P.08 #98

MFC · 04-09-2022, 12:27 AM

I picked up this 08 First Issue at Tulsa this past weekend. S#98 no suffix. all matching including mag. It was a really good show for me. I sold 4 Luger rigs and an early slotted Radam. I had a wad of cash, so I went hunting.

DonVoigt · 04-09-2022, 12:41 AM

Nice find; about as early as one could find!

MFC · 04-09-2022, 01:10 AM

more pics...

Pistol · 04-09-2022, 07:46 AM

Beautiful luger.

sheepherder · 04-09-2022, 11:13 AM

I have a question...

Do you think a low number/no-suffix is more valuable than a comparable Luger, same era, same condition, with ser # 1736f ???

Did you/would you, pay more just to get that low # 98 no-suffix???

hayhugh · 04-09-2022, 12:35 PM

You can bet on it..........

wlyon · 04-09-2022, 01:10 PM

No. The historical significance does not change with a high or low serial number. This is strictly a production number. Again this is a individual collectors thing. If you like low numbers fine. I would not pay a dime more for it. Very nice luger. Bill

sheepherder · 04-09-2022, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlyon

No. The historical significance does not change with a high or low serial number. This is strictly a production number. Again this is a individual collectors thing. If you like low numbers fine. I would not pay a dime more for it. Very nice luger. Bill

I agree with Bill. Same applies to my Savage .32 auto with ser # 1234. Just a number, denotes nothing.

But I'm not a collector. I just accumulate.

But I will keep in mind that my low-number 1900AE is worth more.

Now, if you could link the low number 98 to the machine gun company on the grip, that would be interesting. Maybe find a posed pic of the gun crew, and a letter assigning the gun to that crew, and make up a rig to go with it and a diorama showing all the stuff together, with a helmet and belt etc...That would be money...

ithacaartist · 04-10-2022, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I agree with Bill. Same applies to my Savage .32 auto with ser # 1234. Just a number, denotes nothing.

Reminds me of when William Mattar's Luger made an appearance on the forum... #4444

MFC · 04-10-2022, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Reminds me of when William Mattar's Luger made an appearance on the forum... #4444

I have an orphan wood bottom mag w/#4444.

sheepherder · 04-10-2022, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFC

I have an orphan wood bottom mag w/#4444.

The Luger doesn't really belong to William Mattar. Mattar is an attorney here in WNY whose TV ad/jingo is "Hurt in a car? Call William Mattar. 716-444-4444".

Kind of a regional joke. For those of us with a peculiar sense of humor.

Off topic, the local Target cell phone salesman uses Mattar's phone number to check that the new phone sale works - He calls 716-444-4444 and makes sure that Mattar's recording answers.

But there's dozens of #4444 Lugers. Maybe someone will see your post and contact you.

Edward Tinker · 04-09-2022, 03:55 PM

Agree with you Bill, but an early item makes me go, oh, baby, baby

This is an outstanding specimen

gunbugs · 04-09-2022, 08:35 PM

Nice gun. No holdopen. Unaltered, with a nice regiment stamp on the gripstrap. And probably one of the earliest serial numbers you could find. Sure, I'd pay more for that pistol over a later one.

Heinz · 04-09-2022, 09:00 PM

Very nice find, nice pistol

MFC · 04-10-2022, 01:08 AM

It is one of the first 100 P.08s made! To some that's worth more... including me. I certainly paid a premium for it. I haven't seen are heard of a lower serial number P.08, but I'm sure they are out there.

Thanks for all the responses.

minigun · 04-10-2022, 08:59 AM

This must be the Luger I heard about that was at Tulsa after I left. Glad I get to see it as I thought I had missed it. You never know what pops up at Tulsa!

MFC · 04-13-2022, 11:07 PM

Patrice,
Thanks for the photo. I'm sure they were together at DWM and on the battlefield.

G.T. · 04-13-2022, 11:55 PM

Hi Mike, I think you really scored tall with this one! Super early, super nice, and un-altered....Just that one pistol is a collection all by itself to me! I have found the early number in a variation is still important, especially as a bargaining chip when selling... Early numbers when taking the whole life of a specific design a little better. As in, the first 100 model 1900's would carry a little more weight, but not much! You really have a keeper there... best to you my friend, til...lat'r...GT....

MFC · 04-14-2022, 09:31 PM

G.T.,
Thanks, it seems I'm growing fonder of it each day.
The German Army purchased over 1.5 million Lugers from 1909 to 1942. To be in the first 100, IS the reason I bought it. I wasn't really looking for a First Issue, but when I saw it, the condition, unaltered, matched mag... etc. I thought, when will I ever see another comparable to it?

A few more pics of the S#'s and acceptance stamps and one of the bore.

sheepherder · 04-16-2022, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFC

The German Army purchased over 1.5 million Lugers from 1909 to 1942. To be in the first 100, IS the reason I bought it.

By that math, there were thirty-three # 98 Lugers (without suffix) made. How is that anything really rare???

I'm not disparaging your purchase; it seems very well preserved. I just can't see it being worth more than a comparable condition three or four digit number.

There's going to be a no-suffix # 98 every year they were made.

04-09-2022, 12:27 AM	#1
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	P.08 #98 I picked up this 08 First Issue at Tulsa this past weekend. S#98 no suffix. all matching including mag. It was a really good show for me. I sold 4 Luger rigs and an early slotted Radam. I had a wad of cash, so I went hunting. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images __________________ Mike C.

04-09-2022, 12:41 AM	#2
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Nice find; about as early as one could find! __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

04-09-2022, 01:10 AM	#3
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	more pics... Attached Thumbnails Attached Images __________________ Mike C.

04-09-2022, 11:13 AM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,183 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	I have a question... Do you think a low number/no-suffix is more valuable than a comparable Luger, same era, same condition, with ser # 1736f ??? Did you/would you, pay more just to get that low # 98 no-suffix??? __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

04-09-2022, 01:10 PM	#7
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,636 Thanks: 3,174 Thanked 2,559 Times in 955 Posts	No. The historical significance does not change with a high or low serial number. This is strictly a production number. Again this is a individual collectors thing. If you like low numbers fine. I would not pay a dime more for it. Very nice luger. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

04-09-2022, 07:46 AM	#4
Pistol User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN Posts: 428 Thanks: 448 Thanked 220 Times in 99 Posts	Beautiful luger.

04-09-2022, 12:35 PM	#6
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 857 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	You can bet on it..........

04-09-2022, 03:55 PM	#12
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Agree with you Bill, but an early item makes me go, oh, baby, baby This is an outstanding specimen

04-09-2022, 08:35 PM	#13
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 659 Thanks: 365 Thanked 1,178 Times in 394 Posts	Nice gun. No holdopen. Unaltered, with a nice regiment stamp on the gripstrap. And probably one of the earliest serial numbers you could find. Sure, I'd pay more for that pistol over a later one.

04-09-2022, 09:00 PM	#14
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	Very nice find, nice pistol

04-10-2022, 01:08 AM	#15
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	It is one of the first 100 P.08s made! To some that's worth more... including me. I certainly paid a premium for it. I haven't seen are heard of a lower serial number P.08, but I'm sure they are out there. Thanks for all the responses. __________________ Mike C.

04-10-2022, 08:59 AM	#16
minigun User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 424 Thanks: 15 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	This must be the Luger I heard about that was at Tulsa after I left. Glad I get to see it as I thought I had missed it. You never know what pops up at Tulsa!

04-13-2022, 11:07 PM	#17
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Patrice, Thanks for the photo. I'm sure they were together at DWM and on the battlefield. __________________ Mike C.

04-13-2022, 11:55 PM	#18
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	super nice! Hi Mike, I think you really scored tall with this one! Super early, super nice, and un-altered....Just that one pistol is a collection all by itself to me! I have found the early number in a variation is still important, especially as a bargaining chip when selling... Early numbers when taking the whole life of a specific design a little better. As in, the first 100 model 1900's would carry a little more weight, but not much! You really have a keeper there... best to you my friend, til...lat'r...GT....

04-14-2022, 09:31 PM	#19
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	G.T., Thanks, it seems I'm growing fonder of it each day. The German Army purchased over 1.5 million Lugers from 1909 to 1942. To be in the first 100, IS the reason I bought it. I wasn't really looking for a First Issue, but when I saw it, the condition, unaltered, matched mag... etc. I thought, when will I ever see another comparable to it? A few more pics of the S#'s and acceptance stamps and one of the bore. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mike C.