Does anyone have any advice and tips about buying a Luger?
Decide, in advance, what is important, and in what order. And, as with any gun, buy the gun, not the story.
Get a good book on Lugers. I have a copy of the
Standard Catalog of Lugers, though I don't know if its still in print, its a very good reference, giving a lot of data on nearly all Lugers made.
You are looking for something in the WWII era, does that include pre-war Nazi guns?? I used to have a 1936 gun, marked as made for military contract.
It had been reblued (story was "during the war" ) and looked new. not all matching numbers. Price at the time (in the 90s) was $750. Had the same gun not been refinished it would have been $2200. Today, you're going to shell out more cash for the same thing.
So, decide what is acceptable, to you. I wanted a functional Luger, and thats what I got. f you want something with matching #parts a good finish, open your wallet. Really rare Lugers cost more than some cars.
Nazi Germany ended production of the P.08 in 1942. They were just "too expensive" to keep making.
Lugers are really cool, ionic history, and fun. If/when you do get one, NEVER put +p ammo in it.
