Re: 1900 Luger (Con't - for Silvano)

[Kyrie]

Hi Silvano,


This is a good thread, but itâ??s getting hard (at least for me) to find as it scrolls down the list of threads. So Iâ??ve take the liberty of replying with a new post to move the thread back toward the top


Turning specifically to your pistol, Iâ??d say the fellow you bought it from described it accurately when he identified it as a 1900 Commercial. A large part of the confusion over 1900 Commercial Lugers and US Army Test Lugers is because the 1900 US Army Test Lugers are a subset of the 1900 Commercials. Put differently, DWM filled the US Army order for 1000 Lugers to be tested by shipping 1900 Commercial Lugers. The only way to positively distinguish between a 1900 US Army Test (Commercial) Luger and the more common 1900 Commercial Luger is by serial number.


In terms of the seller â??making the deal rightâ?�, Iâ??m not sure there was anything wrong with the deal. The pistol is the variation he said it was and if you wanted a 1900 Commercial thatâ??s what you have


The news on the mismatched trigger is less good. A Luger is mismatched if any part is not original. It doesnâ??t matter whether only one part is mismatched, or all the parts are mismatched - a mismatched Luger is a mismatched Luger. A matching 1900 Commercial in 95% condition is roughly a $2000 Luger. A mismatched (or refinished) 1900 Commercial is roughly a $700 Luger.


Regarding â??finding a matching triggerâ?�, there is none. Collectors use the term â??matchingâ?� as a verbal shorthand for â??all original.â?� The original trigger for your Luger is long gone. Replacing its current trigger with one from another Luger that just happened to have the same last two serial number digits as your Luger would create a Luger that only appeared to be all original - in short, a fake.


I hope this helps!


Best regards,


Kyrie

Anybody got a 1900 Commercial in 95% w/excellent bore with replaced grips &/or mismatched firing pin for $700? I have money in hand.

Seriously though there must be a sliding scale for shooter grade guns. Condition being equal I would definitely want a Luger with mismatched sideplate, trigger, firing pin, or grips over a gun with completely different upper and lower. Especially if they are of diffent manufacture (like a BYF toggle in a 1915 dated receiver). Also an excellent refinish job would be more desirable than a poor one on heavily buffed metal. I now the monetary difference would not be great ($100-$300?) but I think it exists.

Sincerely, dobk

[Silvano]

Thanks for the renewed thread.

You guys' interest is extremely cool and I truly appreciate it. Really, though, $700? I've seen quite o'bit of refinshed stuff out there for quite o'bit of money. Like dobk said do you know of a similar 1900 to mine for $700? There must be some sort of sliding scale.

Thanks again, Silvano.

I quite agree......

There are at least 2 Lugers in my "shooter" pile that have modified finishes, i.e., nickel plated or buffed badly and stripped, that are still all matching for number and are excellent shooters. I prefer these at the range, because they function perfectly, even though altered cosmetically.......

Then there is the immensely interesting 8" barrel that has the whole toggle train mismatched for number,(I bought it at *least* the correct manufacturer's toggle set, as it is an Erfurt, but it came to me with an S/42 toggle train), that is very finicky, and likes only *some* mags and ammo, but has at least 4 different applications stamped into it.

Although all 3 are "shooters", 2 are actually *good* shooters, whereas the long barrel is merely a curiosity because it went from Imperial with regimental markings, to 1920 commercial, to the Weimar police, to the Swiss, and carries the Swiss "Cross in Sunburst" on the upper and a Swiss target barrel.

Weird piece for sure, but gimme the 2 Widows with the butchered finishes for the range anyday.

Even amongst shooters, there seems to be a pecking order.

I would value the 2 refinished pistols higher than the mismatched oddball anyday, merely because of superior function.

[DAVID]

Of course I prefer all matching pistols with original finish. However. I once had a 1920 that almost totally mismatched with a overbuffed high polish blue job on it. This pistol was my favorite steak gun. A friend of mine owned a gunshop and we would shoot in the back to see who bought dinner. He would choose what ever he thought would beat the "luger" and we would shoot 3 rounds for dinner. I lost at most 5-6 times over 25 or so dinners. This luger had a 1.5 lb trigger pull and would fire 3 rounds of 30 cal. that would touch each other. 100 percent reliable too. I miss that gun. David.

[Hugh]

I have a 1900, all matching, refinished with a beautiful dip bluing and bright gold strawing job that I paid $650 for and still think it was a bargain

Dobk, I think you're about 10 years to late trying to get a mismatched M1900AE for $700. I was selling this type with little blue to John Martz to make into his custom carbines back then for $700.

[Kyrie]

Hi Silvano,


Shooter 1900 Commercials in the $700 range (or less) are not hard to find, though they take a little patience. Keep an eye on Ralph Shattuckâ??s World of Lugers list - I turned down a shooter 1900 Commercial (for $475) in favor of the 1916 Erfurt Shooter pictured in the Ownersâ?? corner.


Best regards,


Kyrie