Newbie Help

CETME · 04-24-2002, 09:13 PM

What kind of Luger can I buy for $500-$600. I'm still very new to Lugers, and im looking for a "shooter" to start off with. It will be shot, and enjoyed, so i dont want anything too collectable for my first time. Dont want to make any mistakes and a nice collector. What condition "shooter" can i get for that price? ideas? advice? thanks in advance guys!

also, what luger books do you recommend?

Lars

TheRomanhistorian · 04-24-2002, 09:59 PM

Hello there Lars!

I got a nice shooter Luger for $570 at a local pawnshop when I turned 21 (about 2 weeks or so ago). Mine's a mismatched gun with a date of 1921 and it's in pretty good condition. The only problem with it is that it is entirely too much fun to shoot. Depends though on where you live, I live in Idaho and I have seen a total of 3 Lugers in my life so far and all three have been in pawnshops... Just look around and hopefully you can find one, or as I have heard talk to either Tom Heller or Ralph Shattuck among others (I would have gone through them but I was in the pawn shop, saw the Luger and had to have it right then and there...an impulse buy I do not regret.)

Michael Ng

Frank · 04-24-2002, 10:05 PM

04-24-2002, 10:54 PM

Lars,I'd go wit Jan C. Still's books the complete set (around $120.00). Imperial Lugers,Wiemar & early Nazi Lugers,and Third Reich Lugers! Should be some good reading! Might also want to pick up titles by Fred Datig,and Charles Kenyon. Hope this helps!

Best Regards,Brandon

Roadkill · 04-24-2002, 10:57 PM

Don't pass up the internet. Type in luger and start reading. Lots of repetitive info but a great place to start.

Roadkill

Orv Reichert · 04-24-2002, 11:01 PM

Still's books are essential!

Then get LUGERS AT RANDOM

And [for $25] the STANDARD CATALOG OF MILITARY FIREARMS [a paperback published by the 'Gunlist'] which will help you identify and price them.

Keep on buying books...they will save you money in the long run!

Orv Reichert

PS..I am a contributing editor to the Standard Catalogs but I would suggest them even if I were not involved!

CETME · 04-24-2002, 11:20 PM

Mike,

I'm in the same boat as you.... turned 21 nearly 3 months ago. I would have done the same thing as you!

I've scoured the Pawnshops here in Tallahassee, FL... and i havent found much. I'm thinking by the time i get some money, someone on this board will have one they want to get rid of! =)

Roadkill · 04-24-2002, 11:27 PM

Let the pawnshops know you are interested. Tell them what you want. Visit often. Leave your name & number. They pass up a lot of guns because they don't want to sit on them. For a while a few years ago pawn shops were calling me and my wife at work when something came in. She put a stop to that.

Roadkill

AGE · 04-25-2002, 12:08 AM

Be sure and attend the gun shows in your area. There is a lot of stuff there (usually a number of Lugers) and it's easily examined and compared. That's where I got my 1936 shooter a month or so ago (nice with matching numbers, but reblued).

04-25-2002, 11:42 AM

Also look on www.gunbroker.com, they have an import marked shooter on there now with a starting bid of $350.00. All you have to do is type luger into the search box and you are all set. Another good website ia www.auctionarms.com. I hope this helps. Phil

04-25-2002, 06:44 PM

Pawnshops see an unbelieveable amount and variety of good come in and out of their stores. If you leave your info with some of the better ones you're bound to receive a call. I have the local ones here keeping tabs on nice old 1911s for me.

04-24-2002, 09:13 PM	#1
CETME User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Newbie Help What kind of Luger can I buy for $500-$600. I'm still very new to Lugers, and im looking for a "shooter" to start off with. It will be shot, and enjoyed, so i dont want anything too collectable for my first time. Dont want to make any mistakes and a nice collector. What condition "shooter" can i get for that price? ideas? advice? thanks in advance guys! also, what luger books do you recommend? Lars

04-24-2002, 09:59 PM	#2
TheRomanhistorian User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 301 Thanks: 170 Thanked 88 Times in 64 Posts	Re: Newbie Help Hello there Lars! I got a nice shooter Luger for $570 at a local pawnshop when I turned 21 (about 2 weeks or so ago). Mine's a mismatched gun with a date of 1921 and it's in pretty good condition. The only problem with it is that it is entirely too much fun to shoot. Depends though on where you live, I live in Idaho and I have seen a total of 3 Lugers in my life so far and all three have been in pawnshops... Just look around and hopefully you can find one, or as I have heard talk to either Tom Heller or Ralph Shattuck among others (I would have gone through them but I was in the pawn shop, saw the Luger and had to have it right then and there...an impulse buy I do not regret.) Michael Ng

04-24-2002, 10:05 PM	#3
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Good Advice, Michael (EOM)

04-24-2002, 10:54 PM	#4
Brandon Metcalf Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Newbie Help Lars,I'd go wit Jan C. Still's books the complete set (around $120.00). Imperial Lugers,Wiemar & early Nazi Lugers,and Third Reich Lugers! Should be some good reading! Might also want to pick up titles by Fred Datig,and Charles Kenyon. Hope this helps! Best Regards,Brandon

04-24-2002, 10:57 PM	#5
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Newbie Help Don't pass up the internet. Type in luger and start reading. Lots of repetitive info but a great place to start. Roadkill

04-24-2002, 11:01 PM	#6
Orv Reichert RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SW Washington State Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Books Still's books are essential! Then get LUGERS AT RANDOM And [for $25] the STANDARD CATALOG OF MILITARY FIREARMS [a paperback published by the 'Gunlist'] which will help you identify and price them. Keep on buying books...they will save you money in the long run! Orv Reichert PS..I am a contributing editor to the Standard Catalogs but I would suggest them even if I were not involved!

04-24-2002, 11:20 PM	#7
CETME User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Newbie Help Mike, I'm in the same boat as you.... turned 21 nearly 3 months ago. I would have done the same thing as you! I've scoured the Pawnshops here in Tallahassee, FL... and i havent found much. I'm thinking by the time i get some money, someone on this board will have one they want to get rid of! =)

04-24-2002, 11:27 PM	#8
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Newbie Help Let the pawnshops know you are interested. Tell them what you want. Visit often. Leave your name & number. They pass up a lot of guns because they don't want to sit on them. For a while a few years ago pawn shops were calling me and my wife at work when something came in. She put a stop to that. Roadkill

04-25-2002, 12:08 AM	#9
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Newbie Help Be sure and attend the gun shows in your area. There is a lot of stuff there (usually a number of Lugers) and it's easily examined and compared. That's where I got my 1936 shooter a month or so ago (nice with matching numbers, but reblued).

04-25-2002, 11:42 AM	#10
1958 vetteman Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Newbie Help Also look on www.gunbroker.com, they have an import marked shooter on there now with a starting bid of $350.00. All you have to do is type luger into the search box and you are all set. Another good website ia www.auctionarms.com. I hope this helps. Phil

04-25-2002, 06:44 PM	#11
dsk Guest Posts: n/a	I'll second that..... Pawnshops see an unbelieveable amount and variety of good come in and out of their stores. If you leave your info with some of the better ones you're bound to receive a call. I have the local ones here keeping tabs on nice old 1911s for me.