Interesting old fellow met. Has Luger <New info>

[Tri750]

UPDATE}}}}}}

So I met this good old guy, we're talking motorcycles, he sees a few boxes of ammo in my office and asks if I shoot.

He says if I know of anyone looking, he has a Luger that's been in his family he thinks he wants to sell. It's been passed down and he has no one to pass it to.

He still shoots it. Says he will send me some pictures.

He had a gun shop do a checkup on it and they wrote out an estimated value, this was in 2005.

Condition, they said is 85% with less than 10% straw whatever that means. Bore is near mint, some pinpoint rust.
The numbers all match except the magazine which is in poor condition.
It's a 1917 LP 08 Artillery. Ser. 2313c.(?)
At the time, they appraised it at 1950.00

This isn't an ad, just a post about what I ran across. I have no interest in buying it.

Here are a couple pics.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Nice looking gun.

[Rogerbutthead]

From another forum re:Strawing

Percentage of strawing remaining refers to several small parts that were heat treated to a gold (or straw) color. Most noteably these were the trigger, takedown lever, magazine release, thumb safety and the ejector. The strawing fades over time and with use, so the percentage of straw remaining is a key factor. Mauser stopped the strawing processing in late 1937, coincidental with the change in bluing practices, and all Lugers produced after that were not strawed.

Reference: http://www.lugerforum.com/FAQ.html

Nice Luger

[mj1]

Easy $2K

[pitfighter]

Easy $2K

Yes -

[ziconceo]

If I had the cash I'd be all over that! Put one of those stocks on it and you could shoot planes down with it lol

[Tri750]

Wow, no kidding.

Thx for the info on "straw"

[Garv]

Tell him to join up and sell it here!
Better than consignment.

[Tri750]

So, I know there is a sticky on this,
But if one buys a firearm this old, do you just do a bill of sale or something? Or fill out the 19.00 form and send it in ?

[pacrat]

So, I know there is a sticky on this,
But if one buys a firearm this old, do you just do a bill of sale or something? Or fill out the 19.00 form and send it in ?

Sadly No. That only works if the firearm was made prior to Jan 1, 1899. In which case it is not a firearm it is an antique.

Will also work if direct familial connection. Father to Son or Grandson. Same for Mom. No aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. though.

[Tri750]

Thanks!

[Tri750]

So it's in Fresno finally.
He'll be back this way in a few days.
I have his permission to fire it as he just enjoys it.
It's funny, the more I look at it, the more like it.
The final price is 1500.00 I have the money in my play money account but then my account is kaput.
I'll post some better pics later today.

[Syntax Error]

If it's all matching with correct trim for WW1 LP08 "Artillery" Lugers, then it was easily worth the $1,500. Post better pics when you can! These are beautiful guns.



Most of these were made by DWM, and most of them in the year 1917, but other makers like Gewehrfabrik Erfurt also made some Artillery Lugers too, but primarily, as the war progressed, Erfurt was tasked with making MG-08s.

[Tri750]

So I get the Luger here and it wouldn't set the firing pin when the action is worked.

I take it to a gunsmith who determines the firing pin is broken. He replaces the pin and saves the old serial numbered firing pin so the owner can possibly get it silver soldered. Shockingly, the gun is done in a week.

The question is, IF I go ahead and fire this thing as the owner has given me the OK to do, what ammo?

I'm sure only round nose, and I have some Freedom Muntions 147g factory reloads on hand and some WWW 115g.

Maybe just leave it alone?

[81turbota]

Wait, is this 9mm or .30 Luger? Beautiful pistol by the way.

If 9mm, I would only shoot it with factory 115gr loads. Winchester White Box seems to be a favorite with the Luger crowd. Avoid 147gr loads by all means, the lighter the load the better for this historic pistol.