Vet bring-back Luger value

OneBarfly

OneBarfly

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I bought this over a dozen years ago right here and I have no idea of the current value. This is a Canadian officer vet bring-back. He was a published author, who documented the action where this was found by himself on someone who no longer had use for it.

I do not have any "war souvenir" government documentation; however, I have the Captain's signed book and personal letter to the previous buyer, as well as. It's OIC 12.x prohib, all matching except the mag, no rig or anything else was offered. It's in good to VG condition without pitting.

So, any idea what it's worth today? More in the USA perhaps (I know, marking requirments, etc., but...)
1940 dated "42 Code" Mauser Luger

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$650-$1000.

There are fewer and fewer 12-6 license holders every day.

That pistol would have to have the barrel swapped out, the original barrel would have to be turned in to the RCMP.

Your best option is to find someone with a 12-6 license, looking for one, who has a younger family member to gift it to under the 12-7 license regulation.
 
Thank you for your input and I'd would agree with that assessment, with the exception on value: that's more-or-less the value of an everyday Luger with no documented history. This pistol has ties directly to the Canadian Army Officer in WWII who recovered it, also personally documenting how it was acquired during battle. The book is also personally autographed to the original buyer who I acquired it from. If of interest, the Solider/Author's book is entitled: Gaudeamus Igitur : "Therefore Rejoice": The Campaigns of the Canadian Army in the Second World War by A. Donald McKay

Rebarrelling this piece of history would be worse than de-watting; however, both choices are equally terrible.


bearhunter said:
$650-$1000.

There are fewer and fewer 12-6 license holders every day.

That pistol would have to have the barrel swapped out, the original barrel would have to be turned in to the RCMP.

Your best option is to find someone with a 12-6 license, looking for one, who has a younger family member to gift it to under the 12-7 license regulation.
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FYI: Here's a better shot of one of the letters. I have other signed original documentation as well.

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Most 12.6 holders who want a Luger already have one (or two).

The issue is not what it is worth. It is what a 12.6 holder is willing to pay for another one.

I paid $450 for my last one, about a year ago. Only because the price was so good i could not say "no".

To me, the paperwork means almost nothing in extra value.

List it for $1,000 and see what offers you get.
 
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On the inside of one of the grips on mine (S-42, 1938) is scratched:

JULY 10 43 AVOLA SICILY

July 10th was the start of Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily.

Does that make it more valuable? I think it certainly makes it more interesting than a P'08 imported as surplus by Century Arms.
Many/most Lugers were bring-backs. Most have had their provenance lost, which is a shame.
 
The story is nice to have and worth preserving. I paid $750 not long ago for an excellent condition 1916 DWM bring back that's all matching less the mag like yours. I'm one of the lucky few with 12(7) access and would certainly choose your example with its preserved history over a one without. That said it's not a large market and if you're hoping to find a double in price (or quadruple like that genius with the SKY Beretta) I think you'll be disappointed.
 
Thank you, although we disagree on valuation and not because I paid more than the highest "estimate" here over 12 years ago and maybe I'm being biased, but if this assessment were accurate, I would sell this in the US where the market is larger. At day's end, it's what someone will pay if they want it I suppose. Might also try at auction then.

I appreciate the history of this pistol, particularly the Canadian aspect. How many times have you heard: "..if only that could talk, the stories it could tell". Well, I have the story and it's a good one that's documented.
 
Make sure you take into account auction fees if you are going that route. Buyers also have to pay a buyers premium and HST. Which raises the price to purchase 28% over a private sale. So about half the realized price is gone in fees and taxes
 
I am trying to make a deal for a 1941 Dated Luger that is numbers matching accept the magazine. Since it's owned by a gunsmith, I can have it rebarreled so I can have it transferred to me at least. He's still deciding if he wants to sell it and if so, what he wants for it.

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ArmedGinger said:
I am trying to make a deal for a 1941 Dated Luger that is numbers matching accept the magazine. Since it's owned by a gunsmith, I can have it rebarreled so I can have it transferred to me at least. He's still deciding if he wants to sell it and if so, what he wants for it.

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Why re-barrel a matching pistol when there are so many out there that are already re-barreled?
 
While letters and stories about captured Lugers are nice it is still not provenance without a full serial number attached, capture papers or bringback documentation is a form of provenance but in my opinion still does not enhance the value. Not trying to make light of authors paperwork at all. It is a fact simply put.

Value is like one of the posts alludes to---when buyer pays seller. all phrohibs are way down and it takes a pretty desirable pistol, luger or otherwise to have a buyer part with his cash. The USA market is flooded with Lugers, so be careful with that move.

History wise Unit designates better tell the story of where a firearm has been as it is a form of provenance to the use of the firearm itself.

Would be nice if we could all recoup initial costs of our phrohibs but sadly under the current regime, not going to happen.

Good luck with your sale.
 
While letters and stories about captured Lugers are nice it is still not provenance without a full serial number attached, capture papers or bringback documentation is a form of provenance but in my opinion still does not enhance the value. Not trying to make light of authors paperwork at all. It is a fact simply put
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a little story to provide some context on ‘bring backs’ … I absolutely know the provenance of two Lugers and P38 that my father brought home: he landed in Pachino, Sicily (first wave) as an infantry platoon comdr and briefly acting company comdr. Went through Sicily and Italy and then was advance party during Operation Goldflake travelled from Leghorn Italy to Marseilles then up to the Netherlands where his Battalion continued in action. When the war ended among the unit duties at cessation of hostilities was collecting weapons etc from surrendering German forces.

My father described to me nissan huts with rows of pistols stacked almost to the roof. As the unit was being ‘demobbed’ one of the unit LOB’s (a close friend of my fathers) arrived to accompany the Battalion back to Canada … (father stayed on with occupation forces) the friend saw the surrendered stores and said ‘.. you should grab a couple of these pistols … my father apparently said ‘what do I want with pistols’ … the answer was: ‘all sorts of guys back in Canada want to buy them!’ …. And that’s how 2 Lugers and a P38 eventually came back to Canada.

I imagine there were a lot of guys that got the same advice… and really didn’t ‘got it off a dead Jerry’. I remember one of the Lugers was a beautiful (too my young eyes) shiny polished jet black … grips and all … it was sold for $85.00 in 1962…. The P38 was a little cheaper. My son will be getting the remaining Luger now that he has his RPAL.

(a little post script … at one time father was stationed in Germany .. I was a child dependent…. And desperately wanted to buy a German ww2 helmet I had seen … the ‘old man’ was furious with me and explained how they had taken thousands of these helmets and used them as road bed material and crushed them into the ground with tanks and bulldozers … jeez!)
 
On May 8 2019 I sold this 1938 dated Luger with two matching magazines in a 1936 dated holster to a fellow in Calgary for $3,615 shipped. I had no idea who the vet was that brought it back.



I have a 1937 dated Luger in a 1937 dated holster with two matching magazines AND it was given to me by the Canadian vet that brought it back.
I have all the provenance that I need.







 
As mentioned in the other posting, I have other documentation, including signed letter(s) with serial number detail and more. The providence is hard to dispute and so is the story.

The fact that the story doesn't enhance the value in your eyes is fine, but not the reality for those who appreciate the history. Places like The Cody museum wouldn't get much business if that were otherwise

Imperial luger said:
While letters and stories about captured Lugers are nice it is still not provenance without a full serial number attached, capture papers or bringback documentation is a form of provenance but in my opinion still does not enhance the value. Not trying to make light of authors paperwork at all. It is a fact simply put.
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Ganderite said:
Most 12.6 holders who want a Luger already have one (or two).

The issue is not what it is worth. It is what a 12.6 holder is willing to pay for another one.

I paid $450 for my last one, about a year ago. Only because the price was so good i could not say "no".

To me, the paperwork means almost nothing in extra value.

List it for $1,000 and see what offers you get.
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Agreed. They are a lot easier to buy, providing you have a 12.6, then they are to sell. Papers or not.
 
Look at what guns like this bring at auction like Switzers (they list their realized prices) subtract 25% and list for that much. Given how much action the auctions are getting lately you might get more there anyway even after paying fees.

With no matching magazineS (!) it's not really worth a premium - only the guns with both matching magazines (and a potentially period holster, but those are harder to attribute) command a good price.

You are also unlikely to get more for a gun like this in the USA or Europe. "Buy the gun not the story" applies.
 
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