G-Date Luger

ranvette · 01-11-2004, 01:03 PM

I have a Original vet bring back Luger all Matching except Mag.A honest combat field piece with 1939 holster.I would say in about 75 to 80%
condition.Would it make sense to restore this Gun? Whats it worth now and what would it be worth after a resto. Thanks

Edward Tinker · 01-11-2004, 01:14 PM

Generally there is a difference in Restoring and reblueing, but to many, many collectors, if it has any collectability, than a restore to make it look nice always places it into a different category, i.e. no longer a collector piece, usually a shooter. A few exceptions would be very rare or collectable pieces, but the value is always less than an original piece.

So, unless it is pitted, bad scratches, more blueing gone than you say (or more blueing), 75% is usually one of the cut offs for many colectors... But to me, I would rather have one that was all original than reblued / restored.

To give a value now, you would have to tell us some basic information about the gun. You said it had a 1939 holster? Is the luger marked 1939? What markings does it have on it?

A reblued luger might be worth $400 - $500, while a 75% luger might be worth $550 -600, all depends on what model it is? If a rarer / more desirable one, then the value would go up.

Pictures, description, etc., would help very much,

Ed

ranvette · 01-11-2004, 02:11 PM

It is a G Date with G on top if you give me your email I have a bunch of pics ready to go Thanks

Pics added {ebt}

Edward Tinker · 01-11-2004, 08:06 PM

Here are pictures of Randy's G Date, I personally would not restore it, and there were approx., 54 thousand of them made (not a lot compared to many).

ranvette · 01-11-2004, 09:00 PM

Thanks Ed for posting the pics I will leave the gun original for sure.I was just wondering anyway what restoring did for the value on these guns.

Frank · 01-12-2004, 08:25 AM

Hey Randy, nice old G-Date!! Since it isn't pitted, or messed with, you made the right decision regarding any restoration. There weren't many G-Dates that were produced with this combination of acceptance marks. My estimate would be around 1800. Now having said that, I wonder just how many are still around. You have a marvelous piece of history.

Congratulations!!!!!

Edward Tinker · 01-12-2004, 11:33 AM

So Randy, restoring to most collectors, value from $1800 down to "shooter" so value drops around $1300 to $500 or so <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Ed

Doubs · 01-12-2004, 03:08 PM

Nice G-date Luger.

FWIW, I agree with the decision to leave it as-is. As Ed rightly points out, restoration can drastically reduce the value.

jamese · 01-12-2004, 04:39 PM

Nice G-Date,
Leave as is......

ranvette · 01-12-2004, 08:59 PM

Thanks for your comment and advice guys.Heres how i came about this gun.A fellow I know at work grand dad dyed they were going threw the house getting it ready for sale.He asked me if I would be Interested in the Luger.They were not gun people per say and wanted nothing to do with it.So I bought it for $400.The grand dad had brought it home from WW2.He said he had gotten it from a German Sarg he had killed.They were underfire from a farm house.They called in a sherman it in turn fired on the house.Grand dad went in the house the german sarg was still alive and shot at him with the Luger and grand dad killed him.I know they all have story's but I do tend to believe this one.Sometimes when I handle the gun I have an erie feeling of what it would have been like to be there that day.

Ron Wood · 01-12-2004, 09:21 PM

You have been extremely fortunate to acquire a great original Luger and an even better holster. The G date is as crisp as can be, without excessive wear and a lovely patina that shows that it is a completly original war trophy. The pigskin holster is in terrific condition and is probably worth nearly as much as the Luger. I am very thankful that you have decided to leave it as-is. A very wise choice, and congratulations. I suspect you paid less than one-third its value.

Dean · 01-12-2004, 11:47 PM

This looks similiar to the "one that got away from me" about three months ago. The local dealer had a G date like this with a black holster for $750. I did'nt move fast enough. I took a look at it Friday evening. He was closed Sunday & Monday. I called him on Tuesday to tell him I was comming to pick it up, and he tells me it was gone. Turns out that another customer was in the store that Friday evening and was looking over my shoulder.

You gotta move fast.

01-11-2004, 01:03 PM	#1
ranvette User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hudson Mass Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	G-Date Luger I have a Original vet bring back Luger all Matching except Mag.A honest combat field piece with 1939 holster.I would say in about 75 to 80% condition.Would it make sense to restore this Gun? Whats it worth now and what would it be worth after a resto. Thanks

01-11-2004, 01:14 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Generally there is a difference in Restoring and reblueing, but to many, many collectors, if it has any collectability, than a restore to make it look nice always places it into a different category, i.e. no longer a collector piece, usually a shooter. A few exceptions would be very rare or collectable pieces, but the value is always less than an original piece. So, unless it is pitted, bad scratches, more blueing gone than you say (or more blueing), 75% is usually one of the cut offs for many colectors... But to me, I would rather have one that was all original than reblued / restored. To give a value now, you would have to tell us some basic information about the gun. You said it had a 1939 holster? Is the luger marked 1939? What markings does it have on it? A reblued luger might be worth $400 - $500, while a 75% luger might be worth $550 -600, all depends on what model it is? If a rarer / more desirable one, then the value would go up. Pictures, description, etc., would help very much, 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

01-11-2004, 08:06 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Here are pictures of Randy's G Date, I personally would not restore it, and there were approx., 54 thousand of them made (not a lot compared to many). __________________ 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

01-12-2004, 11:33 AM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	So Randy, restoring to most collectors, value from $1800 down to "shooter" so value drops around $1300 to $500 or so <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> 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

01-12-2004, 04:39 PM	#9
jamese User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 789 Thanks: 0 Thanked 84 Times in 34 Posts	Nice G-Date, Leave as is...... __________________ The "truth" is a matter of Perception

01-11-2004, 02:11 PM	#3
ranvette User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hudson Mass Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It is a G Date with G on top if you give me your email I have a bunch of pics ready to go Thanks Pics added {ebt}

01-11-2004, 09:00 PM	#5
ranvette User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hudson Mass Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Ed for posting the pics I will leave the gun original for sure.I was just wondering anyway what restoring did for the value on these guns.

01-12-2004, 08:25 AM	#6
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Hey Randy, nice old G-Date!! Since it isn't pitted, or messed with, you made the right decision regarding any restoration. There weren't many G-Dates that were produced with this combination of acceptance marks. My estimate would be around 1800. Now having said that, I wonder just how many are still around. You have a marvelous piece of history. Congratulations!!!!!

01-12-2004, 03:08 PM	#8
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	Nice G-date Luger. FWIW, I agree with the decision to leave it as-is. As Ed rightly points out, restoration can drastically reduce the value.

01-12-2004, 08:59 PM	#10
ranvette User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hudson Mass Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for your comment and advice guys.Heres how i came about this gun.A fellow I know at work grand dad dyed they were going threw the house getting it ready for sale.He asked me if I would be Interested in the Luger.They were not gun people per say and wanted nothing to do with it.So I bought it for $400.The grand dad had brought it home from WW2.He said he had gotten it from a German Sarg he had killed.They were underfire from a farm house.They called in a sherman it in turn fired on the house.Grand dad went in the house the german sarg was still alive and shot at him with the Luger and grand dad killed him.I know they all have story's but I do tend to believe this one.Sometimes when I handle the gun I have an erie feeling of what it would have been like to be there that day.

01-12-2004, 09:21 PM	#11
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: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	You have been extremely fortunate to acquire a great original Luger and an even better holster. The G date is as crisp as can be, without excessive wear and a lovely patina that shows that it is a completly original war trophy. The pigskin holster is in terrific condition and is probably worth nearly as much as the Luger. I am very thankful that you have decided to leave it as-is. A very wise choice, and congratulations. I suspect you paid less than one-third its value. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-12-2004, 11:47 PM	#12
Dean User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: PA Posts: 132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This looks similiar to the "one that got away from me" about three months ago. The local dealer had a G date like this with a black holster for $750. I did'nt move fast enough. I took a look at it Friday evening. He was closed Sunday & Monday. I called him on Tuesday to tell him I was comming to pick it up, and he tells me it was gone. Turns out that another customer was in the store that Friday evening and was looking over my shoulder. You gotta move fast. __________________ Carpe Diem, Parabellum