Help with value.

[lemmonhead]

I have an older friend that recently had a stroke. He has several Luger pistols that he asked me to help him sell. I have no idea the value or the exact model. Any help on value and identification would be appreciated.

1. Made by Mauser, 1939, blued. All matching numbers. Very clean looking pistol.

2 DWM, Artillery?, 1917, Finish is worn. Left side of pistol has pitting. The picture really brings it out, in person it does not look as bad.

[gunbugs]

The clean one is a 1939 Mauser Banner police gun. Nice. I would expect around 1700 to 2000, depending on who's selling and who is buying.
The Artillery is rough, but still might bring 800 or so. Maybe more.
I'm sure we will get more opinions here.
(They are gonna want more closeup photos.)

[Edward Tinker]

I would essentially agree - probably a bit more for the Banner and a bit less for the artillery, since it will require a new take down lever.

Ed

[lemmonhead]

Thanks for the quick responses. What determines the 1939 to be a banner police model?

[tomaustin]

not intending to be a smart...."because Ed wrote the book.."note his authorship in his header...he has infinite details on this subject....Tom

[gunbugs]

To give a straightforward answer, The Mauser banner on the toggle in conjunction with the 1939 date, plus the sear safety, (the little flat spring over the top of the sideplate), plus the "Eagle L" proof on the right of the receiver. All that together makes it a police issue gun. I would note that the magazine appears incorrect for that particular gun, at first glance.

[lemmonhead]

Certainly not questioning anyone’s knowledge or opinion. We were looking in a gun value book, my friend had, and it listed a number of possibilities that this pistol could have fallen under, as made by Mauser. I am just trying to educate my self on how it is dertetmined to be a banner police, ie finish, markings, date.

[lemmonhead]

Originally Posted by gunbugs

To give a straightforward answer, The Mauser banner on the toggle in conjunction with the 1939 date, plus the sear safety, (the little flat spring over the top of the sideplate), plus the "Eagle L" proof on the right of the receiver. All that together makes it a police issue gun. I would note that the magazine appears incorrect for that particular gun, at first glance.

Thanks again. What would the correct magazine look like? I think he has a couple other Lugers so it may have been swapped out or he may have extras. I will look when I see him again.
Are the the magazines numbered to the pistol?

[Bill_in_VA]

Originally Posted by lemmonhead

Certainly not questioning anyone’s knowledge or opinion. We were looking in a gun value book, my friend had, and it listed a number of possibilities that this pistol could have fallen under, as made by Mauser. I am just trying to educate my self on how it is dertetmined to be a banner police, ie finish, markings, date.

It has the Mauser banner on the toggle, hence the name. The eagle/L is a polce-only acceptance marking; likewise the sear safety is a police-only modification/addition. And of course, as tomaustin noted, Ed Tinker - one of the respondents to your question - is an expert on police Lugers and an author of a book dealing specifically with police Lugers. The gun has been identified correctly.

[DavidJayUden]

The magazine should have an unpainted aluminum bottom. I believe that it should also have the gun's full serial number and suffix letter clearly stamped on the bottom.
dju

[lemmonhead]

A few more pictured of the Mauser Police that I had on my phone.

[DavidJayUden]

An unusually nice example that should sell quickly if priced right.
dju

[tharpo]

If you can find a matching magazine it would increase the value of the 1939. The magazine would have an aluminum bottom with the gun's serial number and the letter "w" underneath. See photo.

[Edward Tinker]

this is what my notes show

Banner police will have either no acceptance markings (blank base), or will have army acceptance markings marked FXO, P.08 and se/37 accepted on one side. They are blued, mandrel-formed with the concave base, with a center pin and Haenel on the side.

[Ben M.]

broken part on artillery luger will hurt value. matching part is damaged and usually has to be tossed in trash if cannot weld or fix.

[lemmonhead]

He did not have the original magazine for the 1939 Banner Police. He seemed a little disappointed when I let home know the estimates that were mentioned in the thread. I think he bought these pistols 30-40 years ago hoping that they would be worth more. He is not really a collector just bought them as an investment.

He had one more that he let me see. No date. Looks like it has a grip safety.

[DavidJayUden]

Nice! That one is a 1900 American Eagle Luger in .30 cal. It was mfg. for sale in the USA and appears original. Better do your research on value, like at Simpson, Ltd. website, but I'd guess it should be somewhere around $2k.
Too bad the owner is disappointed in value estimates he is hearing. Welcome to my world. The only things that appreciate madly are things that I do not own...
dju

[gunbugs]

Rarity, desirability, and condition, if you have all three, then you have an investment. If you only have two, then you have a hobby.

[Bill_in_VA]

Originally Posted by lemmonhead

... He seemed a little disappointed when I let home know the estimates that were mentioned in the thread. I think he bought these pistols 30-40 years ago hoping that they would be worth more. He is not really a collector just bought them as an investment. ...

Granted, he may not have enough of an investment return on a couple of Luger to retire on, but he should be happy with current values. I’ll take the contrary position and say that if he bought them 30 to 40 years ago he did quite well on his Luger investment. Even if he spent $200 for a Luger in 1975, his asset’s value has increased tenfold. Almost nothing in the stock market has risen that much.

[hayhugh]

Not one mention of matching numbers "back in the day"