OK Gun You Guys

My friend has asked me what a German Luger in pretty good shape with matching numbers is worth?
Has an extra clip and pretty fair original holster

Mighta Wantad to Say "OK You Gun Guys"

I'm not a gun guy, but what does "matching numbers" mean?
Thanks.

kruser, look on Simpson's site. They are Luger guru's. There are so many variations it would be hard to give a price without more information.

There is a fairly well defined rating system that revolves around wear and % of original finish. There is no need to guess about the value. If the magazine and holster were issued with the pistol, the price goes up. The biggest variable is how much above the defined value a buyer is willing to pay.

On a luger, many of the major parts have the same serial number markings. Thus, if they all match it adds to the value.

If in good condition it could well be worth $1200-1500 if not more depending on known history. Last one I saw for sale was listed for $1295 but it was also new in the box. That is one gun I have always want but out of my price range big time

Any military arm that's been taken in for reconditioning may have mismatched serial numbers on the components.

They run parts in batches and don't worry about the numbers so much as having a functioning arm when done.

kruser: to be honest, trying to establish even a ballpark value without holding the gun is difficult at best. The Luger is such a collectible piece, and was made for so long and in so many variations that it's impossible put a good price on one without talking to a knowledgeable dealer, or, preferably, several. Anything in even reasonable shape with matching serial numbers is going to be worth several hundred dollars, and even minor differences in any of a dozen tiny details can move that price up by double, triple, or even more, with extras like the clip and holster, if authentic, pushing that up further, with truly rare and desirable ones commanding serious money indeed. Do your friend a favor and don't let the first person to wave a few hundred bucks under his nose walk off with it without at least letting a reputable dealer specializing in antique guns look it over. Even if he has no plans on selling it, he owes it to himself to know what it's worth for insurance purposes.

Not a luger, but I saw a 1917 broomstick mauser, good condition, with holster, listed in the want ads in my paper this morning. .He's asking $2500

For those that may not know, here's what a Luger looks like. Mine is only a .22, I bought it at least 50 years ago.

The biggest variable is the serial numbers. Second is the symbols on the weapon . The Swastika and others help with the dating. The German Army repaired everything. That's where the number mismatch comes in to play. Even the grips were numbered .Fined an expert. Well worth the effort.

Thanks Tim,
Thought you might be a good reference!

My friend also has some more old guns.

Well, it's like this, kruser--I know enough about Lugers to know I don't know enough to properly value one, especially without seeing it. As I said above, there's just SO many variations--much like other classic guns such as the Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker), or the Colt 1911, it's such an iconic firearm with such a long and varied history that it really takes an expert, not just in firearms, but who's specifically VERY well versed in that particular model, to give you an accurate answer. One of the most common misconceptions you'll see about Lugers is they're so closely linked with WW2 and the Nazis that many people's mental picture of them only encompasses that small part of their existence. In fact, they were made and used by dozens of different forces in many, many countries, for the better part of the last century, and, in fact, are still available new today if you've got deep enough pockets! The only reason I'm bringing that up as part of this discussion is that while it's entirely possible your friend does indeed have, as you put it in your original post, a "German Luger", there's plenty of other things he could have, even taking as a working assumption it is indeed both German and a Luger, any of which could make a considerable difference in the value.
For example, if you've got 6 minutes or so, the following link might be of interest. Note that the first thing Ian Mccollum (who's a world-renowned expert on old weaponry, and whose Youtube channel, with 350,000+ subscribers, is the first place I go when I find something I've never seen before) states is that he doesn't know enough about Lugers to properly evaluate them, which might give you some idea of the complexity of the subject! With that said, the two he shows are actually ones made for sale to the US, and even the one with rather iffy finish sold (the guns he's displaying are part of a collection being auctioned) for nearly $10,000, and the other went for over $14,000.
two recent lugers sold at auction

Just like Dad's and ours,
Except ours shoots 9mm Luger bullets!

Good advice from Jim950 and TimV.
I'd add look at GunBroker.com for some idea of auction results -- BUT, look for actual bids, not the DREAM prices some folks start their auctions.
In the local area, Simpson Ltd in Galesburg and Pekin Gun in Pekin should be pretty knowledgeable.
I'm curious on what else he might want to sell.

Best Wishes!
John

Prolly not going to sell - Just wanted to get an estimate of value for my friend.

"Matching Numbers" refers to the serial number of a gun. On many guns, especially military guns most of the major parts also have a "Matching serial Number" stamped on them as well. Thus "Matching Numbers".

A lot of military guns have been rebuilt out of a number of warn out guns taking the good parts from various guns to make one good gun out of many serial numbers. Those guns would not have "Matching Numbers"

I have one that my Dad's best buddy (Mike) gave him a couple hours before he died in France. Totally original, two matching magazine, one with rosewood, other with aluminum, Beautiful matching black dated holster, Belt with silver "Gott Mitt Uns" buckle. Provenence from my Dad with photos of the two of them together in chow line at the front, and me and Dad with it here at home. . Last offer from Cabela's Gun Library was 3500. That means they would put $5000 price on it. Do your home work.
But this one goes back to that GI's grandson for nothing. Well maybe a nice fishing trip to Texas,

Beautiful Lines, but not all that dependable in actual use...

your price jives with what I've seen at recent gun shows.

Actually they are a horrible pistol. Lots of trigger pre travel. About 6-7 lbs pull. FTF about 10%, Virtually no sight picture with the little v and the tiny blade. If I would have been a German soldier with one I would have dropped it on top of the first GI body I saw and grabbed his Colt.

Whatever else they are they are HIGHLY COLLECTABLE! My first wife's dad lived in El Paso, was a gun fanatic, served his country for over 20 years and had a filing cabinet full of fine guns. Among them was 2 Lugers, both with waffenmarks (spelling). It was late and we'd driven all day to get there, with no A/C. I drooled over his guns, and finally he showed me a S&W 25-5 in 45 Long Colt with 8 3/8" target barrel, target sights, target trigger, target grips, in the box. I had run out of superlatives like "great gun", "wow isn't that something", and I said "I've always wanted one of these."

Two days later we had left, were in the Davis mountains and Pam reached under the seat and handed me the S&W. I was floored. I said what's the idea, she said dad said you always wanted one of these, so here you are.
I was flabbergasted, and enjoyed the gun for years, but 20 years later I wish if I has said that about the luger would I own one?

Jim, a lot depends on what model it is and when it was manufactured. There are about 75 different models, in many different calibers made for almost as many different groups. And prices for them range, in good condition, from about $900 to $30,000, and up to $42,000 for a 1902 cartridge counter, NIB. So, it really needs to go to someone who really knows about them and has a good appraisal book.

This is the one my dad picked up in France and carried through the battle of the bulge and the rest of the war. Don?t know the money value knowing it was dads makes it priceless to me. He wore it as his side arm so it shows a lot of wear.

Broomhandle

I took my out today to put a few rounds through it. It shoots FMJ great but keyholes #2 alloy cast lead bullets at 25 yards. Love to shoot it but I guess I'll stick with FMJ bullets. Beautiful day. Right around 65*