Artillery shooter discovered!

kman · 11-06-2008, 09:35 PM

This gem just walked into a GS, and I am fortunate to have it follow me home. While I am not a novice to firearms, I am ignorant of Lugers. The little research I have done tells me this is a 1917 DWM artillery piece. Blue book is sometimes {read often!} wrong on market pricing and I understand it may differ by region but the book is quoting 1K ? Is this fair, too high or too low? The gun was probably about 75-80% prior to the nickle job, which has preserved it nicely

I purchased it on a whim having seen so many {shooter grade} Lugers go for $500-$600, I took a chance and gave the high end for what I thought was a rarer piece. The numbers that are visible do match, the plating is covering much of the marks as the only digit visible from the chamber date is the 7

I have no intention of selling it any time soon, the darn thing functions flawlessly!! it's chambered in a popular cartridge, the bore is relatively good, and it's surprisingly accurate even with a trigger that feels more like a smooth double action.
The first two shots were to check function, the next three I tried to group at 7 yards, I got two to touch and the rear sight is loose! This gun is beginning to worm it's way into my heart.

Vlim · 11-07-2008, 02:08 PM

I like it, in a weird, rather sick kind of way. Of course, the nickle job destroyed the collector value, but it kind of reminds me of the gold plated LP08 featured in the movie 'League of extraordinary gentlemen'.

Now you need an ivory shoulder stock

alvin · 11-07-2008, 09:45 PM

Blue Book of Gun Values? I guess it tried to setup a virtual system -- if gun A sold in public auction for $400, according to production, year, factory of origin, number of fans, etc, etc, there must be a magic formula to decide "fair" price of gun Z. Let's assume the book value being fair so we can continue, BB has one big problem -- the structure only counts *original* gun blue. A gun losts its BB value after it's refinished. On market, of course refnished gun still has some value because it still fulfills some needs.

For shooting purpose, those postwar Mauser could serve very well. It's not 1917, but most of them are factory and it's hard to find one less than 98%. .... and it's around 1k.

11-06-2008, 09:35 PM	#1
kman User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Artillery shooter discovered! This gem just walked into a GS, and I am fortunate to have it follow me home. While I am not a novice to firearms, I am ignorant of Lugers. The little research I have done tells me this is a 1917 DWM artillery piece. Blue book is sometimes {read often!} wrong on market pricing and I understand it may differ by region but the book is quoting 1K ? Is this fair, too high or too low? The gun was probably about 75-80% prior to the nickle job, which has preserved it nicely I purchased it on a whim having seen so many {shooter grade} Lugers go for $500-$600, I took a chance and gave the high end for what I thought was a rarer piece. The numbers that are visible do match, the plating is covering much of the marks as the only digit visible from the chamber date is the 7 I have no intention of selling it any time soon, the darn thing functions flawlessly!! it's chambered in a popular cartridge, the bore is relatively good, and it's surprisingly accurate even with a trigger that feels more like a smooth double action. The first two shots were to check function, the next three I tried to group at 7 yards, I got two to touch and the rear sight is loose! This gun is beginning to worm it's way into my heart. Attached Thumbnails

11-07-2008, 02:08 PM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	I like it, in a weird, rather sick kind of way. Of course, the nickle job destroyed the collector value, but it kind of reminds me of the gold plated LP08 featured in the movie 'League of extraordinary gentlemen'. Now you need an ivory shoulder stock

11-07-2008, 09:45 PM	#3
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Blue Book of Gun Values? I guess it tried to setup a virtual system -- if gun A sold in public auction for $400, according to production, year, factory of origin, number of fans, etc, etc, there must be a magic formula to decide "fair" price of gun Z. Let's assume the book value being fair so we can continue, BB has one big problem -- the structure only counts original gun blue. A gun losts its BB value after it's refinished. On market, of course refnished gun still has some value because it still fulfills some needs. For shooting purpose, those postwar Mauser could serve very well. It's not 1917, but most of them are factory and it's hard to find one less than 98%. .... and it's around 1k.