true gun collectors - Artillery Luger

[id10t]

Local shop is selling a Arty Luger *with* hard to find snail drum. Also has a couple Pre-WWI pistols.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SellerAuctions.asp?User=797437

[AFJuvat]

That would be a nice addition to go with my P-38.

Hmm.....

[azasadny]

I have always like Lugers, they are very cool looking!

[id10t]

AFJuvat - shoudla seen the Baby Nambu he had until day before yesterday... absolutely mint, correct holster, cleaning rod, Tokyo Gas & Electric, and 4 rounds of that weird ammo.

[tabs]

How much is he asking for the Art. Luger in his shop. If the gun and Drum have not been reblued and is all MATCHING #s including the parts inside (firing pin etc) then it is well priced at say $3000 to $3500...The gun itself in 95%+ condition is worth $2500 and the drum is worth $1200 to $1500. If the Magazines have matching numbers to the gun thats a BIG +.

Two years ago I sold a 90%+ 1917 Art with orginal 1917 Dated Holster for $2495. I still have a 98% Red 9 Art with correct Holster and Board Stock Rig which is not numbered to the gun.

[tabs]

I personally don't consider WW2 Jap guns to be desirable. They are JUNK...The Arisaka Rifle is very simple and sturdy, until recently one could buy them for less than $200 anywhere. The onlty one that even remotley would be interesting for me to purchase would be a Sniper.

If one is inclined to get involved in collecting WW2 Jap guns then one needs to select early or prewar examples as the quality is MUCH better and to have the Mum INTACT. When the Japs surrendered they defaced the MUm over the chamber so as not to disgrace the Emperor.

I think a far better endevor in collecting would be to collect WW2 German Mauser 98Ks..they are a bit more, but its German quality. Just stay away from those with the importers marks on the barrels.

[id10t]

tabs - as far as we can tell, it is the real deal. not refinished, matching numbers everywhere except in one spot (under barrel but on frame, that serial is off by 100!). Don't think it was a replaced part, esp. since the other numbers on the frame are correct. Quite possibly an after liquid lunch mistake... Don't know if the snail drum is original to the gun but the 2 normal mags aren't - one is time period correct, the other is obvious aftermarket.

If you really want it, I'll tell him to cancel the auction and I can get with you to arrange perhaps a live video feed to look at it "in person". Or at least take more/better pics with my camera. Or heck, buy it for the $3k, you could "part" it out and make a profit.

[Joeaksa]

ID,

PLEASE do not start talking about parting it out!

Have a very good friend with a matching numbers version of this very same gun. Am in Berlin right now and we were looking at it recently. In original condition they are well worth saving and worth a buck or three as well.

Tabs, absolutely agree about the Jap WW2 stuff. Not worth the hassle as the quality is terrible in most cases. On the other hand the Germans did not know how to make a "throw away" gun (or anything for that matter) and their stuff is still in very good condition if taken care of.

JoeA

[id10t]

Joe - I know for a fact that one of the "normal" mags is fairly recent production aftermarket. The original period mag is numbered to a different gun (by a LOT), so separating the pistol from any of the mags wouldn't hurt the value necessarily - you'd still have a $2k+ pistol and a $1500 snail mag...


Edit - my offer to tabs for doing a live video feed inspection still stands, and I'll offer the same to any pelican who has serious interest in the gun.

[tabs]

Number on Magazine is no big deal..magazines come and go..just so long as it has a wood based mag its ok. Snail drum same thing doesn't matter if it matchs. nice if it all did but...

All numbers should match on the small parts the last 2 digits of main serial.. otherwise a mismatched gun is really knocked down in price.

Right now Art Lugers are not high prioity. Am after NM Garand, Springfield 1922, NRA Sporter, 1869 Trapdoor carbine etc.