Any Ideas on this Luger?
- Thread starter RN
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NIGHTLORD40K
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I'm sure there are some Luger specialty websites who can tell you all about it. Its a beauty though!
Thanks..I just searched and found a couple..
bannockburn
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RN
I'm an expert at absolutely nothing but I kind of think that your Luger has had the metal polished and reblued. Still very nice looking and appears to have all matching numbers on it. Please let us know what you find out about it if you do ask around about it on other forums.
I'm an expert at absolutely nothing but I kind of think that your Luger has had the metal polished and reblued. Still very nice looking and appears to have all matching numbers on it. Please let us know what you find out about it if you do ask around about it on other forums.
That pistol would fall into the shooter category as it has been reblued and parts nickled or chromed. As it is a pre WW1 pistol, I would never, ever, shoot +P because the metallurgy of the times is so inconsistent.
Still, it is a pretty pistol.
Still, it is a pretty pistol.
243winxb
Member
https://www.legacy-collectibles.com/stunning-1912-erfurt-luger.html Original mint gun , $ 3400.
But if made in the 1970's a lot less?? Some "collectibles " are not what the appear to be.
But if made in the 1970's a lot less?? Some "collectibles " are not what the appear to be.
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AlexanderA
Member
I would say that the refinish was badly done, with sharp edges rounded off in the polishing, etc. Also, that type of shiny bluing is nothing like the original. The refinishing caused a severe drop in the value. This was a situation where they should have left well enough alone.
You can't beat free.
If you were local, I would be interested in the pistol. I would have to examine it first, to see if there is pitting in the barrel and how tight things are. If I had been given the pistol, I would load up some light loads and go out and shoot it. And if it shot well, I would keep it. While all original guns are rare, free good guns are rarer.
entropy
Member
Were that it were original......but like Slamfire said, free is good!
Thanks guys...I posted this question over in another site. I let you know what the experts have to say.. I am just gonna sell it for whatever someone will give me for it but I will take their advice as to what thst is...
BTW..The gun is tight! I loaded up some soft 9’s and it shoots like a champ. Pretty Amazing really..I have no doubt it will shoot full power 9mm all day..
BTW..The gun is tight! I loaded up some soft 9’s and it shoots like a champ. Pretty Amazing really..I have no doubt it will shoot full power 9mm all day..
carsten1911
Member
No it won´t.
Besides the nerve-wrecking malfunctions you will invariably experience with todays 9*19mm it will wear pretty fast and probably shut down for good with modern days full power loads.
Do yourself a favor an stick to Luger-recommended handloads, it is better for the pistol and better for you.
Have fun and be safe.
Carsten
bannockburn
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RN
Since you got it for free you're already miles ahead of the game. If it were me I would hang on to it mainly because I have always wanted a Luger and since this one has been refinished I wouldn't worry about it's value every time I took it to the range.
Since you got it for free you're already miles ahead of the game. If it were me I would hang on to it mainly because I have always wanted a Luger and since this one has been refinished I wouldn't worry about it's value every time I took it to the range.
Jim Watson
Member
Pro:
An "Imperial Luger" looks like matching numbers.
Shoots "soft 9s" (Don't mess with success. Lugers do not need "hot loads.")
Con:
Buffed hard and hot tank reblued. Parts that were originally "straw" color from heat treatment have been either left in the white or plated with nickel or chrome.
Collector value is low, shooting fun is high. Free is good.
An "Imperial Luger" looks like matching numbers.
Shoots "soft 9s" (Don't mess with success. Lugers do not need "hot loads.")
Con:
Buffed hard and hot tank reblued. Parts that were originally "straw" color from heat treatment have been either left in the white or plated with nickel or chrome.
Collector value is low, shooting fun is high. Free is good.
I agree that this gun has zero collector value. In addition to the bad refinish, the stock lug has been ground off.
As a shooter, however, it’s worth more than you might expect. Lugers are cool, and there aren’t many available. “The Book” may say $400 but I say try and find one for that! If you’re willing to wait, someone will pay a premium to get it.
Also, I’ve found that my Luger doesn’t like mild loads. It won’t cycle Remington FMJ’s. A collector friend told me European ammo is loaded hotter. I use the mildest ammo that works.
As a shooter, however, it’s worth more than you might expect. Lugers are cool, and there aren’t many available. “The Book” may say $400 but I say try and find one for that! If you’re willing to wait, someone will pay a premium to get it.
Also, I’ve found that my Luger doesn’t like mild loads. It won’t cycle Remington FMJ’s. A collector friend told me European ammo is loaded hotter. I use the mildest ammo that works.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Even as a shooter, in Southwest Florida, that puppy would command $750-1000.
Around here, original finish, collector-grade 4" Lugers are running $1800-2500, with more for rare variants.
I vote keep it, shoot it, love it. You will kick yerself later if you sell it.
Around here, original finish, collector-grade 4" Lugers are running $1800-2500, with more for rare variants.
I vote keep it, shoot it, love it. You will kick yerself later if you sell it.
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22250Rem
Member
Looks like a 1912 Erfurt Luger that's been refinished and I'm no Luger expert but first thing I'd do with it is get it appraised by someone who knows Lugers. I have a 1916 Erfurt Luger that one of my late uncles brought home from Germany's V-2 Rocket factory in 1945 when Uncle Sam cleaned the place out. It's an all original matching numbers piece except for the magazine. IIRC the Erfurts from that era were more common and not finished as nicely as those made by others but they are just as good as to quality, reliability, and shootability. Here's what an all original WW- 1 era Erfurt looks like ( except for the new replacement magazine that was in it when the pictures were shot; have 2 old non-matching mags but the springs in both are a little weak; probably from sitting loaded for at least 45 years since the gun
was last shot until I inherited it).
was last shot until I inherited it).Hello and thanks for the question and pictures. As others have explained, it is a shame that "Bubba" got a hold of it. If it were in good shape and original condition, a 1912 Erfurt can sell for $1100 to $1600. That would increase with matching mags., holster, unit marks, etc. But as it is... well, it is an outstanding example of what not to do to a collectible firearm. If you want to see what it looked like before "Bubba" got to it, you can find some 1912 Erfurt's at the website for Simpson Ltd. Simpson is probably the biggest dealer in lugers and have a very good web site, but their prices also reflect a very devoted clientele and the need to pay for that fancy website. Congratulations on becoming a luger owner. As others have said, "free is good."
RecoilRob
Member
It was likely in pretty sad shape before being reblued....so even though the collector value might have been diminished the joy of shooting has been increased many fold. I have a 1916 Artillery that was refinished and has a mis-matched toggle...but it shoots great and I don't sweat when I take it out for a spin. Lugers can really be astoundingly great shooters and function well if the springs are fresh. If you don't know the history of the new to you gun, freshening all the springs could be a good investment especially if you plan to shoot it. Weak springs don't do anything good for function or longevity.
Oh....if you're mechanically inclined, you owe it to yourself to detail strip the gun down to bare frame. It's absolutely amazing how they're built and then throw in the era of production and the handwork that went into making one. Just astounding.
Oh....if you're mechanically inclined, you owe it to yourself to detail strip the gun down to bare frame. It's absolutely amazing how they're built and then throw in the era of production and the handwork that went into making one. Just astounding.
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