Seller’s Guide: Do Luger Pistols Hold Their Value?
Seller’s Guide: Do Luger Pistols Hold Their Value?
Do Luger Pistols Hold Their Value?
The Luger pistol is one of the most iconic pistols ever produced. Lugers in original condition hold there value and depending on the markings on the Luger the value could range from about $1000 to tens of thousands of dollars. Rare Luger models are prized by collectors. Many Lugers in the US were souvenirs or war trophies brought home to the States by returning GIs after WWII and WWI. Lugers with mismatched serial have less value than a Luger with all matching serial numbers. Determining the value of a Luger takes experience and knowledge, and we at Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com have extensive experience with rare as well as take-home Lugers from the war. We can help you identify and determine the value of your Luger pistol. Contact us to find out the value your Luger.
Why Luger Pistols Hold Their Value
The Luger was originally produced from 1900 through 1942, and these models are the most sought after and valuable. The Luger was one of first successful semi-automatic handguns in the early 20th century. The Luger was also the first handgun to be chambered in 9mm, though they have also been chambered in 30 Luger or 7.65x21mm. Luger pistols required hand fitting of parts and depending on when the pistols were manufactured show great workmanship. Lugers use a unique toggle action and have a distinct angled grip. Military Lugers built during WWII are not as nicely finished as commercial Lugers, but can still have a high value depending on the Luger variant.
Value Of WWI Lugers
The German Army adopted the Luger in 1908 as the Pistole 08 or P08. The P08 Luger has the distinction of being the first pistol chambered in 9mm. Military Lugers in WWI (1911-1914) were manufactured between 1914 and 1918. These military Lugers are recognizable as having a stock lug in the rear grip strap and were manufactured by DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken). DWM-made Lugers have the DWM initials roll marked on the top of the toggle. A DWM 1914 military Luger in 9mm with mis-matched serial numbers has an average value of $1,214. A DWM military Luger dated stamped 1914 and chambered in 9mm with all matching serial numbers has an average value of $1,425. The value increases for a DWM-produced military Luger with a 1915 stamp; chambered in 9mm and with all matching serial numbers has an average value of $1,800. Imperial unit markings increase the value of military Lugers. A DWM-produced Luger dated 1916 with imperial markings chambered in 9mm with all matching serial numbers has an average value of $1,551. Late manufacture DWM military Lugers dated 1918 in 9mm and with all matching serial numbers have an average value of $1,226. Military Lugers manufactured in 1918, toward the end of WWI, have an inferior finish compared to Lugers manufactured earlier in WWI.
Value Of Lugers From WWII
A number of manufacturers were contract by the German Military to produce P08 Lugers during WWII (1938-1945). Mauser was one of the manufacturers that built military P08 Lugers for the German Army. Mauser Lugers were manufactured with a 42 code markings; 42 was the code name given for Mauser by the German Military. The chamber area is marked with the full date of such as 1940 with the 42 code marking for the Mauser factory is located on the front toggle link. Lugers manufactured early in the war have a higher quality finish and typically have a higher value than Lugers manufacturers late in the war. A pre-war Mauser P08 Luger manufactured in 1937 with S/42 stamp and chambered in 9mm with a matching magazine has an average value of $3,026. As WWII started and the need for more Luger pistols grew, the quality of the pistol was less and the values reflect this. For example, a Mauser-built P08 Luger in 9mm, stamped and manufactured in 1938 has an average value of $2,025.
Mauser made Lugers after 1940 were marked “byf” on top of the toggle and are perhaps the most common Lugers encountered from WWII. A Mauser-made P08 Luger marked byf 41 in 9mm with three matching magazines and matching serial numbers has an average value of $1,375.
WWII P08 Black Widow Lugers
Starting in 1941 to decrease the cost, Mauser replaced the wood grip with black bakerlite grips and these Lugers are referred to as Black Widow Lugers. A Mauser P08 Black Widow Luger with byf 42 stamp in 9mm made in 1942 with matching serial numbers has an average value of $3,826. The same Mauser-built P08 Black Widow Luger with non-matching serial numbers has a value of $1,940. It can be difficult to determine a real Black Widow Luger from a fake one. Our team of experts at Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com are trained to determine the correct value of all Lugers made during WWII. We can help you identify and determine the value of your Luger pistol. Contact us to find out the value your Luger.
Commercial Lugers
While many Luger pistols were produced for military and police markets, Lugers were also produced for the commercial market. Commercial Lugers built in 1918 by DWM and chambered in 9mm have an average value of $1,127. Condition and caliber of commercial Lugers can drive the value. For example, a DWM Commercial Luger manufactured in 1920 and chambered in .30 Luger in excellent condition with all matching serial numbers has an average value of $1,742. Another example is a DWM Commercial Luger made in 1916 with the original holster and chambered in 7.65 Luger can have an average value of $1,451. Identifying Lugers can be complicated. We have extensive knowledge and expertise evaluating Lugers at Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com. Contact us today for an no obligation appraisal.
Types Of Luger Pistols
There are many variations of Luger pistols both commercial and military models. Here are some of the well known Luger models.
Navy Luger
The Navy Luger has a 5.9-inch barrel and two-position rear sight and was the side arm used by the German Navy in WWI and WWII.
Artillery Luger
The Artillery Luger has a 7.9-inch barrel and 8-position tangent rear sight. The Artillery Luger was used with a shoulder stock and a 32-round drum magazine commonly called a snail magazine since it resembled a snail. These Artillery pistols were issued to German Army artillerymen.
Swiss Lugers
The Swiss Military was the first to adopt the pistol in 1900 in the .30 Luger/7.65x21mm Parabellum caliber.
US Army Trials Luger
In 1907 the US Army test the Luger chambered in 45 Auto. About three of these US Trail Lugers were made and are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors. One of the US Trial Lugers sold at auction for $1,000,000 and it is referred to as the Million Dollar Luger.
Swiss Bern Lugers
A 1906/24 Bern Luger was manufactured in Switzerland at the BERN factory for the Swiss Armed Forces. The top of the chamber area is blank and the front toggle link is marked with the small Swiss cross over WAFFENFABRIK/BERN. The 1906/29 Swiss Bern Luger has a straight front grip strap.
Erfurt Arsenal Luger
Erfurt Arsenal markings include the year stamped on top of the chamber indicating date of manufacture and the crown logo over the ERFURT name on the front toggle link.
Krieghoff and Sohn Luger
A Luger manufactured by Krieghoff and Sohn have markings on the chamber area is stamped “1936” with the front toggle link marked with the C-1, 1936 pattern Krieghoff and Sohn anchor logo over KRIEGHOFF/SUHL.
Cross in Shield Luger
DWM manufacture markings for a Swiss military contract have the Cross in Shield crest on the chamber area and the DWM logo on the front toggle link.
American Eagle Luger
DWM manufactured the Model 1906 American Eagle Luger, which has a large American Eagle crest on the chamber area and the DWM logo on the front toggle link.
Cross in Sunburst Luger
Collectors refer to it as the Cross in Sunburst Luger, this pistol was manufactured by DWM specifically for the Swiss military contract. The top of the chamber is marked with the Swiss Cross in a sunburst and the DWM logo is on the front toggle link.
Contract Lugers
A Garde Nationale Republic of Portugal contract pistol manufactured by Mauser has the intertwined Portuguese GNR (Garde Nationale Republicane) logo with the Mauser banner logo on the front toggle link. A Luger manufactured on contract for the government of Persia has the Persian Lion stamped on the chamber area and the use of Farsi in place of most of the traditional markings. Other countries like Holland, Brazil, Bulgaria, Portugal, Russia and others adopted the Luger as their military sidearm and these are referred to a Brazilian Lugers, Dutch Lugers, Bulgarian Lugers, etc.
Interarms, Erma, and Stoeger Lugers
From the 1960s and 1980s Lugers were also produced by Mauser and imported into the US by Interarms. In the early 1990s both Stoeger and Aimco produced Lugers in the US. In 1991, Aimco Inc. from Houston, Texas, manufactured an all new remake of the original Luger design built in stainless steel and called the “American Eagle” that was marketed by Mitchell Arms. A few other manufacturers have copied the Luger design notably Erma which produced 22 LR, 32 ACP, and 380 ACP models that were imported into the US from 1964 thru 1968. Stoeger also offered a .22 LR Luger that were manufactured in the US. None of these pistols are currently manufactured and these Luger pistols have a much lower value compared to original Lugers.
When Were Lugers First Made?
Commercial production ramped up in 1900. The Luger was originally chambered in .30 Luger/7.65x21mm Parabellum and produced by DWM. In 1902 the Luger was chambered in a new caliber called 9x19mm Parabellum also known as 9mm Luger but it is better known as the 9mm, one of the most popular and widely used pistol cartridges used today.
Luger Serial Numbers and Luger Manufacturer Marks
The best way to identify a Luger is to check the serial number, manufacturer mark, and production year and proof symbols. These are three key pieces of information will help you identity a specific Luger model and variant. Contact Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com for expert advice on Lugers.
Luger Serial Numbers: Military Vs Commercial
Since there were numerous manufacturers, serial numbers were often repeated on pistols. Luger serial numbers are found on numerous locations on the pistols in some locations the full serial number is used and in other locations the last two digits of the full serial number is used. The location of the Luger serial numbers varies between military and commercial pistols. On military Army pistols produced from WWI thru WWII the full serial number is located on the front of the frame, under the barrel, and left side of the receiver. The breechblock, extractor, front toggle link, inside the grip panels, rear toggle link, sear bar, trigger side plate, take down lever, thumb safety lever, and trigger are all marked with the last two digits of the full serial number. Commercial Lugers as well as contract Luger pistols and Navy Luger pistols located the full serial number similar to military Army models, the exception are the parts containing the last two digits. Military serialization was not concerned with the aesthetics of the pistols, but on commercial models more care was taken. The last two digits of the full serial number on commercial models is located breechblock, front toggle link, grip safety, inside the grip panels, rear toggle link, side plate, take down lever, thumb safety lever, and trigger.
A pistol with matching serial numbers is more valuable than a pistol with non-matching serial numbers. Need help locating Luger serial numbers? Our team at Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com are experts on Lugers.
Luger Manufacturer Marks And Dates
The manufacturer’s roll mark is located at the top of the front toggle link and typically identifies the manufacturer. Many times the date of manufacture is located on the chamber area on top of the barrel.
Luger Proof Marks
Proof symbols on Luger pistols can be located on the top or the outer side of the frame. Proof marks were used by Luger manufacturers and vary widely. Imperial Navy, Imperial Army, Nazi Commercial, Early Nazi Military, Mid Nazi Military, Late Nazi Military all have unique proof marks. The list is extensive. Our team at Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com are experts at deciphering Luger proof marks and other markings on Lugers.
Luger Unit Markings
Unit markings indicate which units of the Army, Navy or Police received the pistol. These marking can be found in Roman and Arabic numerals and were stamped on the front grip strap of the pistol belonging to the Army. Naval pistols were marked on the backstrap of the grip above the stock lug. Many times an older pistol was reissued and original unit markings will be crossed out with an “X” and new unit marking are above or below. Police pistol unit marking appear on the front strap of the grip. Determining the value of a Luger takes experience and knowledge and we at Dunlap Gun Buyers cashmyguns.com have extensive experience with Lugers. Contact us to find out the value your Luger.