Gunbroker: EXCEPTIONAL DWM 1908 9MM LUGER W/EXTRA MAGAZINE, HOLSTER & TOOLS FULL RIG

briskspirit · 09-03-2020, 07:24 PM

So I am still learning about different Lugers and looking at photos on GunBroker to understand which models are scarce and which are not.
I have found this one: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/877780340

Could you please educate me on what is so special about this Luger to price it like this? That's because of it's condition? Or something else?

Also how do you think is it restored or original condition? And seems that one of those mags is with modern mag bottom.

Thank you all and be safe!

P.S.: for those who don't want to check photos on the GunBroker: 10 days till the end of auction, currend bid $5580, 26 bids. Added a few photos to this topic.

G.T. · 09-03-2020, 07:45 PM

First off, it looks original to me? Not mint, but about as close as the camera will let it be... Second, 1908 commercial is a popular item with commercial collectors. It was probably the zenith of their workmanship and probably a bit rare considering they were right on the verge of a huge military contract! When you have 99% + condition, and matching accessories that most likely have been with the gun its whole life, prices like this will appear. Check out his other stuff, all just as nice with high end multiple bids? If you ever wanted a lesson in condition dictating value, or cost.... this is a good one! Best to all, til....lat'r....GT......

Pistol · 09-03-2020, 08:56 PM

Also, of interest, is that many of these were owned by officers.

Doubs · 09-03-2020, 09:01 PM

That is a gorgeous rig and I don't know that it can be improved upon.

I do think the bidding will be quite high.

Heinz · 09-04-2020, 10:24 AM

Dwight Gruber's commercial list has 56698 as a 30 cal luger. These photos are heavily photoshopped, you can see the border lines in the photos where the background is wiped. The muzzle has interesting brush like markings.

Norme · 09-04-2020, 11:12 AM

I would be wary of anything offered by this seller.
Norm

George Anderson · 09-04-2020, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

I would be wary of anything offered by this seller.
Norm

Ditto!

Thor · 09-04-2020, 03:07 PM

I checked my list, NOT one of mine.

Heinz · 09-04-2020, 03:38 PM

Almost as good as your work though :-)

Lyn Islaub · 09-04-2020, 04:49 PM

It should have a polished area under the safety lever, wonder why the seller didn't show that area? I just bought one of these early commercial pistols in the 64000 range and it came with a Cal/9MM magazine (an original one no less) and I had thought all these early 9MM commercial pistols originally had one. Hard to believe that bidding is in excess of $5.5K, even for an original.

CptCurl · 09-04-2020, 08:09 PM

What is the year (approximately) this pistol would have been made?

Curl

CptCurl · 09-04-2020, 08:14 PM

Well, if you had to ask the price, you couldn't afford it anyway.

Curl

DonVoigt · 09-05-2020, 12:05 AM

What Norm said.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. JMHO.

G.T. · 09-05-2020, 02:00 AM

High end guns are a catch 22 that all who collects, comes up against at least once in their collecting career? The problem being, it is hard to ever see enough of them to really have a chance to know the difference in mint and restored? P.38's are a bit easier, as many mint examples survived the war, and it wasn't to hard to acquire a benchmark example to go forwards from? Plus, less were messed with as there was no reason to boost them anyway. Lugers are a little different in that they almost immeadiatly show high edge wear and handling, hence what i said about what the camera would allow..
I have never had a stone mint Luger, and only seen one I would rate that high... and I saw it 30 years ago... It was an artillery kept in a bank vault for 80+ years and never was handled or saw the light of day... Two elderly gents brought in in to my work place for me to appraise for an estate. I was at a loss, but I believe I said somewhere around 2K but i really had no clue... This 08 commercial can be viewed by many, but only verified by a very few. If I were investigating it as a crime, my first two detectives would be Ron Wood and George Anderson... if either one, or both, of those two, smelled a rat, or said they saw a rat, pretty darn good chance there is a rat there! Again, it looked as to me, there was more right then wrong, but also it's not my strong suit either! Best to all, til....lat'r....GT

Dwight Gruber · 09-05-2020, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

I would be wary of anything offered by this seller.
Norm

Why?

--Dwight

Norme · 09-05-2020, 09:25 AM

Hi Dwight,
I've sent you a PM.
Norm

Pistol · 09-05-2020, 12:12 PM

I agree that it looks possibly enhanced (straw/fire blue) and too good to he true. Odd thing is many of this sellers listings look this way, and I had wondered if it was the lighting.

Pistol · 09-05-2020, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyn Islaub

It should have a polished area under the safety lever, wonder why the seller didn't show that area? I just bought one of these early commercial pistols in the 64000 range and it came with a Cal/9MM magazine (an original one no less) and I had thought all these early 9MM commercial pistols originally had one. Hard to believe that bidding is in excess of $5.5K, even for an original.

I thought the 1908 commercials came with blank wood bottom mags and it was the 1906 commercials that came with Cal/9mm marked bottoms?

Ron Wood · 09-05-2020, 12:46 PM

If that is a restore/refinish, it is good enough to fool me.
Ron

Heinz · 09-05-2020, 07:27 PM

I think the number having been previously recorded as a 7.65 is troubling.
I had one of Thor's restorations that looked better. Should have never let it get away.

09-03-2020, 07:24 PM	#1
briskspirit User Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 58 Thanks: 80 Thanked 28 Times in 12 Posts	Gunbroker: EXCEPTIONAL DWM 1908 9MM LUGER W/EXTRA MAGAZINE, HOLSTER & TOOLS FULL RIG So I am still learning about different Lugers and looking at photos on GunBroker to understand which models are scarce and which are not. I have found this one: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/877780340 Could you please educate me on what is so special about this Luger to price it like this? That's because of it's condition? Or something else? Also how do you think is it restored or original condition? And seems that one of those mags is with modern mag bottom. Thank you all and be safe! P.S.: for those who don't want to check photos on the GunBroker: 10 days till the end of auction, currend bid $5580, 26 bids. Added a few photos to this topic. Attached Thumbnails

09-03-2020, 07:45 PM	#2
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Condition! Condition! Condition!!! First off, it looks original to me? Not mint, but about as close as the camera will let it be... Second, 1908 commercial is a popular item with commercial collectors. It was probably the zenith of their workmanship and probably a bit rare considering they were right on the verge of a huge military contract! When you have 99% + condition, and matching accessories that most likely have been with the gun its whole life, prices like this will appear. Check out his other stuff, all just as nice with high end multiple bids? If you ever wanted a lesson in condition dictating value, or cost.... this is a good one! Best to all, til....lat'r....GT......

09-04-2020, 03:07 PM	#8
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	I checked my list, NOT one of mine. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

09-05-2020, 12:05 AM	#13
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,442 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	What Norm said. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

09-05-2020, 02:00 AM	#14
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	high end! High end guns are a catch 22 that all who collects, comes up against at least once in their collecting career? The problem being, it is hard to ever see enough of them to really have a chance to know the difference in mint and restored? P.38's are a bit easier, as many mint examples survived the war, and it wasn't to hard to acquire a benchmark example to go forwards from? Plus, less were messed with as there was no reason to boost them anyway. Lugers are a little different in that they almost immeadiatly show high edge wear and handling, hence what i said about what the camera would allow.. I have never had a stone mint Luger, and only seen one I would rate that high... and I saw it 30 years ago... It was an artillery kept in a bank vault for 80+ years and never was handled or saw the light of day... Two elderly gents brought in in to my work place for me to appraise for an estate. I was at a loss, but I believe I said somewhere around 2K but i really had no clue... This 08 commercial can be viewed by many, but only verified by a very few. If I were investigating it as a crime, my first two detectives would be Ron Wood and George Anderson... if either one, or both, of those two, smelled a rat, or said they saw a rat, pretty darn good chance there is a rat there! Again, it looked as to me, there was more right then wrong, but also it's not my strong suit either! Best to all, til....lat'r....GT

09-03-2020, 08:56 PM	#3
Pistol User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN Posts: 428 Thanks: 448 Thanked 220 Times in 99 Posts	Also, of interest, is that many of these were owned by officers.

09-03-2020, 09:01 PM	#4
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,700 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,692 Times in 555 Posts	That is a gorgeous rig and I don't know that it can be improved upon. I do think the bidding will be quite high.

09-04-2020, 10:24 AM	#5
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	Dwight Gruber's commercial list has 56698 as a 30 cal luger. These photos are heavily photoshopped, you can see the border lines in the photos where the background is wiped. The muzzle has interesting brush like markings.

09-04-2020, 11:12 AM	#6
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	I would be wary of anything offered by this seller. Norm

09-04-2020, 03:38 PM	#9
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	Almost as good as your work though :-)

09-04-2020, 04:49 PM	#10
Lyn Islaub Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 435 Thanks: 3 Thanked 152 Times in 72 Posts	It should have a polished area under the safety lever, wonder why the seller didn't show that area? I just bought one of these early commercial pistols in the 64000 range and it came with a Cal/9MM magazine (an original one no less) and I had thought all these early 9MM commercial pistols originally had one. Hard to believe that bidding is in excess of $5.5K, even for an original.

09-04-2020, 08:09 PM	#11
CptCurl User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Botetourt County, Virginia Posts: 120 Thanks: 93 Thanked 140 Times in 46 Posts	What is the year (approximately) this pistol would have been made? Curl

09-04-2020, 08:14 PM	#12
CptCurl User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Botetourt County, Virginia Posts: 120 Thanks: 93 Thanked 140 Times in 46 Posts	Well, if you had to ask the price, you couldn't afford it anyway. Curl

09-05-2020, 09:25 AM	#16
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Dwight, I've sent you a PM. Norm

09-05-2020, 12:12 PM	#17
Pistol User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN Posts: 428 Thanks: 448 Thanked 220 Times in 99 Posts	I agree that it looks possibly enhanced (straw/fire blue) and too good to he true. Odd thing is many of this sellers listings look this way, and I had wondered if it was the lighting. Last edited by Pistol; 09-05-2020 at 02:09 PM.

09-05-2020, 12:46 PM	#19
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	If that is a restore/refinish, it is good enough to fool me. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-05-2020, 07:27 PM	#20
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	I think the number having been previously recorded as a 7.65 is troubling. I had one of Thor's restorations that looked better. Should have never let it get away.