Beautiful Mauser Luger, should I buy?

[boogieman]

Went in my LGS to buy some ammo and found this Luger. Im rather ******. I have wanted a nice quality Luger for some time. This fits the bill, I just didnt want to spend the cash now. Before the Germans part me and my hard earned american dollars I have a few concerns.
1. Asking $2800
2. It looks to good.
All the corners are sharp crisp, the checkering on grips is sharp. The grips are very blonde and dry. No holster were, only the most minor of nicks in the blueing. Barrel looks like it just come from the machine shop. Matching number (74, 3174) all over the gun. Mag not matching, but in near mint condition. If I were to rate this gun on a 1-1-100 it is into the high 90s condition.

 

[Jim K]

What is the date and the full serial number with suffix letter? What I can see looks fairly good, but the price IMHO is too high in today's economy. You might try an offer of $2000 and see what happens. If he is adamant, I think I would pass. The holster, from what I can see, looks OK and adds to the value. (FWIW, I can't find "dlv" in the German code lists, but those are not complete.)

Luger walnut grips are normally darker but there is no absolute rule and I have seen light colored ones. What concerns me more is that the sideplate and frame don't seem to match; the sideplate looks like it was cold blued and might have been in poor or rusted condition.

Jim

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

At the very least, make sure you go over it with a fine tooth comb. If you have access to a firearms bluebook, you can look up more specific details to get a better idea of the going price. With military collectibles, one tiny detail can mean the difference between $500 and $5000.

 

[gun addict]

Too much even for a matching luger, what's the code and date? I dont want to call "reblue" yet but look at the trigger and safety, most of them should be in "straw" color instead of uniform blued and the almost refinished look on the safety where bluings should be worn off by just a few on/off swipes, I'd walk away

 

[rcmodel]

I would be very suspect of the white sharp checkered grips.

Any Luger that old would have darkened grips from handling, dirt, holster wear & dirt, and cleaning oil & solvent for 70 years.

They have at least been cleaned and the checkering sharpened up.
If not replaced with reproduction grips.

Here is what a 'light grip wood' WWII Mauser luger grip should look like after 70 years.
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?cPath=179_215&products_id=5978

Note the safety and trigger were not 'Straw case-colored' by Mauser then.

So, I'm not calling re-blue, but I am calling replacement or refreshed grips.

That alone makes it much less then a $2,800 collectable Luger.

rc

 

[Ohen Cepel]

The holster is a nice plus. However, as others have said there are questions which need to be answered and the price seems very high to me.

 

[Dr.Rob]

That does seem a tad high to me. That might be what you value it at insurance wise.

Lugers are a very specialty market, you really need to read up on them, and look at as many Mauser coded Lugers of the same year that you can to get an idea of a reasonable offer.

Lots of good info and collectors here: http://www.lugerforum.com/

 

[Ian]

FWIW, "dlv" is Deutsche Edelstahlwerke AG.

$2800 is way too high for that pistol.