Import Marks

siegersallee · 06-25-2015, 06:54 AM

Do import marks cheapen the value of a Luger?

Richard

alvin · 06-25-2015, 07:13 AM

It's definitely a negative factor. But most guns from Sturgess collection having tiny Simpson LTD marks and obviously sold unaffected. In some cases, I even suspect this mark pumped the value... just a joke, no, bidders ignored that mark.

Personally, I skipped all Sturgess post-1898 Mausers.. there are some otherwise great ones, but this mark still bother me and turned me off. He also has many antique guns without Simpson LTD mark, but... price all went out of my reach. So far, no Sturgess gun comes in yet. May there be one in next session? Don't know yet.

alanint · 06-25-2015, 08:07 AM

In general and among collectors, yes. Although if seems less important if the variation is important or rare, (and trust me, importers cherry pick through their stock before letting anything of additional value or rarity out into the market).

Like anything collectable, the closer to factory original, the better.

Edward Tinker · 06-25-2015, 09:02 AM

yes, absolutely

to many collectors its as bad as a mismatched part - personally I think its part of the guns history, but sales wise if you need to sell, don't count on getting a return compared to a non marked comparable piece....

DonVoigt · 06-25-2015, 09:26 AM

For items generally available without import markings, yes, the mark is a negative.

However, some items are essentially Only available with import markings- so these would be an
exception to me.

In the world of lugers, Vopo and Russian captures come to mind- though some don't collect them at all, most would be import marked.

In the Japanese world, several rare items are only in this country because they were imported from China in the 80s-90s and bear that import mark. Mukden produced T 99s come to mind,
they were only a "rumor" until about 20 came in via import. If you want one, it will have an
import marking for sure.

So like most things, the answer is a definite "maybe"!

06-25-2015, 06:54 AM	#1
siegersallee User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 292 Thanks: 107 Thanked 57 Times in 34 Posts	Import Marks Do import marks cheapen the value of a Luger? Richard __________________ "Für Gott, Kaiser, und Vaterland" -seeking: Erfrut Mag 1229 (no script)

06-25-2015, 07:13 AM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	It's definitely a negative factor. But most guns from Sturgess collection having tiny Simpson LTD marks and obviously sold unaffected. In some cases, I even suspect this mark pumped the value... just a joke, no, bidders ignored that mark. Personally, I skipped all Sturgess post-1898 Mausers.. there are some otherwise great ones, but this mark still bother me and turned me off. He also has many antique guns without Simpson LTD mark, but... price all went out of my reach. So far, no Sturgess gun comes in yet. May there be one in next session? Don't know yet.

06-25-2015, 08:07 AM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	In general and among collectors, yes. Although if seems less important if the variation is important or rare, (and trust me, importers cherry pick through their stock before letting anything of additional value or rarity out into the market). Like anything collectable, the closer to factory original, the better.

06-25-2015, 09:02 AM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	yes, absolutely to many collectors its as bad as a mismatched part - personally I think its part of the guns history, but sales wise if you need to sell, don't count on getting a return compared to a non marked comparable piece....

06-25-2015, 09:26 AM	#5
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,355 Times in 2,041 Posts	For items generally available without import markings, yes, the mark is a negative. However, some items are essentially Only available with import markings- so these would be an exception to me. In the world of lugers, Vopo and Russian captures come to mind- though some don't collect them at all, most would be import marked. In the Japanese world, several rare items are only in this country because they were imported from China in the 80s-90s and bear that import mark. Mukden produced T 99s come to mind, they were only a "rumor" until about 20 came in via import. If you want one, it will have an import marking for sure. So like most things, the answer is a definite "maybe"!