Any luger experts out there?

[JamesJ]

I'm checking on this for a friend, the pistol came from his fathers estate. Pre war Luger near mint, all matching numbers, case , extra mag and tool, (all matching #s)
Values are all over the place, and i know very little about lugers. Any help and value would be appreciated.

 

[cwickgo9]

Can you provide a top photo?
Interesting Chinese (assumably) markings on the right side.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Is it in 9mm Luger or .30 Luger ?

 

[SaintPanzer]

Those are NOT Chinese markings. The "top of the image is a crown, but I can't really make out what's below. They are acceptance marks. Is it a crown over C D K U, in a Germanic/"Old English" font?

What mark is on top of the toggle? That will help. Based on the acceptance marks, I would expect a crown with the word "ERFURT" Seeing the toggle would be helpful, but I can't be called an expert.

They guys at Luger Forum will have more input.

 

[Lance Hopper]

You need to contact Simpson’s Ltd. They are the foremost experts on Lugers in the U.S.

 

[Troubleshooter]

I'm checking on this for a friend, the pistol came from his fathers estate. Pre war Luger near mint, all matching numbers, case , extra mag and tool, (all matching #s)
Values are all over the place, and i know very little about lugers. Any help and value would be appreciated.

Not an expert either, but I've talked to one who explained a few things to me. The numbers that are visible in those photos match; how about the ones on the bottom of the barrel? Also would be good to know the date of manufacture (top of the frame) and who the manufacturer was. Pre-war? Which one -- WWI or WWII?

Also (and only because you wrote that you "know very little about Lugers") check the bottom of the magazines for serial numbers, as well as the tool. If all of those match, you really have something special there.

Values are tough, because there are just so many different variations out there, making apples-to-apples comparisons difficult. You might want to check completed sales prices on one of the larger online auction sites, or Luger collector sites. Take "asking prices" with a grain of salt, as they truly are all over the place.

Good luck, and good on you for helping out your friend!

 

[Troubleshooter]

Interesting Chinese (assumably) markings on the right side.

Those are NOT Chinese markings. The "top of the image is a crown, but I can't really make out what's below. They are acceptance marks. Is it a crown over C D K U, in a Germanic/"Old English" font?

Exactly as SaintPanzer stated. Not chinese markings but acceptance marks from .... some entity. Definitely a crown which makes sense, but uncertain what is underneath. Looks like at least three letters but can't quite make out the fourth character. JamesJ can you tell if it's a letter or something else? Sometimes the markings will include a stylized eagle (with or without a swastika, depending on the era).

 

[Sika98k]

Can you provide a top photo?
Interesting Chinese (assumably) markings on the right side.

I think those are Proof House stamps.

 

[baxterb]

Nice,. I have lusted after a Luger ever since Oddball cocked his sideways in his holster in Kelley;s Heroes. Closest I got was a Ruger Mark II for my 10th birthday.

 

[cwickgo9]

Those are NOT Chinese markings. The "top of the image is a crown, but I can't really make out what's below. They are acceptance marks. Is it a crown over C D K U, in a Germanic/"Old English" font?

What mark is on top of the toggle? That will help. Based on the acceptance marks, I would expect a crown with the word "ERFURT" Seeing the toggle would be helpful, but I can't be called an expert.

They guys at Luger Forum will have more input.

I stand corrected. I zoomed in as close as I could.

I have two matching number lugers.

As stated if all the numbers match - gun, tool, magazine - that is quite a piece.

You can also disassemble to check the number on the firing pin. Which if you've never done it, check Youtube for easy directions and to help prevent damage to the grips. The firing pin is quite a machining marvel.

Simpson's is a great resource. https://simpsonltd.com/

 

[Don458]

Looks like a WW1 p-08. Wood magazine bottom, military proof marks on right side. Did you ever state what toggle inscription is? Should be DWM (script) or ERFURT as stated. I have been collecting lugers since my 20’s but not an expert. Picture of my 1914 DWM

 

[375er]

Some serious cash is what I think fwiw.

 

[JamesJ]

Correct those are German proof marks. the numbers on the magazine and tool match the pistol. I'll see if I can get a pic of the top of the slide. Simpson put a value of $4250 on the gun, but the Auction houses are saying $2000 pretty big difference.

 

[375er]

I was thinking much more than that!

 

[375er]

I've seen these at 9K plus.

 

[Don458]

I've seen these at 9K plus.

From what I’ve seen military marked ww1 are the most common , There were commercial made variants by Kreighoff , Simpson , that bring premiums. And the WWII military ones were specifically given to officers, an example of this is the Black widow p-08. Typical toggle marked byf -41. Made by Mauser. They bring premiums. More common variants like the one in my picture are going for about 2-2500 now. Many variants include navy,luftwaffee , artillery models Many are pieces together but still bring $$. The more I learned about these the less I bought lol there is a great book called the book of the Luger by Walter outlines most everything including inspection marks on leather wear and holsters and belts. Don

 

[rookhawk]

anywhere from $3k to infinity based on pics and description. The year of manufacture and the actual manufacturer, its barrel length, and configuration make all the difference.

Start by determining barrel length, date codes, and manufacturer. It will give you a solid guesstimate.

 

[Troubleshooter]

JamesJ: Next time that you have the pistol in-hand, see if the acceptance marks on the right side look similar to one of these examples. Note the "CDKU" to which Saint Panzer referred in an earlier post.

 

[RedTag]

I’d start by simply asking myself what kind of guns are on the new market for the price range quoted. $2k is a mid-tier 1911, a very good gun but that’s something that’ll be available next year and another hundred years later. I definitely wouldn’t sell that Luger for $2k. Now get up to $4k+ and that’s getting you a very high-end 1911 or a Korth revolver, something along those lines, very nice. I’d say that’s a value more in line with the intrinsic quality of your pistol. They don’t make the Luger anymore and they never will. Collector’s value is going to depend on a lot of individual nuance and sometimes that can be a lot more than you think. I personally would not let go of that gun for anything less than $4k.

 

[Phil Giordano]

I've seen and sold quite few P08, and it's probably the most difficult gun to be an expert about. There are so many variations and details. Few imputs are - the Germans used to number every single piece of the gun, and they should match for an added value. Byf or S42 means Mauser, generally WW2, DWM WW1 - but the First War guns were used during the second also, and in this case they are re-marked. In Europe, the most quoted marketing are the Waffenamt (Eagle holding the Nazi cross), and the most appreciated are Mauser guns. 9 Luger is a mandatory to be well sold here. The same for original bueing. Grips can be very important, but it's so rare to find one with the original ones, that is become a secondary aspect, if coherent with the period.
From the pics, I would say it's a DWM and those are acceptance German marks, nothing Chinese, original blueing, without Waffenamt.
But I'm not an expert, just I've seen many. Very few people are P08 true experts. Infinite variables.
May be possible it crossed the Ocean before WW2.
Here in Italy I would sell it for something around 1500eu, but I know the US market is much highter.