1914 Artillery model

[JoeWilly11]

Hi, I'm looking at buying my first Luger, and I'm wondering what sort of price this one is worth.
Pictures are included of the pistol, last one being a marking on the stock.
On information from the seller, supposedly the barrel is shiny, but the pistol has been Parkerized. This doesn't bother me as I would like a shooter.
Otherwise, it has all matching numbers, shiny bore, and an original stock, as he says.
He wants 1850 for the pistol and stock, or 1400 for just the pistol.

[spartacus38]

I assume it is 1917 dated.I would pass at 1400.Stock appears original and could be worth the
$450.
Maybe $1500 for both.
Bob

[ithacaartist]

Welcome to the forum, Bill,

Too bad the original finish was not reinstated. But it looks presentable enough. The finish is a major issue for sure, but a functioning Artie shooter is worth at least $1,000, but not a lot more because the Parkeizing is such an extreme departure from original--more than noticeable at a glance!

I agree that the stock board is more collectable, but if you get a shooter pistol for reasonable dough, is it worth it to start assembling the rest of the rig by getting a stock board that would cost almost half a much as the gun? Consider a repro board and leather for this shooter, it will cost you a third of just the original board for all. Be careful, though. Some repros are decent materials and construction which could be acceptable, but most are pretty crappy--cheap, stiff leather and careless assembly.

[Ron Wood]

Looks like it might be a 1914 Erfurt to me. Better pictures and a view of the top sure would help. If I am right, $1850 isn't too far out of line, particularly with that stock.

[JoeWilly11]

Thanks for the information guys, I appreciate it.

[ithacaartist]

Ron,

I didn't catch the Erfurt proofs on the side plate and extension until prompted to enlarge the pic by your post. I'm presuming it's a numbers thing, but what exactly makes the difference in value between a DMW and Erfurt, condition being equal? Do you think this example would warrant restoration, if purchased at the seller's price?

[Geo99]

I would offer the seller 1300 and eventually get it restored. You wouldn't have more than ~2K in it, and you should easily be able to recover the cost if you wanted to sell a 99+% restored 1914 artillery - DWM or Erfurt.

1914 was the only year Erfurt made artillery Lugers. I think DWM 1914 are worth even more than Erfurt, but I know 1914 is the holy grail of arty Lugers. Most of them did not survive the war in good shape.