relined to improve rifeling if I can find some one that can do it with the original barrel. But for now, very satisfied with how it work for a 100+ year old gun. Will probably just keep it as a collector (investment).

alanint · 05-10-2010, 05:14 PM

Don't reline the old barrel! Any alteration will greatly affect its collector value.

Love it for what it is! 8^)

05-02-2010, 03:55 PM	#1
bobs User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1906 Brazilian(?) I'll attach photos of what I think is a 1906 30 cal Brazilian Luger. It has a "B" stamped on the left side of the receiver, no other markings other than "DMW" on toggle. I am also interseted in the bluing condition. It looks pretty good with some pitting on the barrel, and some light ware on the frame and grip safety. The frame its normal looking dark blue, but the receiver, toggle, and barrel are more of a purplish blue and highly polished. Is this normal? I have taken it down and "ALL" the numbers I can find match, barrel, frame, grip safety, toggle, etc, even the clip. I don't know if it has been refinished, but if it was, it was a long time ago. Also any clues to value? Attached Thumbnails

05-02-2010, 05:08 PM	#2
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: 6,987 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,090 Times in 1,675 Posts	I have found that quite a few Brazilian Lugers are refinished. The high humidity and tropical conditions were not kind to the guns, particularly those carried regularly in leather holsters. Consequently a significant number of them were refinished in country with a salt blue process rather than the original rust blue. This refinish varied quite a bit according to the skill of the refinisher and the amount of deterioration that needed to be fixed. The contours on your gun appear to be well preserved and the "B" is still visible so evidently some care was exercised in its rework. It is nice to find these guns in original condition, but they are quite scarce. Refinished Brazilian Lugers reflect their history. The condition of your Luger appears to be among the better ones. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-02-2010, 07:12 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	Very good price for a shooter in 7.65mm in my opinion! Ed __________________ 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

05-02-2010, 05:54 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	I paid around $1200 for a Brazilian last fall and felt I got a good deal. I think $1500-$1800 depending on condition is a good bet. Welcome to the forum! Ed __________________ 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

05-02-2010, 07:09 PM	#4
bobs User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	thank you for the responces. I am assuming this would fall more into the colletor catigory than a shooter. All orignal parts, wouldn't want anything to break. I paid $735 and will probably just keep as a collector.

05-05-2010, 10:45 AM	#6
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Would you mind to share its serial number? I have a personal interest on such guns. Mostly Brazilian Lugers I have seen are refinished. Even to find a matching gun is a tough mission, as many had their parts "cannibalized" to be used on serviceble guns. They serve for more than three decades in the Brazilian Army, under very variable and rigorous weather conditions (from the rainforest in the North, to the semi-arid Northeast, up to the colder and and tempered Southern areas). Congratulations for this nice gun. Douglas Thanks in advance

05-05-2010, 10:53 AM	#7
bobs User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	s/n 16xx. all parts I ghave seen are marked with last two digits of s/n. even clip.

05-05-2010, 03:15 PM	#8
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Bob, Thanks for the information. As you probably know, only 5000 were made for the Brazilian Army, with a specific serial number range (from 1 to 5000). Greetings, Douglas.

05-05-2010, 11:26 PM	#9
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I recently picked up #342 from a fellow Forum member. It is very nicely restored, probably by the Lugerman, so some #'s may be restamped/force matched. It is a beautiful gun. Then I had our own Hugh clean up the grips. For you who have never seen his work it is breath taking. dju

05-10-2010, 04:11 PM	#10
bobs User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	took the pistol to the range today. It shot very well, only a slight problem with the original clip not allowing the round to chamber from open bolt. with new clip, it worked perfectly. From pass experience, the top of the old clip needs to be bent tighter because the round is sitting to high. The cases expanded about .002". Might get the barrel relined to improve rifeling if I can find some one that can do it with the original barrel. But for now, very satisfied with how it work for a 100+ year old gun. Will probably just keep it as a collector (investment).

05-10-2010, 05:14 PM	#11
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Don't reline the old barrel! Any alteration will greatly affect its collector value. Love it for what it is! 8^)