pitting

[Spencer]

I have found a luger in my area. I am new to this weapon but have always been intreuged by them. It has a S/42 on the toggle, "1939" chamber inscription. On all the parts that I saw, I did not ask for it to be broken down, the last two digits were on the parts. It had a stock lug. The grips had good checkering but were almost black. There were a couple of chips on the edges. The markings had an eagle over a 63 on the right side and a very small stick eagle on the barrel. All the markings seem to be the same or very close to the 1938 luger that FTroop posted on 12/12/01. My major concern is the pitting on the right side of the weapon. It covers about 40% of that side. The bluing is still complete, it is like rust I've never seen. The bore is very clean. The seller wants $500. I could use some expert advice. Thank you for your time and hope to hear from someone.

[Kyrie]

Hi Spencer,


The S/42, 1939 Luger is not rare, and with that much bad pitting $500 is badly over-priced. You can do much better with a little patience.


Hope this helps!


Best regards,


Kyrie

This is very much like collecting cars! With an old Mustang, if you grab a Stang with rust, that is fine, but then you pay to have the rust fixed. A old stang with a rusted floor board will cost a heck of a lot more in the long run, then if you look for one that is not rusted to start with.


I see Lugers on Ralph Shattuks site that are all matching, but still considered shooters for $500 or a bit more. And if you want jsut a shooter, then contact Tom or some other people on the forum.


Ed

[Big Norm]

Spencer,


A lot depends on whether you are a collector or a shooter. There are a lot of differnt types of Lugerheads on this forum rangimg from collectors of 'Minty" Lugers to people who just want one to take to the range. Some will buy one and then get rid of it for something more modern. Some genuinely like the stainless steel Lugers and others snub their noses at them.


It may be too early for you to tell just where you fit in with these different groups. If you are looking to become a collector then you should buy good Lugers. If all you want is to take one hunting or fishing or to a the range occasionally then a shooter Luger is just fine. The price you are willing or can pay dictates plays a role in just where you fit in.


I can't tell just how bad the Luger that you looked at is rusted. It sounds pretty rough. I can't tell if it can be corrected by a competent restorer like Thor. But a "shooter" Luger of any year will go for about $450-$550. Lugers for under $400 will be taken by gun people to part out. A 'Mint' Luger will probably go for over a thousand and maybe up to $1500. Restored Lugers will fit someplace in between, depending. My personal belief is that a professionally restored, well done Luger will eventually approach an original condition Luger. These guns are becoing more and more scarce for a number of reasons.


In my limited travels, I have come to believe that there seems to be some regionality in the pricing of Lugers. So I am sure that there will be someone who will debate me on my prices. And they will probably be correct too. You have to figure out just where you fit in with the above mentioned groups. Lugers are expensive. I have heard more that one person mention that if you want to become a Luger collector, you have got to have money.

Big Norm

[Kyrie]

Hi Norm,


I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of shooter Luger pricing. A functional and safe shooter Luger can generally be had for between $250 and $350, with especially nice specimens bringing $400. Folks who pay more are not getting their moneyâ??s worth :-(


Best Regards,


Kyrie

Okay Kyrie,


Point me in the direction of $250 or $300 Lugers?


I'll buy at least two for $500.00.


I have not seen any for less than $395.00 and that was one Luger at Puyallup, the next cheapest I've seen are $450 to $500.


I paid $325 for a reasonably nice shooter 10 years ago, and that was looking around at gun shows in Louisiana and Texas, so I know you can get cheaper ones, but I haven't seen them very often.


Ed

[Marvin]

Kyrie,


In the past year, the only shooter Luger I have seen in this price range was a decent WWI Luger at a gun show in Florida a couple of months ago. It was priced at $375 and well worth that. It had been reblued, but was all matching (did not take it apart so I assume the internals matched), and not buffed. A good deal for the price. Normally I see them priced in the $500 range. Last year at a Greenville, SC show, there was a dealer with the import, dip blued pistols asking $800 per pistol. This guy did not sell any that I saw, but I guess someone would buy them eventually.


These are the prices I see at most gun shows in my area. I feel that they are overpriced, but I guess it is what the market will bear. Sometimes I will pay a little more for a pistol because I like it, or it will fill a place in my collection. I just hope the value will increase over the years and can recoup my investment. I buy mostly for the enjoyment of the pistols and not as an investment. I can't afford the high dollar investment grade stuff, ha, ha, ha, but I can always wish!


Marvin