Assistance pricing .30 commercial long barrel

Trekker · 03-11-2018, 03:03 PM

Hello all,

I have been reading up on lugers recently, including joining this forum, since I am interested in getting a 'shooter' to have fun with, and perhaps someday a 'collector' luger to admire.

Yesterday I stopped off by my local gun shop and saw a luger in the consignment cabinet. It is a commercial luger in .30 with a ~6" barrel. The serial numbers are all mismatched, but the bluing appears quite solid (80%-90%), the rifling is in good condition, and the mechanical functioning feels smooth. It comes with a single magazine.

What would be a fair price for this pistol as a shooter? The price tag on it at the moment is $1,000.

Edward Tinker · 03-11-2018, 04:37 PM

$1000 is about the max for a 4 inch reblued or otherwise 9mm shooter. A 30 luger (7.65mm luger) is always much more expensive to shoot.
Although I like the 6 inch barrel very much and just had GT put a 6.5 inch 9mm on a receiver for me (see below, bottom one).

I think $600-$750 would be the max I would want to spend on a 6 inch 30 luger...

DonVoigt · 03-11-2018, 06:29 PM

Welcome Trekker.
You are wise to ask first, not after you leap!

I'm with Ed, you should be able to buy the 6" mismatched .30 luger for under $1000; though if you "wanted" one and paid for and to have a long barrel installed, it likely would cost that much or more.

I doubt buyers will be lined up for it, but one never knows.

I have a 6" .30 that is a lot of fun to shoot

; but it is more expensive unless you reload.

Here is mine.

Trekker · 03-12-2018, 06:00 PM

Thanks for the advice! I thought the asking price was a bit high, but was uncertain if the long barrel would complicate the issue of pricing it. That said, I believe I have read in this forum and elsewhere that there is a public perception that lugers are rarer than they actually are, so the seller may get his $1000 after all (just not from me).

I indeed was thinking about the difference in ammunition cost, from 9mm being ~$10/box to 30 liter being ~2.5x as much from targetsportsusa. I already spend a fair amount of time on the reloading press as it is, and was not enthused with the idea of buying another set of dies/etc.

mrerick · 03-12-2018, 06:53 PM

A factory original collectible matching original finish DWM Alphabet Commercial in .30 Luger might be worth $1,000... But not something with aftermarket parts. Others in that caliber might be worth considerably more.

You may have seen a Swiss Luger. They are often in .30 Luger, and have longer barrels. That would be worth more than $1,000 if all matching and in reasonably high condition.

But then you said it is a mismatch, so not collectible. $600 max.

Photos are almost always needed to get any accurate response on the forum because you need to understand specific things before evaluating and estimating the value of a Luger.

lugerholsterrepair · 03-12-2018, 08:59 PM

One thing to consider is does a gun like this actually shoot? Mismatched parts..etc. IF it shoots it's one thing. IF it doesn't.. it's another. You can't price a pistol like this laying in a display case. You can tell if it's overpriced though..

03-11-2018, 03:03 PM	#1
Trekker New User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Assistance pricing .30 commercial long barrel Hello all, I have been reading up on lugers recently, including joining this forum, since I am interested in getting a 'shooter' to have fun with, and perhaps someday a 'collector' luger to admire. Yesterday I stopped off by my local gun shop and saw a luger in the consignment cabinet. It is a commercial luger in .30 with a ~6" barrel. The serial numbers are all mismatched, but the bluing appears quite solid (80%-90%), the rifling is in good condition, and the mechanical functioning feels smooth. It comes with a single magazine. What would be a fair price for this pistol as a shooter? The price tag on it at the moment is $1,000.

03-11-2018, 04:37 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,034 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	$1000 is about the max for a 4 inch reblued or otherwise 9mm shooter. A 30 luger (7.65mm luger) is always much more expensive to shoot. Although I like the 6 inch barrel very much and just had GT put a 6.5 inch 9mm on a receiver for me (see below, bottom one). I think $600-$750 would be the max I would want to spend on a 6 inch 30 luger... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

03-11-2018, 06:29 PM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,442 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Welcome Trekker. You are wise to ask first, not after you leap! I'm with Ed, you should be able to buy the 6" mismatched .30 luger for under $1000; though if you "wanted" one and paid for and to have a long barrel installed, it likely would cost that much or more. I doubt buyers will be lined up for it, but one never knows. I have a 6" .30 that is a lot of fun to shoot; but it is more expensive unless you reload. Here is mine. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-12-2018, 06:53 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	A factory original collectible matching original finish DWM Alphabet Commercial in .30 Luger might be worth $1,000... But not something with aftermarket parts. Others in that caliber might be worth considerably more. You may have seen a Swiss Luger. They are often in .30 Luger, and have longer barrels. That would be worth more than $1,000 if all matching and in reasonably high condition. But then you said it is a mismatch, so not collectible. $600 max. Photos are almost always needed to get any accurate response on the forum because you need to understand specific things before evaluating and estimating the value of a Luger. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-12-2018, 08:59 PM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,940 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	One thing to consider is does a gun like this actually shoot? Mismatched parts..etc. IF it shoots it's one thing. IF it doesn't.. it's another. You can't price a pistol like this laying in a display case. You can tell if it's overpriced though.. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 l[email protected] 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

03-12-2018, 06:00 PM	#4
Trekker New User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the advice! I thought the asking price was a bit high, but was uncertain if the long barrel would complicate the issue of pricing it. That said, I believe I have read in this forum and elsewhere that there is a public perception that lugers are rarer than they actually are, so the seller may get his $1000 after all (just not from me). I indeed was thinking about the difference in ammunition cost, from 9mm being ~$10/box to 30 liter being ~2.5x as much from targetsportsusa. I already spend a fair amount of time on the reloading press as it is, and was not enthused with the idea of buying another set of dies/etc.