Standard Luger re-barreled...... or Artillery Luger?

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nickh5173

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Good day Gents,

I'm torn..... I've been looking at purchasing your typical re-barreled German Luger because I'm not able to purchase prohibited firearms.
However, I've got a chance to purchase a P08 Long Luger, aka. Artillery Luger.

The obvious advantage being that I get to retain the original barrel/ all matching numbers. The only downside of course is the much higher price tag.

I've also seen the Swiss version and American Eagle version but I'm more interested in a war-time German version.

I'm looking for your personal opinion please.... Re-barreled German Luger or Artillery Luger??

Thanks!

Nick
 
I bought a rebarrelled Wartime one. Just because of the fact that it still has some evil spirits built in to the original parts........... ;) What is the ballpark price of the Artillery Luger? Mine was $1700ish for an original finish(very good) rebarrelled one. It works amazing and (although I have only put 150 rounds through it, it's as accurate as my Sig 250 and my NP29, Both made 80years or more later than the Luger.
 
Personally, I'd go the route of the artillery, but I like unique guns and that's one that's on my short list. 3k seems pretty fair if it's in nice shape.

If you decide to pass on it, please pass on the details as I'd certainly welcome a crack at it.

Cheers,
Armand
 
nickh5173 said:
Sgt.Rock,

Yes the going price for a Luger like yours is roughly $1000-2000 from what I have seen so far. The Artillery Luger is going to run me $3000
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To me the all original factor would be worth the extra $$$, however seeing as I can afford neither the rebarrel nor the original take that with a grain of salt.
:cheers:
 
I struggled with my decision on what kind of Luger to buy. In the end, I chose the one closest to the original design...(4" barrel) to try to replicate the superior ergonomics and balance. In the end, I feared that an Artillery would be too hard to hold and shoot well with one hand. BUT, If I had my time back, I may have very well went Artillery just to claim ALL ORIGINAL. That is , in it's own way, awesome. I'll always have an 80% gun, no matter what I do.
 
I have a fantastic condition 1936 p08 Luger that unfortunately had to be converted to non restricted, thus losing a big chunk of its history/value. Having said that, I do love shooting it, but if I had the chance at the time I would have paid extra and gone the artillery model if it was in equivalent shape.
 
I also had the same struggle - I ended up getting a re-barrelled one and am quite happy with it. My friend just recently got an artillery luger and it certainly does have a different feel to it. I think if you are wanting to have something similar to the short barrel regular P08 then I would go with the re-barrelled.

Or maybe just add both to the collection!
 
I have a regardless Po8. Although I would have preferred an original, I can enjoy shooting this one at the range without worrying about reducing value.

I have also had to make some significant part swaps to make it run well....again, not sure I would have put new parts in it if it were 100% original.
 
If you're asking the question now, chances are buying a rebarrelled one won't be enough to satisfyingly scratch the itch.

Buy once, cry once--and get what you want. An original artillery P08 will always hold its value; not so sure about one with a repro barrel.
 
BirdCity said:
If you're asking the question now, chances are buying a rebarrelled one won't be enough to satisfyingly scratch the itch.

Buy once, cry once--and get what you want. An original artillery P08 will always hold its value; not so sure about one with a repro barrel.
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As long as our laws prohibit the ownership of one without a repro barrel, I am comfortable saying it will hold its value as otherwise you will be unable to own a German issued Luger (other than the Navy or Arty variants).
 
Eaglelord17 said:
As long as our laws prohibit the ownership of one without a repro barrel, I am comfortable saying it will hold its value as otherwise you will be unable to own a German issued Luger (other than the Navy or Arty variants).
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You may very well be comfortable with it. As a collector of over 30 years, I've seen a lot of militaria with values destroyed by reproduction parts. I'm not at all comfortable saying intentionally replacing an original part with a "reproduction" (really re-manufactured, as a longer barrel does not reproduce an authentic one) will result in a piece that will hold its value, and I certainly wouldn't advise the OP that it was a prudent course of action if he's concerned with protecting the value of his investment.

A P08 with a "repro" barrel is not a German (or any other nationality) issued P08. It's a number of German (or other nationality) issued parts with an important part, the barrel, of more recent make of a dimension that an issued pistol would not have had.

There are still means of acquiring prohibited firearms such as an original P08, such as through 12(7). And though a slim chance, laws do change--when's the last time you registered a rifle?

As the OP wants a war-time German P08, he should purchase the original Artillery model that is available to him. Otherwise, he'll only be buying part of what he's looking for, and may at some point opt to spend a considerably higher sum in future to obtain what he truly desires, and is available to him now.
 
Agree about the LP08 - if you buy that one you'll never feel be need to replace it, if you buy the rebarelled one you might.

Now that said, if you're not hung up on an original German Luger and if (big if) you can find one, about a decade back Collectors Source sold a bunch of Finnish Lugers. These were SA marked 7.65mm M/23s which were rebarelled with Tikka made 120mm long 9mm barrels during the Continuation War. I haven't seen one for sale in years and would never sell mine but I actually like it more than my LP08.
 
Eaglelord17 said:
As long as our laws prohibit the ownership of one without a repro barrel, I am comfortable saying it will hold its value as otherwise you will be unable to own a German issued Luger (other than the Navy or Arty variants).
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This. As time marches on the pool of eligible 12.6 collectors shrinks which will ultimately reduced demand and value. I can't remember if the Luger qualifies as a class 12.7 but if it doesn't all Lugers will face one of two fates: being re-barreled to restricted or being destroyed.
OP if what you're after is an all original, German Lugar regardless of barrel length then by all means buy the artillery model. As noted it will certainly hold it's value. However if what you're looking for is the look and feel of the original 4 inch barrel Lugar then your only option, assuming you don't have a 12.6 PAL, is to get one that has been rebarreled.
 
BirdCity said:
You may very well be comfortable with it. As a collector of over 30 years, I've seen a lot of militaria with values destroyed by reproduction parts. I'm not at all comfortable saying intentionally replacing an original part with a "reproduction" (really re-manufactured, as a longer barrel does not reproduce an authentic one) will result in a piece that will hold its value, and I certainly wouldn't advise the OP that it was a prudent course of action if he's concerned with protecting the value of his investment.
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And I am curious as to what you think will protect the value of a P08 Luger? Deactivating it? Sending it to the smelter? Possibly 12.7 but for most the population that isn't option. In fact for all 12.6 Lugers, most the value has already been lost, due to the laws which really limit the market on who can buy them.

Basically the only way to own one if you don't have a 12.6 or a family member who has a 12.6 is a rebarreled one, or a deactivated one. I personally say a rebarreled one is better than deactivating one and most the shooting population would likely agree. There is a big difference between optional repro parts and being forced to do something due to the law.
 
Eaglelord17 said:
And I am curious as to what you think will protect the value of a P08 Luger? Deactivating it? Sending it to the smelter? Possibly 12.7 but for most the population that isn't option. In fact for all 12.6 Lugers, most the value has already been lost, due to the laws which really limit the market on who can buy them.
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Perhaps you don't have any skin in the game, so maybe you haven't had cause to follow P08 prices. A glance in the 12(x) section of the EE, or the pages of Canadian Access to Firearms will usually reward you with WTB ads for P08s. There is still very much an active collector's market for these pieces. My 1917 DWM P08 has tripled in value since I bought it in 1987; my 1942 byf has almost doubled in value since the 1990s.

Basically the only way to own one if you don't have a 12.6 or a family member who has a 12.6 is a rebarreled one, or a deactivated one.
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Or, purchase an Artillery model, which as I have stated I believe to be the OPs best course of action, if he wishes to acquire an as-issued German war-time P08.

I personally say a rebarreled one is better than deactivating one and most the shooting population would likely agree.
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I agree, I expect that would be the opinion of most of the shooting population. The point of view I'm representing is that of the collecting population, which would agree that leaving it in its historic configuration would be best.

There is a big difference between optional repro parts and being forced to do something due to the law.
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Entirely--and should the laws ever change such that original P08s are no longer prohibited, the difference is the value of those with re-manufactured barrels will be nil.

Further, no one is "forced" to modify historic pieces to comply with the law. I would like to have an FN/FAL in my collection; I don't have the license for it. But, I choose to not be responsible for encouraging the destruction of them by acquiring a deactivated one.
 
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