Price Check On A Luger

[Zek]

A buddy of mine is trying to sell a luger that he had received from his uncle in a will. Now I have tried to talk him into holding on to it, but he does not care about the gun at all. All the numbers match on the gun except the magazine. There is also a “42” stamp on the top of the gun that I did not take a picture of. Depending on what it is worth I will try to take it of his hands (for a fare price); but I myself do not know anything about lugers (in fact this is the first one I have ever held) can someone please let me know what the ball park of the price is. Thank you very much.

 

[NG VI]

Whatever you do get it from him or sell it to someone who will appreciate it.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Lugers...

are VERY collectible. Especially those with Nazi stampings. This one would appear to be a G. I. bring-back from WWII, making it all the more collectible. Lugers went through any number of models over the years, and of course each individual firearm is in a particular condition. The "42" is probably the year of manufacture.

Any additional equipment that came with the firearm (e. g. cleaning kit, holster, etc.) only adds to its value.

The pictured Luger is not pristine by any means, but its use in the war and its swastikas may more than make up for that. There are collectors who specialize in Nazi stuff.

So there simply isn't a "ball park value" for "just a Luger." Too many variables.

I would NOT just go to a book like Gun Traders' Guide. What I'm getting at is that you want an expert opinion, which you will probably have to pay someone to put in writing for you. You might even want a second opinion. Again, pay for it to be put on paper.

That, however, is the way to avoid hard feelings either way, when purchasing something like this from a friend, whose friendship you wish to retain.

 

[nwilliams]

A buddy of mine is trying to sell a luger that he had received from his uncle in a will. Now I have tried to talk him into holding on to it, but he does not care about the gun at all.

I have so much trouble contemplating this that its hard to put into words. I've been wanting a Luger for years and every one I see is priced far out of my budget range. Your buddy inherits a Luger with all matching numbers and doesn't want it!

Anyway I agree you should give him a fair price but don't forget to ask for the "buddy discount" after all he got the gun for free. I'm no expert on these but I know that many of the Lugers for sale on gunbroker.com and other places are pretty pricey. It will be interesting to see what people quote you on an asking price but I myself would probably start off at $600 and see if he bites. The real question is how much are you willing to give for it. If your buddy needs the money then he can certainly make a profit off this gun, however if he's just looking to get rid of it and would rather sell it to a friend for a good price then I would see how low his willing to let it go for. My guess is that the gun is probably worth upward of a $1K or more.

Good luck I hope you can acquire this little beauty and I'll be very jealous

 

[rklessdriver]

The "42" is a code for the MAUSER factory. The date of manufacture should be stamped into the upper reciver directly over the chamber (just behind the barrel and in foront of the bolt). The number of years that code was prouduced cover a pretty big span.

It is true that values vary a lot depending on condition, date of manufacure and many other things... but honestly "42's" are the MOST COMMON Lugers, (being war time guns and all), there were some where around 135,000 of them made. I have a few Lugers some more valuable than others and the 42's are the ones that I allow other people to handle and shoot...

A fair price would be $700-$1000 but as with everything they arn't making anymore real "Nazi" lugers these days... so typically they sell in the $850-$1200 range depending on the situation. If you can get if for under a thousand, you can certianly get your money back (and then some) at a gun show in short order...


**EDIT** After viewing your pics more carefully. It is really too bad that he allowed it to get pitted and rusted on the sharp edges, looks like it was in VG condition until that (blueing is a little thin on the barrel thou)... Depending on how bad that rust is in real life and what the pitting looks like after it is removed I would highly suggest you look to the low end of my price recommendations ($700-$850) unless you really want it that bad (I over paid for my first shooter too) then maybe $900.
Will

 

[Jim Watson]

Will is about right on value, from what I have read and heard this year.

My one book says that a 42 code gun would have been made by Mauser in 1940, maybe late 1939 or early 1941. But there should be a date over the chamber.

I do not understand the fascination of Americans with Nazi, nazi, nazi stuff. I think the Luger is a fascinating piece of machinery but I'd rather have a non Hitler model as an example. Unless Grandpa took it off a good German, of course.

 

[alamo]

V I think the Luger is a fascinating piece of machinery but I'd rather have a non Hitler model as an example. Unless Grandpa took it off a good German, of course.

From what I've read on posting from various forums, about 80% all Lugers brought back to this country were taken off dead German officers, all personally killed by the GI who took it from their cold, dead hands. The other 19.99% were taken off of dead German officers (not actually killed by the person who took the Luger) or captured German officers (still alive).

No Luger was ever taken from an enlisted German soldier.

That leaves 0.01% that were just picked up on the battlefield, or traded for or found at a captured German installation. Amazing statistics!

 

[Gordon]

Since the guy "don't care", start at $500. It's worth $700+ in that condition.

 

[Jim Watson]

"No Luger was ever taken from an enlisted German soldier."

By WW II the non-coms got P38s or something from a subjugated country like a Browning, Radom, etc., etc. Officers and the Luftwaffe got Lugers. Senior officers usually carried Walthers or such to not muss the cut of their uniform. I don't know if German enlisted got pistols at all.

 

[HisSoldier]

"I do not understand the fascination of Americans with Nazi, nazi, nazi stuff. I think the Luger is a fascinating piece of machinery but I'd rather have a non Hitler model as an example. Unless Grandpa took it off a good German, of course."

I feel the same way, my pastor said he wasn't interested in P08's because of the Nazi association, which to me is a stretch since the gun was accepted in 1908 and hitler was a child. But anything with a swastika on it,well, in this case I'd take it at a bargain price but that's just me. I have one made in the 70's though that is my pride and joy.