Low vs. High Serial Numbers?

[mm]

I have seen coments regarding the desirability of low serial-numbered Lugers over higher numbered guns. How does this factor into the gun's value? For example, everthing else being equal, how much more would a three-digit numbered gun be worth than a four-digit gun? (Or two-diget over three etc..) mm

[bill m]

Hi,

A very interesting question. I do not think it adds much to the value unless it was something like #1 or #3 or a really low single digit number, and then I'm not sure what it would add, but not an awful lot. Condition is the most important factor, and if all things are equal, the value would not jump much on a 99 percent condition gun in my opinion, as the condition is already there in a low serial or a high serial. On lower conditioned guns, say a 95 percent gun, I suppose the value would be slightly more on the really low serial number, say a two digit compared to a four digit. I would think that you would have to have a two digit serial number to add much to a gun, but again, the condition is the most important factor in my opinion, and not the serial number. I'm sure there will lots of different opinions on this.

[Johnny Peppers]

This would depend upon whether the Luger was a commercial or military. A low number commercial Luger would have considerably more value than a higher number commercial with all other things being equal. I suppose if someone attached added value to a low number on a military Luger, that would be their preferance. A low number on a commercial Luger until the letter suffix was initiated indicates that the pistol is actually of early manufacture. As the military serial numbers started over each time the serial number reached 9999, a low number has nothing to do with when it was actually manufactured. For a given year, a pistol with serial number 9999 would actually be a lower serial number than 99a. The pistol with 99a would just have fewer digits. Just my particular preference, but if the 9999 pistol was 98% original finish and the 99a was 95% original, I would take the 9999.

[Aaron]

There are only two circumstances in which a low serial number has any bearing on the value of a firearm:


1) The low number represents a documented prototype weapon.

2) The low number represents a presentation firearm, or one which was presented to a high government official, a VIP, or a member of the firearms firm.


I have a Walther PPK which was a VIP presentation piece, serial number 11111, but there is no documentation. Therefore, I consider the premium value to amount to no more than an additional15%.

[mm]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I suppose another factor would be sequential numbered guns if they exist. Personally, I don't care about what serial number a gun has but if everything else is equal I look for specific historic dates on relics. For example, a 1917 Nagant Revolver (Russian Revolution); 1961 East German Makarov (The year the Berlin Wall went up); 1943 P38 (the turning point of WWII -Stalingrad); 1941 Luger (European War becomes World War when USSR & US become involved) and so on. mm

[Hugh]

[Johnny Peppers]

What is the explaination for the no suffix? The K Date started with the no suffix and went into the early a suffix block. The G Date started in the early a suffix block.

I must agree with Johnny P. that I never hear of a no suffix G date. The earliest that I owned was 7xxa and the latest in the mid e block. I also agree that the number of digits in a military PO8's serial number makes no difference to me. For example in a typical WW2 production year when they made 110,000 lugers, 11 of them would be serial number 1 with various suffixes. I once owned S/N 10,000e SVW/45 P38 (pictured in Buxton's Vol2). That I thought was interesting.

Hugh, I just thought of another possibility, there were about 100 G date Kreighoffs made. Perhaps you have one of these numbered from 1 to 99 without suffix.

[BILL]

There might be some numbers that would be more collectable to the individual. I know that the serial number 007 is sought after in many pistols (PPK probably more than any other). I saw a collection of pistols with "RADAR" numbers once at a big gun show. They were the same forwards as backwards (13731, 343, etc). Maybe #1908 on a P.08 or a #1938 on a P.38 (the year they were offically adopted by the military). I guess I would pay more for one with the year of my birth on it.

[Greg]

Just for info, I purchased a "G" date from Ralph last year with a no suffix serial number(#4153)so I guess there some out there.

[Johnny Peppers]

In addition to the G Date Kreighoff, there were also several manufacturers of the G Date K98k.

[Johnny Peppers]

Serial number 4153 (ns) would be almost in the middle of K Date production. The Germans were not normally sloppy about leaving off the suffix.

[Hugh]

Glad to see you guys are on your toes! Actually it has a 70f serial number

[Thor]

Bad Hugh......bad bad bad......Hugh !!! That was a dirty trick!! (I like the way you think!!!) Man...they should let you out more often

[Dok]

[Dok]