All visible numbers match. Barrel is slightly pitted (corrosive primers in WWII) but shoots reliably if not target-pistol accurately. Finish appears to be completely original. From what I've been able to determine this was made in the Mauser Werke, most likely during or after April of 1939. Finely checkered walnut grips and wood base magazine place it in early to mid 1939 (plastic grips in late 1939). This has been in climate-controlled storage for at least 40 years, likely twice that. Time to part out my collection, interested in getting a fair price. I've looked online and am finding values all over the place, from $1200 to $4K. Anybody able to provide a solid assessment?
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1939 Luger P08 - What's it Worth?
- Thread starter IMR-4320
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Edit: Ignore my comment, everyone else has better advise and feedback.
Not to sound harsh, it’s selling value is what the market is willing to pay combined with your willingness to sell it at that price.
Try posting it for what you are willing to sell it for and if there’s no interest, reevaluate accordingly.
Not to sound harsh, it’s selling value is what the market is willing to pay combined with your willingness to sell it at that price.
Try posting it for what you are willing to sell it for and if there’s no interest, reevaluate accordingly.
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If it’s still active, ask your questions at the Luger forum.
Link? I can find more than a few...
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Oh, you mean THE Luger forum (facepalm). My brain took the weekend off...
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Note that its appearance is going to take a major ding to any collector. In the condition it's in it will be viewed as a shooter and appropriately priced as such. It is a buyer's market for the last few years so if you really want to move it, price accordingly, holster? PAX
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FYI, if you have a holster and it’s leather, do not store the gun in it. Long term storage in leather can promote rust.
USMC06RET
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This video might interest you:
the strike marks and proofs are strong. The edges are sharp. the toggle still has rolled edges. all points to it being original finish. The plum color bluing difference was known on those mauser lugers. Looks all numbers matching. The mags aren't matching. Gun should have a aluminum bottom blued mags. If they are otherwise legit mags, they are still worth few hundred bucks. forced matched. post war clones. or modified mags bring bottom dollar.
guessing it is 9mm and not 7.65 that late? with the finish and barrel erosion. this is be deemed a shooter gun.
guessing it is 9mm and not 7.65 that late? with the finish and barrel erosion. this is be deemed a shooter gun.
Yes, 9mm. Wooden base magazine is nickel plated (but with a good bit of rust pitting), appears to be appropriate age, and has a 4-digit serial number stamping that differs from the gun's number. Other magazines are clearly later production and lack identifying marks other than "MEXICO" stamped into aluminum base.
Given all that, spitball approximation on value?
TwoWheelsGonzo
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Matching magazines add a significant value to the price as they were often lost. Wood based magazines are WWI era approximately, later WWII should be aluminum based serialized mags like mindwreck said. Additionally yours is a later 1939 example, as Mauser was switching from the S/42 code to just 42.
Assuming that the rest of the pistol matches internally and depending on the finish wear (hard to tell from the pictures what is glare and what is wear), I would say you could probably get $1400-$2200 from the right person here. You may be able to get more on Gunbroker as the market is larger. Finish wear and pitting will have the most effect on value since it doesn’t have a matching mag or holster and I would say it fits more in the shooter category rather than the collectible category.
germandaggers.com is a great resource for learning about the markings and if they are correct for the year. Both lugerforums.com and lugerforum.com are good resources as well. There is a Forgotten Weapons youtube video as well that shows how to locate all the serial numbers.
Assuming that the rest of the pistol matches internally and depending on the finish wear (hard to tell from the pictures what is glare and what is wear), I would say you could probably get $1400-$2200 from the right person here. You may be able to get more on Gunbroker as the market is larger. Finish wear and pitting will have the most effect on value since it doesn’t have a matching mag or holster and I would say it fits more in the shooter category rather than the collectible category.
germandaggers.com is a great resource for learning about the markings and if they are correct for the year. Both lugerforums.com and lugerforum.com are good resources as well. There is a Forgotten Weapons youtube video as well that shows how to locate all the serial numbers.
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How much did you pay for it and when? That might be a good indicator of what someone else might pay for it now. As a buyer Id want to know how much the seller paid for what they are trying to sell. That will inform how much id be willing go pay. I dont really care what anyone else will pay. Thats for the seller to decide if they can get more than what i offer. Usually experienced and honest sellers will disclose this information up front and price accordingly.
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wood base mags were early century into ww1 and by the early 30s they were phased out for aluminum bases. $14-1800. market for Luger's is wild. shooter grade ones vary a lot. the mag helps your value even if its not matching. a legit mag is still worth a few 100 bucks.