Luger P08

[Fazan]

Hi. I am about to purchase a Luger P08. I already have a Browning HP prewar model and I use it mostly as a shooter. Never had a Luger and always wanted one. The one I have in mind is not in a perfect condition, because it is storred in a closet for about 3-4 years. Barrel has some brown rust inside. The owner says that it was in perfect condition earlier. The police took it away from him in 2003 and gave him a deadline to find a buyer. The year stamped on it is 1939, Mauser production matching numbers. The price is very good ( I almost could not belive it), 100 euros, because the owner wants to sell it very badly. If he does't do so, police department will take it away, keep it, and the pistol will be melted, because here in Serbia police destroys weapons otherwise. My question is - to buy or not?
HP that I own is good for shooting but has no other value since it has been chromed so I'm not too concerned about Luger's collectible value. The only problem is that I do not know what to look for in this piece (weaknes or perhaps some flaws that would cause malfunction during the shooting) since I have no expirience with them? It is complete with holster and two magazines but has not been cleaned for 4 years. What should I pay attention on? Some specific part or what? I had it in my hands but in the police station I did not had the time to dissasemble it
Thanks in advance and best regards from Sebia
Bojan

[Douglas Jr.]

Bojan,

Welcome to the forum.

Well, for 100 Euros even if the gun is not in firing condition you can sell its parts on EBay (or here in the forum) and collect much more than this. In my opinion, 100 Euros is a GREAT bargain. But if you intend to shoot it, you should take the gun to a gunsmith and let him tell you.

Douglas

[P08]

A complete and functional P08 at 100 Euro!?

Unless it's rusty it's a steal. Buy it!

[Fazan]

It is not rusty. It just has not been cleaned for a log time. there is some rust in the barrel but that's all. Some people told me that it will come of during the cleaning. Any idea on that? Owner says that the barrel is not like a new one but close. The gun was taken from him by the police although he had regular papers for it (he did not have papers for AK47 ), and he was given a deadline of 6 months to sell the P08. If he does not sell it it is going to be melted in steel factory. Some people from the police station did offer some more money but he does not want to sell to them. He is a friend of a friend and thats how I found out about this gun. He took the pistol to the gunsmith a few years ago and had it blued. The finish is still there but as I said there is some rust in the barrel. In the police station they did not let me to put it apart for closer inspection. Mechanism is working fine and smooth.
Regards
Bojan

[roughshooter]

Dear Sir,

Buy it now and worry about the mechanics latter ! 100 euros ! The grips are worth 50 euros if they are original wartime.

Regards Craig.

[MAS36]

you should buy it! Lugers are hard to find, you can always resell it later if you change your mind

get it before the police destroy it

[MikeW]

Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity

[Fazan]

Thank You all very much for the advice. Next week, I hope it will be in my hands.
Once again thanks because I had to choose between Crvena Zastava CZ99. CZ99 is brand new, never fired a bullet. Luger is in nice condition but not new. I usually fire 50-100 rounds a year, and having in mind that I already own Browning HP prewar model Luger is going to be the one. I think that I will enjoy every single shot fired from this piece of finest German weapon.
Best regards to all of You
Bojan

P.S forgot to say that CZ99 was free of charge, some sort of gift so to speak

[MikeW]

Thank You all very much for the advice. Next week, I hope it will be in my hands.
Once again thanks because I had to choose between Crvena Zastava CZ99. CZ99 is brand new, never fired a bullet. Luger is in nice condition but not new. I usually fire 50-100 rounds a year, and having in mind that I already own Browning HP prewar model Luger is going to be the one. I think that I will enjoy every single shot fired from this piece of finest German weapon.
Best regards to all of You
Bojan

P.S forgot to say that CZ99 was free of charge, some sort of gift so to speak

Are you saying you are limited to one pistol a year or something?

[Fazan]

No, there is no such limit but it is not that easy to get a permission and it is not cheap, if You have in mind low average paycheck in Serbia. And You have to get new permission for every piece. Also You can buy only up to 60 bullets for each piece of weapon. (this does not apply on shotguns). The law in Serbia is how to say... Poor? Or something... Forgot to say that getting of the permission for owning a gun depends on the mood of the police officer that is deciding who can get a gun and who can not.)
That is the reason I can not take both pistols. I will take the luger now. I can take cz99 In a few months or something like that but I don't think I will
Regards

[vitts]

You said you are looking for a pistol to shoot and do not care about it being a collector pistol. If that is all you want then as long as it shoots you have a very good deal going. An original luger mag. and grips are worth about $150-$200 in the US good luck with it frank v.