1917 DWM Artillery Luger

[army_inc]

I agree it looks OK from what we can see here . If I was buying this I would want a MUCH CLOSER look at it though . My concern would be a 98-99% untouched 1917 LP08 for $2,000????????? This thing looks almost mint !! You cannot buy a regular 1917 DWM 4" military in honest 98-99% for that . Is it like new inside ? It does have light grips like it should . Do they match ? I am always a skeptic as I am in the same area as one of the best " artists " and his fake 1916 navys are REALLY GOOD !!!!!! They showed up about 20 years ago and fool many to this day . I am not aware of this being done with LP08's but the point is that the ability to get the machining and bluing that close is definitely out there . Heck look at the stuff that has and is going on with Krieghoff"s !!!!!! Not going to blow whistles here but 2 of my past Krieghoffs that had issues and mis-matched mags are now 98-99% and one has THREE MATCHING MAGS !!!!!!!!!!! Musta been " re-issued " with a special holster . I hope my skepticism is un-founded and if so CONGRATS as it does indeed look minty from the pics . Dave

Interestingly enough, I bought it from a very well known (in Virginia) local gun dealer. It's original price was $3,500. Being the fact that they had 3 lugers there, I think someone found their Granddad's collection after he passed and sold them to the gun shop. After nobody bought it for $3,500, they reduced it to $2,795. Still no bites, they dropped it to $1,999.99. That's when I found it and bought it. They had another artillery luger there that was mis-matched numbers, and reblued for $1,200.00. I left that one alone because I wasn't looking for a mis-matched, reblued luger! They also have an American Eagle 1906 Luger for $2,499.00. I'd love to buy that one, but the Artillery Luger was screaming my name more and it was cheaper.
As far as the numbers. The Grips match the pistol. The bore of the barrel is in immaculate shape which almost made me think it was replaced. Everything looks right on the weapon though. There isn't a matching magazine, which really is no problem with me because I just really like the weapon. The insides look good and clean and the numbers match there too. I have a friend that owns a gun shop and he is going to take a look at it when he comes home from military duty. He was my roommate in Iraq and we talked guns all the time. He checked out my C96 when I got that and he was amazed with the condition of that one. I told him I picked this Artillery Luger at Green Tops (gun store) and he was amazed that I got a numbers matching original finish luger for 2 grand too! I sent him pictures and he thinks it hasn't been reblued, but is going to check it out after he comes home. I'm pretty excited about it and glad to know it wasn't reblued.

[GWA]

Army Inc. where in Virginia are you located?

[army_inc]

Army Inc. where in Virginia are you located?

In between Richmond and Newport News.

[GWA]

In between Richmond and Newport News.

Indian country! If you ever find your way over to the Valley, I'd be happy to show you my artilleries for comparison.

[army_inc]

What part of VA are you in? I wouldn't mind taking a motorcycle ride to where you are depending on where it is. I have family and friends in the valley

[GWA]

I'm in Shenandoah County...Mount Jackson, where the first Stonewall Brigade played.

[army_inc]

You're not far from my mother's house at all. I can definitely make a trip down your way pretty much any weekend! I've only met one other person from the WAF and that was in Florida.

[GWA]

Just give me a few days lead time. I'll be in Allentown next weekend.

[MikeP]

Pistol looks right as rain.
Value is a funny variable-sounds like the shop had wiggle room and simply wanted to move the piece.
Values keep climbing, but pockets do not often keep up with that.
There are lots of artilleries around, but I think the rarer pieces are easier to get more money for from advanced collectors.
I remember Lugers under $50 all day. Long ago and that was a lot of money then.
I would certainly hate to start out as a collector of Lugers today and expect to ever have an impressive collection, unless I had bottomless pockets.
$1500+ a crack adds up real fast.

[army_inc]

Yes. It does add up quickly. Thankfully I got my first luger for free (numbers matching double date erfurt luger rig) and then I got my C96 for $1200 which is also numbers matching with the stock. I'm pretty sure they had wiggle room too and wanted to move the pistol. From what I remembered the last time I looked at Artillery Lugers (which was a few years ago) 2 grand was a good price. I couldn't let this one go to someone else for that. I'm just glad it wasn't reblued and is "right as rain"