Posted: 3/4/2011 12:02:55 PM EDT
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First off, sorry, I no very little about Luger's, other than I want one. Went into the gun shop today and there was a boxed Luger, came with a cleaning kit, 3 magazines, and a box of shells. The case was like a small brief case and had a velvet fitted interior. The Luger itself appeared to be an old Luger, that has been re-finished, serial # was 725 and had wooden bottomed magazines that were also numbered with the serial number and 1,2,3. I think the barrel had 2 dates, 1918, and 1920. I assume this is some sort of re-build with new magazines, but am unsure. Can anyone tell me about this gun and value?
Thank you for your help. |
| It is what we call a double date Luger. It is really not a correct name as the 1920 is not a date but a property stamp. Under the Treaty of Versailles that was put in place at the end of WWI, Germany was required to mark their weapons with this 1920 property stamp. The Luger was made in 1918 by or DWM as indicated by the front toggle marking. It was made for and issued for the German Army during WWI. The markings will confirm this as accepted by the Army. It may or may not have Army unit markings on the front grip straps. Pictures always help especially of the markings. A refinish will run about $600 unless it was professionally restored where that might go as high as $1200 if all original parts. If it was refinished, you need to see if it was rust blued, or salt blued (hot salt blue). The flats should be flat (not wavy) and the rounds round. A simple refinish usually will have rounded edges which indicate a low cost and low value refinish. A professional restore will handle the contours correctly and the edges will be crisp (not overly sharp) ThisLuger should be rust blued with the proper small parts strawed and fire blued. The internal surfaces of the receiver forks,. magazine well, and top of the frame on the inside should all be in polished white steel. Muzzle should be in the white and the GESICHERT marking should be painted in with a tan/dirty white color. I restore Lugers for a living and have done around 300 since 2001. |