[freebird]

I am curious if someone could help me put a value and date on these two pistols. I have a 7.65 Luger that I am not sure of what date to place it at or what value. The Serial # is 3795 and it has a Germany stamp on the bottom below the serial # just on the base of the frame below the barrel. It has a wood base on the clip bottom as well.

I also have a .32 Cal. Savage Semi-Auto Serial #241627. If anyone could help me place a year and value on these I would truly appreciate it! Thanks!

[Jim Watson]

You are going to have to do better than that.
For even a rough idea of value, the experts here will have to have a DETAILED description of physical characteristics, markings, and condition. Good closeup pictures are very useful.

Your Luger MAY go back as far as 1901, but it might be a later gun.

You can cut out us middlemen by going to the specialized Luger board, but we would still like to see what you really have.
http://www.lugerforum.com/

The best I can tell, your Savage is probably a late Model 1917 made around 1926. (Savage quit making pistols in 1928.) But see above.

[freebird]

Thanks Jim I appreciate the help and the link!

[freebird]

69349

69350

[freebird]

Here is a pic of the Savage

[Jim K]

As Jim says, the Luger could be one of a number of variations, some quite valuable, and we need more info.

But the odds are that it is one of the 7.65 Parabellum (.30 Luger) pistols sold in the U.S. after WWI. Germany was prohibited from making pistols in the military 9mm caliber, so they took ex-military pistols, removed the military markings, rebarrelled the guns to 7.65 and refinished them. This variation is often called the "1920 Commercial" by collectors. One in top shape can bring as much as $1300. These are characterized by the country of origin mark "Germany", nice rust blue, the lack of any marking on the receiver ring, parts serial numbers matching but not always present, wood grips and wood magazine bottom. They are usually excellent shooters and more reliable than many 9mm Luger pistols.

Jim

[Jim Watson]

The Savage is definitely a 1917, it is the only model with a screw in the whole gun, and that just to hold on the larger grip panels.
http://members.aol.com/Savage1907/
Not intuitive to get around on but there is some good information there.

I am NOT a Luger expert but what I see is a P08 (stock lug and fully knurled toggles) with a .30 barrel. Reblued, I think; the trigger and takedown catch were straw colored from heat treatment when new. One explanation is that it is one of the many "1920 Commercial" Lugers built up from WW I surplus guns and parts. The crown/N smokeless powder proof mark is appropriate. Are there any markings on the top of the gun? It should have the maker's mark on the front toggle and would have had a date over the chamber. The date might have been removed in the process of making a commercial model out of it but they would certainly have left a DWM, Erfurt, or Simson trademark. The "Germany" is a good sign that it was meant for sale in the US or other English speaking country.

[freebird]

Thanks guys! No date on the gun it does have a squiggly mark on the top slide portion for lack of a better term. It does have the crown N stamping on it or what I would say looks like a crown.

[Jim Watson]

Does the squiggle look like this:
http://www.lugerforum.com/owner_gallery/owner1/1923_DWM.jpg

[freebird]

Yep! That would be it!

[Jim Watson]

Monogram of DWM in squiggly German script.
Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken = German Weapons and Ammunition Manufacturer.

And yes, that is a crown over the N. When that gun was made, the Kaiser was in charge and Kaiser is what you get in German for Emperor. N for Nitro (smokeless) powder.

Herr Hitler changed it to an eagle.

[freebird]

Thanks! That is some good info! I appreciate it!