1920 Mauser Luger 9mm value

[Raptor3000]

Hi guys, I don't know anything about Lugers, saw one at my LGS in consignment. I see the following markings on it:

1. It's printed 1920 on the top
2. Serial # 1509, looks like numbers match atleast externally , 5 inch barrel
3. Magazine has a proof marks with number 37 on it
4. it's 9mm


how can you tell a commercial one from military or police issue?

Asking price $2000.

Please advice, is it a fair price and is it a commercial or military or police gun

It's at turners outdoorsman so they don't let you take picture.

Thanks

[M1NM]

https://forum.lugerforum.com/

[SVT-40]

Hi guys, I don't know anything about Lugers, saw one at my LGS in consignment. I see the following markings on it:

1. It's printed 1920 on the top
2. Serial # 1509, looks like numbers match atleast externally , 5 inch barrel
3. Magazine has a proof marks with number 37 on it
4. if i can remember i saw BYF somewhere on the gun
5. It's 9mm

how can you tell a commercial one from military or police issue?

Asking price $2000.

Please advice, is it a fair price and is it a commercial or military or police gun

It's at turners outdoorsman so they don't let you take picture.

Thanks

If it's dated "1920" then there couldn't be "byf" stamped on it, as "byf" is Nazi era code for Mauser. Now I guess it could be some sort of WWII rework where parts were replaced and renumbered.

Bottom line is without good pic's it's impossible to figure out what it is, and any sort of value.

[Raptor3000]

There may not be byf on it, there was a BYF 44 P38 also next to the luger, I might have got confused.

[Raptor3000]

If it's dated "1920" then there couldn't be "byf" stamped on it, as "byf" is Nazi era code for Mauser. Now I guess it could be some sort of WWII rework where parts were replaced and renumbered.

Bottom line is without good pic's it's impossible to figure out what it is, and any sort of value.

You were right, it's a mix master gun

[Pofoo]

You were right, it's a mix master gun

I've changed my opinion on all original guns, after reading about M1's and M1 carbine's. It seems that it's very rare to find a real, all matching #s gun, because virtually all of them went through at least 1 rebuild, where alternitive parts were installed. So, mostly, a mix match may be more correct. Probably the same with Luger's.
So, do you want a shooter or collector?
Is this price ok for either one?
Average prices for 80-110 yr old Lugers are not going to go down. What seems high today, will be a bargin in future years.
$2k does seem a bit high, but I've not been pricing them recently either.

[SVT-40]

I've changed my opinion on all original guns, after reading about M1's and M1 carbine's. It seems that it's very rare to find a real, all matching #s gun, because virtually all of them went through at least 1 rebuild, where alternitive parts were installed. So, mostly, a mix match may be more correct. Probably the same with Luger's.
So, do you want a shooter or collector?
Is this price ok for either one?
Average prices for 80-110 yr old Lugers are not going to go down. What seems high today, will be a bargin in future years.
$2k does seem a bit high, but I've not been pricing them recently either.

Comparing a gun like a Garand which only has it's SN on the receiver. With a gun like a Luger or many other firearms which have their SN's on most of it's parts is unreasonable.

Many Lugers and other types of firearms also never went through any sort of rebuild. So no, "virtually all of them" didn't go through any sort of "rebuild".

A matching SN firearm will always be much more valuable than a mis-matching example, as will prices for an original versus a rebuilt firearm or modified firearm.

Import marked firearms will also be less valuable that firearms without import marks.

Mis-matched firearms will never be considered "more correct" than original matching un-modified versions.

[THBailey]

Don't know didley about Luger's, but if I was going to comparison shop I might look here:

https://simpsonltd.com/lugers/

[Pofoo]

Many pre WWII lugers were arsenal referbed during, and after, the war, and don't have matching #'s.
Does this make them incorrect? Is a east German police (vopo) gun not historic? If a ejector, spring, etc. failed and was replaced, does this make the gun incorrect?
Of course, a pristine original gun will always be worth more than most that have been fiddled with, that's why I asked in my original post if the guy was looking for a shooter or collector.
Remain calm.

[sonofeugene]

[1990Husky]

The Luger may be a mixmaster and the price is a bit high. However, if the P38 next to it is in good condition and a decent price, you should look at it.

[Yetiultimate]

With early Lugers, up to 14 parts can be numbered and this contributes greatly to their value. I have several that I shoot and I hand fit replacement firing pins to them because I don't want to break an original numbered part. Unless you can confirm this one is all matching and in good condition, an appropriate value is $1000-1200. If the condition is good and all numbers match, it's worth $1700ish. If it's a full rig with matching magazine and holster, it's worth $2000+

Be patient and stay out of gun stores if you want pistols like this. I find my best guns on forums. My most recent purchase was a combo-deal of a P-08 and a P-38, both matching but in only average condition for $1500 total.

[Spaffo]

The "1920" is probably to indicate the pistol is officially in the German allowed Treaty of Versailles inventory, not the date of manufacture. It's seen on other firearms as well, to differentiate them from guns that should have been turned-in.

[Supersapper]

Comparing a gun like a Garand which only has it's SN on the receiver. With a gun like a Luger or many other firearms which have their SN's on most of it's parts is unreasonable.

Many Lugers and other types of firearms also never went through any sort of rebuild. So no, "virtually all of them" didn't go through any sort of "rebuild".

A matching SN firearm will always be much more valuable than a mis-matching example, as will prices for an original versus a rebuilt firearm or modified firearm.

Import marked firearms will also be less valuable that firearms without import marks.

Mis-matched firearms will never be considered "more correct" than original matching un-modified versions.

Actually, that is not entirely true on a couple of counts. After WW2, there were quite a few Lugers that went through rebuilds from the Eastern Front war with Russia. Many of the Lugers were either damaged or suffered some sort of weathering that caused issues. Many were rebuilt from more than one. They are called "Vopo Reworks".

Also, one should look up the "cigarette carton gun" or "cigarette gun" referencing the P38. In the March timeframe of 1945, many legit AC45 P38s did not have matching serial numbers for a variety of reasons and are still considered collector's items and are considered correct for the period.