my new pre-war c96 -- your opinions please

beetledude · 05-03-2010, 04:02 PM

hi!

pretty new to collecting. this forum was extremely helpful when I picked up my first pair of lugers. Anyways, decided to expand the collection a bit and go for a c96. as I said I'm pretty new to this field so am not totally sure as to what to look for.

that being said I recently picked up this c96. I'd very much appreciate it if you could tell me if it looks "right" (i.e. nothing obviously wrong or mistmatched about it).

I probably overpaid, but since I plan on keeping it for awhile that doesn't matter too much. Still, it might be fun to hear your opinions on what you think it might be worth.

Thanks for your help!

alvin · 05-03-2010, 04:55 PM

Looks OK in general. The stock might be lightly sanded and re-oiled, not a big deal. May we see the interior of the grip panels and steel grip without panels? The stock attaching iron and hinge are supposed to be fire blued. If all lost with patina left, that's OK. Somewhere on those you should see trace of fire blue left. cannot tell from pix posted.

Also, pictures of the top of the chamber, C/C/U, s/n on chamber needed.

======

[Edit] Probably pix issue (especially the 1st & 2nd pix). Move index finger along the barrel, any feel of bubble? Finger sense sometimes is more reliable than eyes.

beetledude · 05-03-2010, 05:09 PM

hi alvin.

thanks for the info! will take additional pictures shortly. What is a C/C/U?

alvin · 05-03-2010, 05:16 PM

C/C/U is two crowns over letter U. You find it on chamber, bolt, and internal bolt lock.

beetledude · 05-03-2010, 11:36 PM

Hi Folks.

I took some more pictures, trying to get the areas that Alvin specified.

Top of chamber:

Top of chamber serial and crowns:

Crowns on bolt. I *just* noticed this when taking detailed pictures, what's underneath the rear sight? it seems to be a different serial, #762 which doesn't match everythiing else on the gun (#543). I can't understand how this would be different though, it's a part of the same frame(?). Is this normal?

*edit* weird coloring on sight elevation knob is from oil. fired bluing is strong here and consistent in color.

grips:

and frame with grips off

On the stock the attaching iron and hinge are fired blue, most of it is gone but you can detect faint traces of blue on both.

Please let me know if any more detailed pictures are needed. Thanks for your help!!!!

beetledude · 05-04-2010, 12:14 AM

I did a little research on the serial # descrepancy undernath the rear sight -- i think this is perhaps a contract #? is there anyway to tell who commissioned contract #762?

alvin · 05-04-2010, 12:52 AM

The gun looks great to me. I had 173778, the number under sight is a myth 1341. There have been many suggestions, but this is one place need factory record to be sure, most likely will remain a myth.

beetledude · 05-04-2010, 02:23 AM

thanks for the feedback alvin! good to know that I got a reasonable example (or at least one that is not obviously bad).

from your postings it's pretty clear you are an advanced collector of broomhandles

what do you think an example like the one I have would be worth? I got this through a multi-way trade so it's hard to put an exact cost on what I paid for it.

so it's normal for the number under the sight to not match? What do you mean by number 1341?

thanks for all of your help!

alvin · 05-04-2010, 06:49 AM

You're welcome.

No, I am not an advanced collector, but I am interested in this type of guns, and had some passed through my hands, and some stucking in my hands that I planned to transfer to the next generation. High grade prewar commercial made near WWI with excellent matching stock.... could sell between 2k - 2.5k. Guns of this period is more military like, a little bit rough, but that's a taste. Those 4-rifling earlier prewar small ring with very high quality finish with matching stock could go $4k, those guns are very attractive to eyeballs.

I have never seen number under sight matching s/n. For example, gun #173778's under sight number on receiver is 1341, not obvious relation between these two numbers. Very normal.

Norme · 05-04-2010, 08:24 AM

Hi Bailey, I'd like to jump in here and compliment you on the quality of your photography - it's superb! Any chance you could get interested in military Lugers (my area)? Best regards, Norm

Douglas Jr. · 05-04-2010, 09:04 AM

Nice pictures indeed.
Bailey, in my humble opinion, you did nice for your first C96. The matching stock is a premium itself. And the gun is a great example of a Prewar Commercial. A keeper, for sure.

Douglas.

beetledude · 05-04-2010, 11:21 AM

Gentlemen,

thank you for the nice comments on my c96 -- i am very appreciative of the information you were able to provide!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

Hi Bailey, I'd like to jump in here and compliment you on the quality of your photography - it's superb! Any chance you could get interested in military Lugers (my area)? Best regards, Norm

Hi Norm. Thank you for the complement. I like photography as well another expensive hobby like collecting firearms

Actually I found this board when researching some lugers that I purchased. Pictures of my G Date and "Black Widow" can be found on this thread:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=23664

I've only been collecting for about a year, but it's great to have such a nice and knowledgeable community such as this to learn from!

my small (but growing) ww2 collection

Mauser 712 · 05-04-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvin

Looks OK in general. The stock might be lightly sanded and re-oiled, not a big deal. May we see the interior of the grip panels and steel grip without panels? The stock attaching iron and hinge are supposed to be fire blued. If all lost with patina left, that's OK. Somewhere on those you should see trace of fire blue left. cannot tell from pix posted.

Based on the images, and in my opinion, the stock and metal parts are original finish and nothing has been altered.

You have obtained a very good example of a pre-war commercial. The value of this item is between $2,500-2,800.

Well done,
Daniel

jcoe · 05-04-2010, 11:19 PM

Bailey,
Can you provide brief description of your technique/camera used in taking those superb pictures?
John

beetledude · 05-05-2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcoe

Bailey,
Can you provide brief description of your technique/camera used in taking those superb pictures?
John

Hi John.

most certainly! Let me write up a quick and dirty tutorial -- i'm surprised someting similar doesn't already exist on this site. will post it up shortly.

Regards,
-bailey

05-03-2010, 04:02 PM	#1
beetledude User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 3 Posts	my new pre-war c96 -- your opinions please hi! pretty new to collecting. this forum was extremely helpful when I picked up my first pair of lugers. Anyways, decided to expand the collection a bit and go for a c96. as I said I'm pretty new to this field so am not totally sure as to what to look for. that being said I recently picked up this c96. I'd very much appreciate it if you could tell me if it looks "right" (i.e. nothing obviously wrong or mistmatched about it). I probably overpaid, but since I plan on keeping it for awhile that doesn't matter too much. Still, it might be fun to hear your opinions on what you think it might be worth. Thanks for your help!

05-03-2010, 04:55 PM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Looks OK in general. The stock might be lightly sanded and re-oiled, not a big deal. May we see the interior of the grip panels and steel grip without panels? The stock attaching iron and hinge are supposed to be fire blued. If all lost with patina left, that's OK. Somewhere on those you should see trace of fire blue left. cannot tell from pix posted. Also, pictures of the top of the chamber, C/C/U, s/n on chamber needed. ====== [Edit] Probably pix issue (especially the 1st & 2nd pix). Move index finger along the barrel, any feel of bubble? Finger sense sometimes is more reliable than eyes.

05-03-2010, 05:09 PM	#3
beetledude User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 3 Posts	hi alvin. thanks for the info! will take additional pictures shortly. What is a C/C/U?

05-03-2010, 05:16 PM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	C/C/U is two crowns over letter U. You find it on chamber, bolt, and internal bolt lock.

05-03-2010, 11:36 PM	#5
beetledude User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 3 Posts	Hi Folks. I took some more pictures, trying to get the areas that Alvin specified. Top of chamber: Top of chamber serial and crowns: Crowns on bolt. I just noticed this when taking detailed pictures, what's underneath the rear sight? it seems to be a different serial, #762 which doesn't match everythiing else on the gun (#543). I can't understand how this would be different though, it's a part of the same frame(?). Is this normal? edit weird coloring on sight elevation knob is from oil. fired bluing is strong here and consistent in color. grips: and frame with grips off On the stock the attaching iron and hinge are fired blue, most of it is gone but you can detect faint traces of blue on both. Please let me know if any more detailed pictures are needed. Thanks for your help!!!!

05-04-2010, 12:14 AM	#6
beetledude User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 3 Posts	I did a little research on the serial # descrepancy undernath the rear sight -- i think this is perhaps a contract #? is there anyway to tell who commissioned contract #762?

05-04-2010, 12:52 AM	#7
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	The gun looks great to me. I had 173778, the number under sight is a myth 1341. There have been many suggestions, but this is one place need factory record to be sure, most likely will remain a myth.

05-04-2010, 02:23 AM	#8
beetledude User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 3 Posts	thanks for the feedback alvin! good to know that I got a reasonable example (or at least one that is not obviously bad). from your postings it's pretty clear you are an advanced collector of broomhandles what do you think an example like the one I have would be worth? I got this through a multi-way trade so it's hard to put an exact cost on what I paid for it. so it's normal for the number under the sight to not match? What do you mean by number 1341? thanks for all of your help!

05-04-2010, 06:49 AM	#9
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	You're welcome. No, I am not an advanced collector, but I am interested in this type of guns, and had some passed through my hands, and some stucking in my hands that I planned to transfer to the next generation. High grade prewar commercial made near WWI with excellent matching stock.... could sell between 2k - 2.5k. Guns of this period is more military like, a little bit rough, but that's a taste. Those 4-rifling earlier prewar small ring with very high quality finish with matching stock could go $4k, those guns are very attractive to eyeballs. I have never seen number under sight matching s/n. For example, gun #173778's under sight number on receiver is 1341, not obvious relation between these two numbers. Very normal.

05-04-2010, 08:24 AM	#10
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Bailey, I'd like to jump in here and compliment you on the quality of your photography - it's superb! Any chance you could get interested in military Lugers (my area)? Best regards, Norm

05-04-2010, 09:04 AM	#11
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Nice pictures indeed. Bailey, in my humble opinion, you did nice for your first C96. The matching stock is a premium itself. And the gun is a great example of a Prewar Commercial. A keeper, for sure. Douglas.

05-04-2010, 11:19 PM	#14
jcoe User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: mt Posts: 38 Thanks: 13 Thanked 31 Times in 9 Posts	Bailey, Can you provide brief description of your technique/camera used in taking those superb pictures? John