Estate Luger

[akriener]

Have the opportunity to purchase this fantastic and what appears to be complete Luger at an estate. I don't know much about these particular firearms and in the essence of time would like feedback. Thanks!
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[cobra-2001]

Nice early war luger and holster and clip and take down tool . Cliff

[akriener]

Nice early war luger and holster and clip and take down tool . Cliff

Thanks Cliff. The ask on this is $2,000.

[jack944]

Does the magazine match?

[akriener]

Does the magazine match?

Yes. I asked for the background and was told "I checked with my clients, and her father was a B 26 pilot during World War II for the Army Air Corps and flew 38 bomber missions over Germany. I don’t know if you saw pictures of a 1946 calendar we have in the sale, but it is from the German airbase he was stationed at. She said they housed war prisoners at the base and she thinks he got the German guns from them."

The father was at Schlessheim Army Air Base. His estate also has a calendar dated with that name and 1946 with a black and white photo of a B 26 on the front.

[jack944]

Yes. I asked for the background and was told "I checked with my clients, and her father was a B 26 pilot during World War II for the Army Air Corps and flew 38 bomber missions over Germany. I don’t know if you saw pictures of a 1946 calendar we have in the sale, but it is from the German airbase he was stationed at. She said they housed war prisoners at the base and she thinks he got the German guns from them."

The father was at Schlessheim Army Air Base. His estate also has a calendar dated with that name and 1946 with a black and white photo of a B 26 on the front.

Certainly worth 2k. At least get all the information on the Vet you can get. Get any pics of him with the gun if they have them..

[akriener]

Certainly worth 2k. At least get all the information on the Vet you can get. Get any pics of him with the gun if they have them..

Well it sounds like there's a lot of interest and if I commit to $2,000 I can have it. I'm in a position of I could but should I? That's more than I've ever spent for once piece and I know these big dollar items are expensive. But there is sound provenance to this and the family could probably write me up something. Is $2k on the high end? I don't want to rip them off but I explained to them that I'm not a dealer or a reseller and all items stay in my personal collection. And me buying a big dollar item limits what other items I can acquire to preserve.

A Luger hasn't been a must have for me because of the price points but more of a nice to have. One can reasonably assume they will continue to get more expensive, especially complete, untouched versions with holster.

There's also this Mauser HSc for $500, marked 655 & 135 with non-matching magazine. Waiting to hear the serial number and mark on the front of the grip.

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[phild]

Assuming the magazine does in fact match as do all other parts and the finish has no issues in places not shown in the photos, you would be looking at about 3500 FULL big dealer retail for that set. They move in that range every day. The pistol itself about 3000 plus 500 for holster and tool. Collector “buddy” price would be around 2800 plus or minus a few hundred.

The HSc also appears nice and would be hard to find for under 750 IMO and depending on serial number and other fine points might be more

[akriener]

Assuming the magazine does in fact match as do all other parts and the finish has no issues in places not shown in the photos, you would be looking at about 3500 FULL big dealer retail for that set. They move in that range every day. The pistol itself about 3000 plus 500 for holster and tool. Collector “buddy” price would be around 2800 plus or minus a few hundred.

The HSc also appears nice and would be hard to find for under 750 IMO and depending on serial number and other fine points might be more

Admittedly I don't know much about either. Were Lugers issued only to officers? Is there a way to determine what branch? I was reading the HSc would have an M marking on the front grip. Would something similar apply to the Luger?

[phild]

The eagle M marking along with a property number was only applied to German Navy procured weapons. These are fairly scarce for obvious reasons and there is no special markings used routinely by the other services. In 1940 maybe about 80+ % Lugers went to the Army and 20% to the Air Force. Most actual flyers used .32 cal pistols like the HSc. Officer’s mostly bought their own pistols which may or may not have been first procured by the military, many also owned more than one. Very many junior grade combat branch officers carried 9MM as did some field grade combat officers. 9mm including Lugers were primarily carried by combat personnel to include officers, NCOs and weapons crew (MG, tanks, artillery and crew guns type weapons. Also widely carried by paratroops. There is really no way to tell by looking at an individual example.

[akriener]

The eagle M marking along with a property number was only applied to German Navy procured weapons. These are fairly scarce for obvious reasons and there is no special markings used routinely by the other services. In 1940 maybe about 80+ % Lugers went to the Army and 20% to the Air Force. Most actual flyers used .32 cal pistols like the HSc. Officer’s mostly bought their own pistols which may or may not have been first procured by the military, many also owned more than one. Very many junior grade combat branch officers carried 9MM as did some field grade combat officers. 9mm including Lugers were primarily carried by combat personnel to include officers, NCOs and weapons crew (MG, tanks, artillery and crew guns type weapons. Also widely carried by paratroops. There is really no way to tell by looking at an individual example.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Overall, this sounds like a "good buy" at this price point with true provenance.

[Crusader17]

Well worth the price IMO.

[akriener]

Unfortunately only 1 of 2 magazines. I guess it's quite rare to find one with both magazines, let alone matching.

[phild]

The second matched mag will greatly increase the value of a high condition Luger and most any other pistol of that period and earlier. Those are usually the last to be offered when collections are sold and the chance of that second mag being separated from the pistol over the last 80 years is very high.

on second look I will say that the HSc has some condition drawbacks like corrosion on the finish and a chipped right grip. Maybe others of course. It is still worth the 500 IMO but those issues will keep value from ever approaching top dollar

[Gene]

How much would capture papers add?