DWM LUGER question--value??

[Zathras]

I have an opportunity to purchase a DWM 1920 Luger..Its in very good condition, but has 2 mismatched parts . The magazine is matched. the guy wants 500.00 for it. I am wondering what this is worth with mismatched parts.
Maybe one of you professionals can give me an idea if its worth it--the grips on it are not original, but he does have the original grips and he will put them back on should I choose to buy it, and tells me they are in good shape. He had shot it once long ago and says its very accurate and works very well- thanks..its a 4 digit serial number.

 

[kozak6]

Isn't that nonsensically cheap for a Luger? Suspiciously cheap?

 

[Zathras]

that's what I am trying to find out....I know nothing about lugers...

 

[Classic12]

I am not a Luger specialist either, but although the photo quality is not great, I wonder if this gun has been refinished, it looks very black and dull, as if it was painted. All small parts are also black.

It’s a different model but here’s my 1923 Swiss Luger

 

[Zathras]

He informs me that the guy that he bought it from told him that it never been been refinished.

 

[Chipperman]

Sounds a little suspect but any functioning Luger is worth $500

 

[Zathras]

thanks...I know its difficult to say from the one pic , but I am trying to find the actual value...I will probably take it in any case...

 

[Chipperman]

Would need more pics with better lighting

 

[Jim Watson]

I am pretty sure a Luger of that vintage should have straw small parts; reblue.

But any working Luger is worth $500.

It IS working, isn't it? I would not take his word for what it did long ago, insist on a testfire.

 

[Zathras]

I know these are not great--but this is what he sent me

 

[Zathras]

and one more

 

[Zathras]

and he has shot it numerous times... and works well..The barrel number is matching to the frame as well as the magazine

 

[Ricklin]

I've not seen an original that didn't have the small parts straw colored. Safety lever for instance.
Still 500 is not much if it is functional.

 

[Zathras]

it also has an attachment to add a rifle stock..again I am no specialist on this, so I do not know if that is common or not...He just told me that

 

[Zathras]

pic

 

[Hal]

Those are really pretty grips.
FWIW - I'd pay $500 for it - working or not - provided it was possible to turn it into something functional for a reasonable amount.

 

[Jim Watson]

Looking better and better. I'd definitely pay $500 for it. After shooting it or with a money back guarantee.

Here is what Ian McCollum has to say about the "double date" Luger.

"One will sometimes encounter German WW1 arms – mostly Lugers and Kar98 carbines – that have two date stamps, one of them being 1920. What is the significance of this?

The crux of the matter is that the “1920” stamp is not a date, but rather a property mark. When the Treaty of Versailles was being enforced, it restricted the German military to just 100,000 men , and strictly limited the number and types of arms they were allowed to have. At the same time, strict civilian gun control was enforced in an attempt to remove the leftover military arms from the war from Germany. In total, nearly 5 million firearms were collected and destroyed between roughly 1919 and 1921.

The 1920 stamp on guns indicated formal (and legal) German military ownership of a particular weapon. This made it accountable to the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission (to the extent that they tabulated such things) and also made the gun easily identifiable if it were stolen from a military unit."

 

[Zathras]

So..is the consensus from here is its worth paying $500.00 for it...so would it be safe to assume its worth more that $500.00?? ..maybe 600.00-700.00 or something like that?

 

[jonnyc]

Yes. A complete, possibly functioning Luger for $500...what are you waiting for???

 

[Zathras]

And just for the record..IT IS functioning and fires well, according to the seller.