Colt SAA or Luger

[Dudemeister]

I have a possible opportunity to make an interesting trade. A friend of mine has a 2nd Gen Colt SAA that was engraved by a Japanese engraver. I don't know more that this yet, as I've only seen the gun once in passing. The only thing I remember is that it color case hardened and blued, so I'll have to wait until next week to take a closer look.

Anyway, he's been looking for a Luger P08 and I have a 1937 S/42 Luger w/military proof marks, all number matching in very good to excellent condition (I'd say 85~90%) based on what GunBroker sellers rate their guns. As mentioned everything is number matching except for the magazine which is a period correct aluminum based one, but not numbered to the gun.

So the question is pretty simple, trade or no trade?

 

[Skylerbone]

Trade.



Adding I am not a Luger fan. They’re very different firearms so the important question is which might you prefer shooting?

 

[Dudemeister]

I liked shooting the Luger, but I haven't taken it to the range in at least 4 years. Yes, it's a very different beast, and certainly a conversation starter at the range. One of the reasons I'm considering the trade is that I have another Luger, an LP08 which I'm holding on to. The going GB price for a Luger like mine is between $4000~5000.

The Colt, I'm still waiting to get a better look and check out the serial number. There are so many variables that control the value. I do know that factory engraved Colts have value, and aftermarket engraving is a crapshoot, depending on the quality of the work it can either increase the value or lower it. But if the gun is anything like I remember when I first saw it, I'll probably do the trade, assuming of course he also likes the Luger. So next week is the look and see. No commitments until then.

 

[silicosys4]

Luger.
Non factory engraving kills a lot of the market for that Colt, and that Luger sounds pretty nice and original .
Colt SAA guys by and large want their guns as near to factory original as possible, with the exception being 1st gens.
If the engraving/caliber/barrel length floats your boat more than the Luger, then sure,
Just realize a lot of the resale value and collectability of that Colt is gone and you are likely trading away half the value of your Luger.
You can sell your Luger on GB and get a nice, original SAA for $4000 that stands a lot better chance of keeping or increasing its value.

 

[Big_Al]

I'd go for the colt, never cared much for lugers.

 

[CDW4ME]

Old functional semi > SA revolver (especially if engraved)

 

[Targa]

I’m a revolver guy but I would be very hard pressed to give up the Luger. With a few exceptions, I am not a huge fan of engraved guns.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Unless engraver is internationally renown I'd say no way. If they are not renown then it add's nothing value wise unless you like scribbles. Taking them straight up They're literally 10's of thousands SA colt's around on the auction sites and secondhand. Military stamped luger not so much. To me it doesn't sound like a wise trade. But my opinion is just that worthless to anybody except me. I think you'd be trading away the better option.

 

[Mark_Mark]

The engraving is personal and you should like it. Like Flowers and Vine (nope) or cool deep scrolls (yes), Squirrels and deer (yes), old west landscaping (yes)

see what I’m saying, the engraving gotta touch your heart

P08 are COOL! but the question is… Shooter or Looker?

 

[Jimster]

Trade. I mean, don’t trade. Keep the Luger!!

 

[johnjohn]

I own no examples of either of those,but I would keep the Luger. Just saying.

 

[Jim Watson]

I can't be much help. I wish I had kept my Luger and my SAA is not engraved. (Not a trade out and in years apart.)

 

[CraigC]

The value of the Colt is wholly dependent on the details and we have virtually none. Pictures would be a huge help but if the Luger is worth $4-$5000, it's gonna be a tall order to value the Colt at that. May be as little as half that, or even less. If the gun was 90-100% and the engraving was factory or done by a known master, I'd say jump on it with both feet. However, if the engraving was poorly executed, it could be worthless.

Unless engraver is internationally renown I'd say no way. If they are not renown then it add's nothing value wise unless you like scribbles. Taking them straight up They're literally 10's of thousands SA colt's around on the auction sites and secondhand. Military stamped luger not so much. To me it doesn't sound like a wise trade. But my opinion is just that worthless to anybody except me. I think you'd be trading away the better option.

Tens of thousands??? You don't shop for Colt's much, do you? Search for "Colt SAA" on Gunbroker and you get 1600 listings. That includes all three generations going back to 1873 and a bunch of replicas.

 

[shafter]

I wouldn't make the trade. Keep the Luger.

 

[red rick]

My answer would be hell no . I am a Colt SAA fan , but IMO your P08 is harder to find . I would love to find one like yours in that time period of WWll , but I probably wouldn’t pay the price for it .

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

The value of the Colt is wholly dependent on the details and we have virtually none. Pictures would be a huge help but if the Luger is worth $4-$5000, it's gonna be a tall order to value the Colt at that. May be as little as half that, or even less. If the gun was 90-100% and the engraving was factory or done by a known master, I'd say jump on it with both feet. However, if the engraving was poorly executed, it could be worthless.



Tens of thousands??? You don't shop for Colt's much, do you? Search for "Colt SAA" on Gunbroker and you get 1600 listings. That includes all three generations going back to 1873 and a bunch of replicas.

Craig you of all people know gunbroker is a very small percentage of guns across the US up for sale. Come on man, get real. Also last gun show in little north Arkansas had more than 50 1st thru 3r SA Colt's all way over priced. Nope keep the Luger.

 

[AlexanderA]

I would keep the Luger, just on economic grounds if nothing else. The other party would get the best of this trade.

 

[CraigC]

Craig you of all people know gunbroker is a very small percentage of guns across the US up for sale. Come on man, get real. Also last gun show in little north Arkansas had more than 50 1st thru 3r SA Colt's all way over priced. Nope keep the Luger.

Not that small a fraction and that's a long way from "tens of thousands". Rarity is really irrelevant, if this is a question of value vs value.

 

[Dudemeister]

We'll I won't have anything more on the Colt until Tuesday, but here are a few shots of the P08

 

[derek45]

I would keep the Luger and buy a SAA clone

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Not that small a fraction and that's a long way from "tens of thousands". Rarity is really irrelevant, if this is a question of value vs value.

Craig as of 2022 the ATF states that there’s over 132,000 FFL dealers in the United States if even 8% of those have single action colt revolvers that is 10,000 easily. Easily. And from the perspective of rarity not having as much value as just a commercial commodity used by wallets I disagree the Luger is far more valuable rarer than the bloated over priced Colts first second third generation what have you

 

[Tall]

There is a big difference between values of a factory engraved Colt SAA and a non - factory one. I like the SAA and own many of them but I don't see this ending well. I say it depends a lot on the Colt - as of right now the Luger looks better.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Another vote for Luger.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’d like to qualify my previous response as a from the shooter’s perspective reply, meaning I don’t own what I won’t shoot. As to value of the Luger specifically, well that is a true crapshoot but without matching number magazines it’s not worth anything like GB Asking Prices (note the distinction from “what it’s worth”). A few examples from Simpson’s, perhaps the most notable Luger authority this side of the Pond.

Again specific markings affect “value” but if GB asking prices were as legit as real world worth then we wouldn’t see near the number of listings still available. BTW Simpson’s stocks more than 800 Lugers amongst their inventory and that’s a single FFL holder in one small Illinois town. This is not to say the trade would be a wash money wise, only that none of us can count on the comparison of a rubbish/ruined SAA vs a “rare” Luger. Neither is magical of itself, but one or the other may be well enough liked by a particular owner.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Another vote for Luger.

Keep the Luger and sell off the Glocks for a SAA!

btw… Once you own one SAA, you owned them all, what I mean is they are all the same