School me on the Luger

W

Webleymkv

New member
While I've always admired the Pistole Parabellum, I've always either not been able to afford one or the price was simply more than I was willing to pay at the time. However, I recently came upon what appears to be a rather nice specimen for a price that is within my budget. A local shop has a 1913 DWM P08 priced at $975. The gun is the standard Army model so it's a 4" barrel in 9mm.

While the gun appears to be quite nice, I am a bit hesitant because it seems like relatively minor variations can have a huge impact on the value of a Luger. So far as I can tell, the gun is in quite nice shape for its age with only modest bluing wear and the proper straw color on the small parts. All markings are crisp and other than overall good condition of the finish (though not perfect), I see no evidence that the gun has been refinished. The wood grips have nice checkering and no obvious cracks or chips but are a bit dark (likely from 100+ years of oil and dirt).

The magazine has a metal base and no serial number that I could find leading me to believe it may be a replacement. Every small part I could find which had a number on it was stamped with the last two digits of the serial number from the frame though I did not disassemble the pistol to look at internal parts.

So my question is what does TFL think? Is this a fair price for the specimen? I'm not necessarily looking for anything super collectible, just a nice example to add to my accumulation that I can take out and shoot once in a while. Are there any common problems or issues I should look out for?
 
An original, matching, PRE-WWI (Imperial Germany) Luger for $975 is a good deal. I'd buy it for sure. Lack of a matching magazine means nothing, 99% don't come that way.

The price is fair to both parties.
 
Sounds like a fair price if the bore is in good shape. Are there any import marks on it? Look in the groove where the shoulder stock would attach.
 
Sounds like a great shooter price even if some of the parts don't match, been refinished, etc., provided it's really a functional shooter and the bore is decent. You don't see a lot of Lugers priced less, most are quite a bit more.
 
$975 is a little high for a shooter, and quite low for a totally matched gun with original finish, which could easily go for $1500 or more. There are many parts marked with the last two digits of the serial number and those should all match to be considered a collectible. If it has a unit mark on the front grip strap that can add a few hundred to the price. If you can get some decent pics the guys over at luger.gunboards.com or lugerforum.com will be glad to help you with it.
 
As described, that P.08 sounds like a good deal.

I have a mixed numbers 1913 DWM P.08, a real mutt. The frame, 1913 receiver and toggle train come from different pistols as do many small parts. It really doesn't have much in common with the example you mentioned except it is all DWM with good parts that work reliably as unit. I have no idea who put it together but it's a good shooter, lots of fun. I've put thousands of rounds through it with only one part breakage, the big toggle pin at the rear.

It was an easy fix but of course a broken numbered part would be sad with a matching parts Luger so be aware that 100 year old steel isn't as strong as what came later. Some people avoid DWM shooters and go with the WWII Mausers with stronger steel. Nobody told me that back in 1975 so I've surely fired this Luger more than any other owner!

The only reason for this tale is to share my experience that DWM P.08s are strong pistols but sooner or later a part will break. You may want it appraised before shooting it much. The sites spacecoast mentioned would be very helpful.
 
It is pretty rare today to find even a so-so shooter for under $1000. I would say that a matching (except for the magazine) 1913 P.08 in good condition for $975 would be a very good price. The only thing I would watch out for is a refinish and it is not easy to describe in words what to look for in that area.

Jim
 
I searched for a long time before I bought a Luger. WWI seems to run a little less than WWII vintage, 9mm more than 30cal. The biggest driver in price is authenticity (matching) and condition. For me I wanted a shooter, but I wanted it to look good. I found a matching number (except for the new barrel and mag) that had been polished and re-blued. I paid $950 and was very happy about it. I have seen shooter grade guns going up to $1200. IMO collector grade guns start in the $2k range and sky is the limit. Guns under $900 are often mismatched and in poor to very poor condition, uncer $700 they may not be shootable.
 
I have 1 1916 DWM shooter (refinished, chip-out in left grip, non-matching mag) and paid $550 for it 4 years ago. I have had the ejector break but no other problems.

I also have an original finish, all matching, w/holster and capture papers S/42 my dad brought back from WWII. I don't shoot it after getting the DWM for fear of breaking a numbered part.
 
So I went back and looked at it closer today and I decided to let this one go. The left grip panel is cracked immediately under the safety lever and the sideplate lacks a number making me suspect that it may be a replacement. The real kicker though is that I looked closer down the bore and it didn't look all that great. It might look better after a good cleaning as there was a good bit of powder and copper fouling, but for almost $1K, it's not really a risk I'm willing to take.
 
A military gun would have a plainly numbered sideplate, so you are correct that it was a replacement. Often a small chip called the "million dollar chip" forms under the safety lever. These can often be repaired almost invisibly, and there are guys who specialize in doing that and in restoring grip panels.

Don't worry, you can find another shooter if you wish for somewhere in the $700-800 range. It may refinished, but no matter if it's a shooter. If you're really serious about getting a Luger, feel free to inquire at either of the two forums I mentioned earlier. Gunbroker also has a decent number of shooter Lugers come along.

I have three shooters - two 9mm WWI guns and one .30 cal. post-WWI commercial. All are fun to shoot and get noticed at the range.

Collectible Lugers are one of the most interesting and detailed areas of collecting (with no lack of hazards and misrepresentations either). There are lots of variations and lots of features to understand and check on guns to make sure they are right. Unfortunately not many records exist from the original manufacturers, so you have to depend on books and the knowledge of others who have looked at a lot of guns. Those forums are probably the best two around, particularly luger.gunboards.com. Some of the foremost Luger experts around post there regularly.
 
Last edited:
The Luger gunboards is a great place to find a shooter. That is where I found mine. Be patient and one will present itself.
 
Does anyone make a gun that looks like, or at least resembles, a Luger in a centerfire ammo?

I've seen the 22s that look like them, but I'd want a 9mm ideally.
 
Does anyone make a gun that looks like, or at least resembles, a Luger in a centerfire ammo?
Click to expand...

I've heard it would be too expensive to make a reliable clone with the hand-fitting and tolerances required. The P08 is complex to manufacture.

Also the demand would be pretty poor outside of collectors/enthusiasts.
 
Originally posted by mkiker2089
Does anyone make a gun that looks like, or at least resembles, a Luger in a centerfire ammo?

I've seen the 22s that look like them, but I'd want a 9mm ideally.
Click to expand...

There have been a few companies to make new ones over the years, but the design is such that even newly made ones usually sell for the same or more than a shooter-grade original. Erma did make a "Baby Luger" in .380 of which I've seen examples in the <$500 range, but from what I've read these guns have poor reputations for both reliability and parts breakage.
 
Mauser Parabellums made during the 1970s and imported by Interarms provide an interesting alternative to "original" Lugers. Other than being made after World War II, the Mausers were made by an original Luger manufacturer, using original tooling from the 1929 Swiss model Lugers, and were very well made. The Mausers do have a grip safety and most have the straight Swiss grip, although some later models have the P08 grip. NIB examples often still sell for $1,000-$1,200 on the gun auction sites, with little differentiation between 4" or 6" models and Swiss or P08 grips.
 
Interarms and Mauser took cold baths on those postwar Lugers; I doubt anyone else is about to repeat the performance. It was a perfect example of folks who told market surveys one story, but who felt differently when it came time to put up cold cash. As soon as a new Luger was available, Luger fans decided the new guns had no "hisotrical" value and the enthusiasm cooled off.

The Luger is an interesting, but obsolete, pistol which could not be made today for less than the old guns are selling for, and new guns will have no interest as long as the old ones are available.

Jim
 
I have a stainless steel Luger, 9mm, made in Texas, and sold by Stoeger. The gun is a P.08 (Parabellum) copy. The gun is very well made.

A Luger collector would probably have little interest, but I bought mine so I could shoot a Luger, without putting my 1936 s/42 at risk.

When I got mine they were going for $1000. Last one I saw was a Navy model (6", mine is the 4") and the asking price was $1600.

A shooter grade Luger for less than $1000 is a fair deal these days, sadly. Your matching # gun (except for the mag) with a NRA Good condition finish is a bargain for under $1000, and usually runs much more than that.
 
I've got an alt-Luger, the .32acp/7.65mm ERMA KGP68A.
Basically its a shootable Luger-lookalike that some intrepid gun company could copy & make a fortune ;)

Unlike the .22lr's, its all steel construction made it more reliable,
however, a spare extractor is highly suggested, as in, if you buy one in good condition,
immediately remove the extractor & have a G-smith make you a spare or two...
of course, that's good advice for any older weapon out of production...
same issue with S&W 3rd Gens or Star Firestars...have a spare extractor...

Anyway, I've got around 3K rounds through mine, hates the 73-grain stuff,
loves everything smaller.

Plus, when you take it to the range, EVERYONE wants to look it over :)
 
Last edited:
I get that the demand for new lugers is low because of the old ones. What I don't really get is why they can make them in 22lr and still sell them but not in any other ammo.

Also, is there anything in a higher caliber that looks "different" like a luger. By that I mean a p38, p1 or any gun that has the barrel long, thin, and distinct from the frame.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top