August Reno Gun Show...

[Pete Ebbink]

...is less than 1 month away.

http://www.bigrenoshow.com/

If you haven't booked hotel rooms, now is the time to do so...

I assume Russ Withem and Ken Coyle will be there at tables A-13/A-14 again...and will let some folks have a seat now and then.

We will have a Friday night steak dinner sign-up sheet for folks that want to join the luger nuts for good food and luger talk. The sign-up sheet will be at Russ'/Ken's tables. If you plan to attend the dinner, please stop by and sign up before 15:00 Hrs. We need to nail down the headcount for our reservations by then. Dinner will be around 18:30 hrs. or so at The Steakhouse. No-host bar/drinks at the Lounge area in front of the restaurant at 18:00 Hrs.

I am going the Honored Guest route...getting in on Dealer set-up day...maybe I can score a "deal" on price...

Hope to see old luger friends and new ones at the show... <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Edward Tinker]

Looks more like the next one for me. I know I said that before, but with the house not selling yet, hard to justify to the wife a roadtrip or flight... (Not money, but me buying something "extra" )

ed

[Dwight Gruber]

'fraid I won't be making this round, so everyone enjoy a bit for me...

--Dwight

[Russ]

I will be there, at my usual table. I will have the signup sheet.

Russ

Ed its only money!!!!

[blayne]

or divorce!

[Jimbo]

I can't make Reno, AGAIN! I booked a basic firearms class to introduce some new folks to the art of shooting and of course it is on the same Saturday as the Big Reno show.

Pete, I don't think you are ever going to see my 1937 Krieghoff. I don't like doing Reno in November, so maybe I'll see you in the spring, or at Krause's if you go again.

[Pete Ebbink]

Hey Jim,

You could do the Reno show on Thursday (Dealer day) and the 1st. part of Friday. This is what I am doing this time, as I, too, need to be somewhere else on Saturday...

I do want to oggle your 1937 HK !!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Dwight Gruber]

For everybody going to Reno--

Sorry I won't be along, I'll miss you all, everybody have a good time for me.

While you are doing that, if you run across a Commercially serial# early Luger, I'd appreciate it if you'd examine it and take down the information I'm looking for for my survey. You can find the info I need in this post .

Thanks for the consideration, looking forward to hearing all about the show when everybody gets back.

--Dwight

[Pete Ebbink]

Will do, Dwight...

Sounds like only 2-3 folks from the LF will make it this time.

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Aaron]

I have been attending the Reno show for quite a few years, always going the "Honored Guest" route. In the main, it has proved a quite successful way to get a good deal or two, but as the word gets out it seems to me that the competition is growing more formidable, and the good deals scarcer. At the last Reno show I was one of the first in the door and there were a group of Honored Guests in front of me telling each other to "spread out and check for Lugers." Being alone, it is hard to compete with these roving teams of buyer/collectors who systematically spread out and cover the entire show in a methodical manner, communicating and sharing information with each other by cell phone. In addition, a number of dealers delay their setting up until they have spent at least the first few hours checking for underpriced collectibles. There is one younger dealer in particular who is so fast on his feet that he consistently picks up much of the good stuff just seconds before anyone else gets there. You all know his name, but it will go unmentioned here. I don't begrudge these people trying to "get the edge" on the rest of us, because by paying a premium to gain early entry I am trying to do the very same thing. The point is, the competition is getting stiffer, so get a good night's rest, go into the show the minute the doors open and don't stop touring the tables until the doors close in the evening. The same goes for Friday. By Saturday morning I fold my tent and leave, as the crowds make collectible hunting much more difficult, since one cannot maneuver easily down the aisles. When it comes to food and entertainment, a city bus leaves the front of the hotel about every half hour. Take it to downtown Reno and enjoy entertainment and very fine buffets. though the Hilton buffet is quite good and should not be missed.

[Lloyd in Nevada]

Pete, Russ, Doc and who ever else is going to the show in Reno this weekend from the Forum........

I am coming in rather late Thursday night and leaving for home Saturday afternoon. Where we going to meet for our Friday night Luger get together dinner?? Same place as before--The Hilton Steak House? If there are not many of us there I guess we can figure it out Friday.

Hope to see all of you there and compare notes.

Lloyd Frying in Hotter than Hell Las Vegas!!!

[Pete Ebbink]

Hi Lloyd and Aaron,

Russ Withem will have the sign-up sheet for dinner at his tables A-13/A-14. The sheet will also have a place for folks to list their celluar phone numbers if they want to.

Might make finding folks a bit easier.

I will, personally, not make dinner on Friday night this time. I need to leave on Friday to make a early morning work commitment in the SF area on Saturday.

But dinner should be nice with a much smaller crowd...

See you at the show !

Regards,

Pete...

[Pete Ebbink]

Just got back from the Reno show, late last night.

First time I went home with all of my money still in my pockets. Even made a bit more on the sale of a magazine, a small German holster, and $ 46 netted at the video poker machines. Covered my costs for travel and hotel.

Did not see any Swiss lugers to tempt me and good conditioned holsters were not present and the few that were were priced pretty high.

Luger dealers and sellers (never know who to call a dealer and who to call a seller...) present included Wally Morishige, Bob Young, Ralph Shattuck, Bill Christensen, Doug Coffey, Bob Hogan, Mike Krause, and CCC Firearms...there were a few 1-2 lugers on misc. tables as well.

The nicest luger buy I was able to see was a very honest 1902 Commerical Fat Barrel (very strong 97%) with a light brown early commercial holster that looked like a short Navy holster. It had those unique DWM snaps that we all thought we exclusively "Dutch" snaps, previously. This rig was purchased by a fellow Californian collector for only $ 7800.

There were three (3) nice HK lugers for sale : an early S-code with 3 digits (# 454) with wooden grips, a nice '36 date, and an under-the-table 1937 date that was being shown around but not for sale. Sorry...John D...I neglected to get the two other serial numbers...

The show had a good public attendance on Friday. But 10% of the tables were vacant...some with seller names on the tables that never showed up and others that never sold.

There was a late arrival of a fellow selling a bunch of 1906 Portuguese lugers (5-6) and holsters. All the M2 and GNR lugers were in the 50-60% range...some with lots of pitting. No extra Portuguese magazines for sale.

The same seller had 2-3 GNR holsters for sale...all in fair to poor condition and none were "GNR" stamped on the back...the weight of the leather was thick and heavy...did not seem like real Portuguese holsters, IMHO...or maybe arsenal replacements...?

Always good to met and hang-out with fellow LF members such as Russ, Doc, and Lloyd.

A Luger Forum group-dinner did not happen, this time...I left to tend to some work obligations and others decided to have smaller, individual dinner events.

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[John D.]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Pete Ebbink:
<strong>......There were three (3) nice HK lugers for sale : an early S-code with 3 digits (# 454) with wooden grips, a nice '36 date, and an under-the-table 1937 date that was being shown around but not for sale. Sorry...John D...I neglected to get the two other serial numbers.......</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Hey Pete..!

What - no serial numbers??!!??!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> Seriously - I believe I might already familiar with 2 of those HKs <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> The wooden grips on that early S are simply fantastic.. I think you probably noticed they are a bit thicker then later production S series, and more similiar to the G and Turkish HKs. Simply a wonderful pair...

Sounds like you had a terrific time as well..!!!! Thanks for the report!!!! Someday - I'll actually get to that show (or for that matter - ANY MAJOR show!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

John

[Pete Ebbink]

Hi John D.,

When Russ Withem gets back home and on the Forum, he might be able to give you the serial number of the 1937 dated HK...he spent 5 minutes or so with the piece. If I recall, it came out of the Grants Pass, OR area...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[John D.]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Pete Ebbink:
<strong>....When Russ Withem gets back home ..... the serial number of the 1937 dated HK.......</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Hey Pete - yep, if it's the same I am thinking of - I believe I may know that piece...

And yes - as always - I'd be interested in the HK serial number either in public or private. Without too much comment, the serials are important to me based on what I'm working on for overall HK production figures (it's a long story) by year. These will be crossed-referenced by verified pieces crossed by serialization, crossed by LWaA variation and by internal stamp/s and frame references.....

Hmmm - maybe I need another hobby??!!! This Krieg stuff is somewhat daunting at times..!!!!

Best to you Pete - and thanks!!!

John

[GunCat]

Hey all, I was at the Big Reno Show on the Sunday the day it ended... Same place I just got my Luger[Wonder if someone here sold it?].

Probbably saw a lot of you guys and didn't even know it?

[Pete Ebbink]

Hey Greg,

Look forward to meeting you at the next Reno show in November. Look for our postings a month or so before the event.

p.s. I have given up attending a gun show on the last day. I got pretty frustrated paying the admission and then finding that many tables have already been vacated...and most luger deals done the previous days. Have you had luck finding those last-minute deals...or is that just urban legend stuff to sell tickets to a partially empty gun hall on the last day of the event...?

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Herb]

Pete, I've just about given up on even going to gun shows at all. I haven't found a decent buy since you showed me that $395 shooter at Reno about 3 years ago. I have had better luck putting an ad in the wanted section, or the sporting goods section, of the local paper plus it's about $200 cheaper than the cost of gas, food and lodging to go to a show. First day/last day, dealers think a Luger is worth twice what it actually is.

[Pete Ebbink]

Hey Herb,

I actually did think of you at this show. There was a really nice WWII (S/42 I think) that collector Bob Hogan had for sale.

If was a very nice 1950's chrome-plate job...but a very nice one. The metal was not rounded/buffed before the plating and all military proofs were very sharp. The plate job was old but 100% solid with just some aging/patina change of colors. Asking price was $ 575 (if I remember correctly...).

I thought of you but Doc Fisher commented this was one gun that Tinker should have...

I have Hogan's email if anyone cannot live without this plated looger...

I think this may have been the least expensive luger at the show...those $ 395 days are long gone...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />