Need help with value of 1917 Artillery

WWoodworth · 07-25-2009, 12:19 AM

Okay, long story short... A friend of mine passed and I volunteered to help the daughter handling his estate dispose of his guns. He's got about 10 pistols and I've got a handle on all but 2 of them as to value. The one that is really holding me up is a Luger. I have been directed here by members of ARFCOM as being the place of people who can give me a fairly accurate idea of how much to ask for this thing. And here's what it is....

1917 DWM Artillery model, numbers matching (except for magazine), 4 digit SN, 99% finish (muzzle wear from being in original holster, reblue?), including mint condition buttstock (repro??), the cleaning rod, the takedown tool, and holster rig (thinking this is a repro?). It's pretty much immaculate.

I've seen asking prices on them ranging from $1350 to over $5K on the net, so there's a lot of wiggle room there. I'd like to be able to get as much as possible (one of his daughters is challenged and requires care), but obviously don't want to price it out of its actual value range.

So, what say the experts?

Thanks!

Woody

the gunman · 07-25-2009, 09:23 AM

Hi gun has been refinished and the holster/stock are REPO"S this drops the value on this rig "Quite a bit"

lugerholsterrepair · 07-25-2009, 11:12 AM

Richie is correct..Also the right grip is a replacement so it will not match. The pistol falls out of collector value and into a shooter catagory. Hard to say in today's economy. I would guess in the $900-1100 range.

Jerry Burney

Ron Smith · 07-25-2009, 11:26 AM

I would estimate a bit higher than Jerry, but not by a lot. The restoration is fairly well done, and the rig is repro, but still in the shooter catagory.

Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 07-25-2009, 11:36 AM

Ron, As you know... a lot depends on who you find to buy it and where. Or how long you want to hang onto it before it sells. Your neck of the woods might place a tad higher value...It's all a crap shoot but $1500 is too high and $900 is too low so somewhere in between I would say. If the grip were not a bad replacement it would be a bit more appealing.
Your right..the reblue is fairly nicely done. Bore condition would be important. Does it actually shoot well is another.
So much depends on what you know about the pistol and how you present it. If the buyer is taking a chance on it even fireing much less hitting where you aim it...that would affect my decision on a shooter.
I thinkl you could squeeze a little more money out if you knew all that.

Jerry Burney

lfid · 07-25-2009, 01:07 PM

nice looking reblue and repro accessories

if it has an excellent shiny bore - and the fine tune sights front and rear work - and shoots ok
those are big factors for someone looking for a keeper shooter artillery

you can make a 0 cost fine tune tool from a standard paperclip - make ends into a two prong fork - if fine tune screw turns with some resistence that is just right - if wont turn try some fine oil and gentle extra effort

if reblued with the fine tune screws not disassembled may be a problem to use them due to reblue corrison

good luck with the sale

DavidJayUden · 07-25-2009, 02:07 PM

I would think that a guy could squeeze $1500 out of this set IF you have patience. Good photos and presentation is a must, as is marketing it to a vast audience.
IMHO if the bore is good this gun would be worth far more than the $800 shooters out there now. Artilleries are just a hoot at the range.
DJU

HuntMaster · 07-25-2009, 02:18 PM

There you have it, Woody. These guys know a lot about this pistol and the values. Bring it to the gunshow in Mobile coming up August 1st. I would love to see it. May even make a respectable offer on it.
Glad to see you made it over from AR15.com . The knowledge here on Lugers is far more vast and serious than it is over there.

rolandtg · 07-25-2009, 06:23 PM

$1500-1700 in my area. At least that's what I see them listed for. I dunno what they sell for.

barr44 · 10-09-2009, 11:16 AM

Wwoodworth,
If the artillery luger is still for sale, I may be interested.
Email me at barr44@cox.net

George Anderson · 10-09-2009, 11:25 AM

Put it all together with stock and all and take it to a local gunshop and tell them you want to get $2000 they will add on their fee. You will get it. You can also walk it through a couple of gun shows and you'll get $2000. Also try the local paper. Ignorance can be a wonderful thing.

alvin · 10-09-2009, 05:55 PM

Probably not nowadays, many investors retreated. Only collectors left on the front line.

HuntMaster · 10-10-2009, 12:03 PM

Fella's, I contacted Woody and saw the pistol a couple of months ago at a Mobile, Al gunshow. I told him I wanted it if he could give me a little time to come up with the funds.
He did, and today I am headed to Mobile today to pick up the pistol. Will let you know when I get home with it. It is really nice in spite of the reblue.

Derek

HuntMaster · 10-11-2009, 09:13 AM

I bought the pistol yesterday. All #'s match internally. The left grip panel has a small waffenampt stamping with the # 735. The right grip panel has a waffenampt stamp with the # 655 or 656 depending on how you hold it in the light. This panel is also stamped with a 42 near the waffenampt, and a larger M about a half inch under these. Any ideas from anyone?
I may not be calling the small stamp correctly "waffenampt" . I am still learning, and this is what I assume it is called.
The barrel has very nice, pronounced rifling. No pits.
The mag has a wood bottom and the #'s 7292 on it.
Otherwise, the pistol doesn't have a scratch, mar, nick, gash or any other unwanted feature. Only the fire blue on the trigger that can be seen on the pics above.
The holster rig is very nice and appears to have some age in spite of being a "repro".
Anything else I need to look at on this pistol and rig ?
I am proud of this purchase, and it will go nicely with the reblue 1914 30 Luger I have. Hey, a pair of DWM's.
Thanks everyone for helping Woody out.

Derek

jamese · 10-11-2009, 09:55 AM

OK, Woody doesn't tell us what part of the country he's in..... so I would have to agree with Jerry at least in Florida $900 on the low end..$1,700 on the high end.

If you tried to buy it in a gun shop it would be listed @ $2,200 to $2,500

Its a nice looking re-blue, but still a shooter

my .02

Jim

lugerholsterrepair · 10-11-2009, 12:57 PM

Derek, Congratulations! I am sure you will like it. Artilleries are my collecting passion behind Navies.
As an aside on pricing..my local gun dealer has one of the most beautiful Artilleries I have ever seen. Original blue that must be 99% 1917 fine tune sights. # 852 b if I remember right. Small Germany marked on the left front rail. The owner wants $3000 for it. I offered $2500 because the grips are un numbered and the holdopen was #46. The only mismatched part in it. He's stuck on 3 Grand so I passed. If the grips had been numbered and the holdopen correct I would have caughed up the other 500 smackers as the condition is like no other Artillery I have.
If anyone out there is interested..I have closely inspected this pistol and can vouch for it being what I say it is.

Jerry Burney

HuntMaster · 10-11-2009, 01:37 PM

I am assuming what is meant by " fine tune sights" is on the front sight. This artillery has a small tuneable screw on the right side. Looks like it would take a special tool or one made from a paperclip as I have seen suggested.
On a side note, are Artilleries all military, or was some of them commercial, and how would I know the difference?

lugerholsterrepair · 10-11-2009, 01:48 PM

Derek, Commercial Artilleries do not have the Military acceptance markings on the right receiver or the date over the chamber. They might be marked with a Crown N but to tell you the truth I don't know that much about commercials.

Yes, the front sight has a small round screw with spanner wrench type holes.

Jerry Burney

HuntMaster · 10-11-2009, 10:33 PM

As a part of this thread I guess I should add I paid $1200 + tax for this Artillery and the extras it came with. Came out to be $1290. I didn't think that was too bad a deal.

MFC · 10-11-2009, 11:40 PM

Derek,
Your beautiful Artillery looks like it was restored, not a quick gunshop reblue that was buffed to death. Also it's all matching. The handfitted parts were made to fit together with the correct tolerences, which is why they were numbered. That's one shooter I'd love to own.

07-25-2009, 12:19 AM	#1
WWoodworth New User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need help with value of 1917 Artillery Okay, long story short... A friend of mine passed and I volunteered to help the daughter handling his estate dispose of his guns. He's got about 10 pistols and I've got a handle on all but 2 of them as to value. The one that is really holding me up is a Luger. I have been directed here by members of ARFCOM as being the place of people who can give me a fairly accurate idea of how much to ask for this thing. And here's what it is.... 1917 DWM Artillery model, numbers matching (except for magazine), 4 digit SN, 99% finish (muzzle wear from being in original holster, reblue?), including mint condition buttstock (repro??), the cleaning rod, the takedown tool, and holster rig (thinking this is a repro?). It's pretty much immaculate. I've seen asking prices on them ranging from $1350 to over $5K on the net, so there's a lot of wiggle room there. I'd like to be able to get as much as possible (one of his daughters is challenged and requires care), but obviously don't want to price it out of its actual value range. So, what say the experts? Thanks! Woody

07-25-2009, 11:12 AM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,850 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,426 Posts	Richie is correct..Also the right grip is a replacement so it will not match. The pistol falls out of collector value and into a shooter catagory. Hard to say in today's economy. I would guess in the $900-1100 range. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-25-2009, 11:36 AM	#5
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,850 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,426 Posts	Ron, As you know... a lot depends on who you find to buy it and where. Or how long you want to hang onto it before it sells. Your neck of the woods might place a tad higher value...It's all a crap shoot but $1500 is too high and $900 is too low so somewhere in between I would say. If the grip were not a bad replacement it would be a bit more appealing. Your right..the reblue is fairly nicely done. Bore condition would be important. Does it actually shoot well is another. So much depends on what you know about the pistol and how you present it. If the buyer is taking a chance on it even fireing much less hitting where you aim it...that would affect my decision on a shooter. I thinkl you could squeeze a little more money out if you knew all that. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

10-11-2009, 09:55 AM	#15
jamese User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 789 Thanks: 0 Thanked 84 Times in 34 Posts	OK, Woody doesn't tell us what part of the country he's in..... so I would have to agree with Jerry at least in Florida $900 on the low end..$1,700 on the high end. If you tried to buy it in a gun shop it would be listed @ $2,200 to $2,500 Its a nice looking re-blue, but still a shooter my .02 Jim __________________ The "truth" is a matter of Perception

10-11-2009, 12:57 PM	#16
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,850 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,426 Posts	Derek, Congratulations! I am sure you will like it. Artilleries are my collecting passion behind Navies. As an aside on pricing..my local gun dealer has one of the most beautiful Artilleries I have ever seen. Original blue that must be 99% 1917 fine tune sights. # 852 b if I remember right. Small Germany marked on the left front rail. The owner wants $3000 for it. I offered $2500 because the grips are un numbered and the holdopen was #46. The only mismatched part in it. He's stuck on 3 Grand so I passed. If the grips had been numbered and the holdopen correct I would have caughed up the other 500 smackers as the condition is like no other Artillery I have. If anyone out there is interested..I have closely inspected this pistol and can vouch for it being what I say it is. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-25-2009, 09:23 AM	#2
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Hi gun has been refinished and the holster/stock are REPO"S this drops the value on this rig "Quite a bit"

07-25-2009, 11:26 AM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	I would estimate a bit higher than Jerry, but not by a lot. The restoration is fairly well done, and the rig is repro, but still in the shooter catagory. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

07-25-2009, 01:07 PM	#6
lfid Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wichita, KS USA Posts: 453 Thanks: 573 Thanked 96 Times in 53 Posts	nice looking reblue and repro accessories if it has an excellent shiny bore - and the fine tune sights front and rear work - and shoots ok those are big factors for someone looking for a keeper shooter artillery you can make a 0 cost fine tune tool from a standard paperclip - make ends into a two prong fork - if fine tune screw turns with some resistence that is just right - if wont turn try some fine oil and gentle extra effort if reblued with the fine tune screws not disassembled may be a problem to use them due to reblue corrison good luck with the sale

07-25-2009, 02:07 PM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I would think that a guy could squeeze $1500 out of this set IF you have patience. Good photos and presentation is a must, as is marketing it to a vast audience. IMHO if the bore is good this gun would be worth far more than the $800 shooters out there now. Artilleries are just a hoot at the range. DJU

07-25-2009, 02:18 PM	#8
HuntMaster User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	There you have it, Woody. These guys know a lot about this pistol and the values. Bring it to the gunshow in Mobile coming up August 1st. I would love to see it. May even make a respectable offer on it. Glad to see you made it over from AR15.com . The knowledge here on Lugers is far more vast and serious than it is over there.

07-25-2009, 06:23 PM	#9
rolandtg User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 471 Thanks: 361 Thanked 255 Times in 111 Posts	$1500-1700 in my area. At least that's what I see them listed for. I dunno what they sell for.

10-09-2009, 11:16 AM	#10
barr44 User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: york co., va Posts: 151 Thanks: 27 Thanked 35 Times in 21 Posts	Wwoodworth, If the artillery luger is still for sale, I may be interested. Email me at barr44@cox.net

10-09-2009, 11:25 AM	#11
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,771 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	Put it all together with stock and all and take it to a local gunshop and tell them you want to get $2000 they will add on their fee. You will get it. You can also walk it through a couple of gun shows and you'll get $2000. Also try the local paper. Ignorance can be a wonderful thing.

10-09-2009, 05:55 PM	#12
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Probably not nowadays, many investors retreated. Only collectors left on the front line.

10-10-2009, 12:03 PM	#13
HuntMaster User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Fella's, I contacted Woody and saw the pistol a couple of months ago at a Mobile, Al gunshow. I told him I wanted it if he could give me a little time to come up with the funds. He did, and today I am headed to Mobile today to pick up the pistol. Will let you know when I get home with it. It is really nice in spite of the reblue. Derek

10-11-2009, 09:13 AM	#14
HuntMaster User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I bought the pistol yesterday. All #'s match internally. The left grip panel has a small waffenampt stamping with the # 735. The right grip panel has a waffenampt stamp with the # 655 or 656 depending on how you hold it in the light. This panel is also stamped with a 42 near the waffenampt, and a larger M about a half inch under these. Any ideas from anyone? I may not be calling the small stamp correctly "waffenampt" . I am still learning, and this is what I assume it is called. The barrel has very nice, pronounced rifling. No pits. The mag has a wood bottom and the #'s 7292 on it. Otherwise, the pistol doesn't have a scratch, mar, nick, gash or any other unwanted feature. Only the fire blue on the trigger that can be seen on the pics above. The holster rig is very nice and appears to have some age in spite of being a "repro". Anything else I need to look at on this pistol and rig ? I am proud of this purchase, and it will go nicely with the reblue 1914 30 Luger I have. Hey, a pair of DWM's. Thanks everyone for helping Woody out. Derek

10-11-2009, 01:37 PM	#17
HuntMaster User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I am assuming what is meant by " fine tune sights" is on the front sight. This artillery has a small tuneable screw on the right side. Looks like it would take a special tool or one made from a paperclip as I have seen suggested. On a side note, are Artilleries all military, or was some of them commercial, and how would I know the difference?

10-11-2009, 01:48 PM	#18
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,850 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,426 Posts	Derek, Commercial Artilleries do not have the Military acceptance markings on the right receiver or the date over the chamber. They might be marked with a Crown N but to tell you the truth I don't know that much about commercials. Yes, the front sight has a small round screw with spanner wrench type holes. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

10-11-2009, 10:33 PM	#19
HuntMaster User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 69 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	As a part of this thread I guess I should add I paid $1200 + tax for this Artillery and the extras it came with. Came out to be $1290. I didn't think that was too bad a deal.

10-11-2009, 11:40 PM	#20
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Derek, Your beautiful Artillery looks like it was restored, not a quick gunshop reblue that was buffed to death. Also it's all matching. The handfitted parts were made to fit together with the correct tolerences, which is why they were numbered. That's one shooter I'd love to own. __________________ Mike C.