Pimped Out Luger

[windjammer]

I saw a pimped out P-08 today. It belongs to my 82 yr old barber. He brought it back from WWII. It looks like the standard Luger other than it's Nickel plated. It's immaculate. Not a mark on it. Some parts are gold plated. The trigger, extractor and some other small parts. The grips appear to be hard rubber. Finely checkered, and black.

I don't know about Lugers. He has never fired it and doesn't care for handguns. Said he could never hit anything with a pistol. He said all anyone ever needs is a M1.

He keeps this in a safety deposit box and will give it to his son. It's not for sale.

On top of the gun it's marked byf. S/n 1159 with the # 59 on all small parts.

He doesn't have or know any history of the gun. He got his hands on it and the holster in Italy before being shipped home after the war. He also managed to bring home a German Dress Dagger.

Can anyone venture a guess what a pistol like this might be worth....?

 

[jlrhiner]

Ask him if you can shoot some pics of it and post them. Without seeing it, we would just be guessing.

 

[Peter J.]

All real historical/collector value is ruined. Its only value would be to strip it and refinish it into a shooter. Chrome lugers arn't worth more than $500-$600.

 

[swilli41]

I believe I'm correct in saying that no Lugers were nickel plated by any of the factories that made them. I'm sure your barber's Luger is nice looking, but I'll bet it would have a lot more collector value if it were as pristine as you say it is in its original condition. It's a war time Mauser made in either '41 or '42 and I'm guessing it would be worth $1500 if it were blue. I don't know how the nickel plating would affect its value.

 

[Racegunner]

It's possible it belonged to someone important or given to some officer as a gift if it is truly a WWII "bring-back." However, without any documentation it wouldn't mean much. I can't say the Europeans were into nickle and gold plating back in the late 30s. I say by '44 not many places in Europe were customizing guns, if it were done in 41 or 42 that might be believable. Ask him who he took it from. There might be a good story there.

 

[s&wchad]

 

[windjammer]

There is 42 stamped on the top ring of the receiver.......I didn't know what it meant.

 

[feralmerril]

I have read there never was a nickle or chrome factory ruger. HOWEVER I have to relate this story. Years ago I worked with a old boy who was in the canadian army durring the war. He has passed on quite awhile ago. He swore he had one and gave it to a relative. Was a interesting story, here it is. He said he and his squad had taken refuge in I think a german farmhouse. He was watching guard at a window and claims he caught a grenade in the mouth, knocking out his teeth! He flipped the grenade back out. The next morning they found a dead german officer near the window. He said the nickle or chrome luger was still wrapped in oiled paper, new and unfired in the krauts holster! I wouldnt stake my life on the verasity of him or his story, but yet I worked with him for close to 15 or 20 years as guards and never caught him in a lie.
That 42 is the year of manufactor. I had inherited one with holster and tools that was also dated 42. My uncle brought it back.

 

[Raider]

A nickel/chrome plated Luger has value only as a shooter. The wartime factorys never plated their guns. Value would be around $500-$600. Not worth restoring. A true presentation Luger would be engraved though there is one authenticated that was engraved and platinum plated.

 

[Bullet Bob]

For some reason it was very popular to nickle or chrome Luger "bring backs", see them relatively often.

Unlike some, I don't bemoan the loss, the original owner wanted to do it, it was his gun, hope he enjoyed it.

 

[sar4937]

I researching a wartime Sauer pistol for purchase I read that quite a few were pimped up for Officer's. The Nazi's spent alot on excess's, why wouldn't they nickel plate a Luger? Why Nickel plate Sauer's and not Lugers? While it most probably was nickel plated after the war, I think a high ranking Officer could probably get just about anything he desired. Sauer 38H pistols presented to Nazi officials often featured custom engraving, ivory grips, and often gold inlay as well. For example, in September 2004, the Rock Island Auction Company sold a Sauer 38H, serial number 363573, that belonged to Sepp Dietrich for $43,125.00.

 

[Stonecove]

Hi Jammer,
I am no Luger expert but the book Lugers at Random by Charles Kenyon Jr. describes all of the Lugers built.
Does your gun have a "Ku" after the serial number on the left side of the receiver? If it does, it was made in 1942 by Mauser for a military contract sale to the German Coastal Flying Service (Kustenfliegerstafflen). The book has a picture of serial number 1696Ku.Estimated total production: "very few"
If the KU is not present is is a 1934 Code byf, Commercial/ Contract made in 1942.
Luger used different codes for manufacturers so as to fool those who would need to know who actually built it. This variation had an "unknown, but very limited" number of guns made. Either way you have a fine piece of history. Too bad about the nickel plating.
Let me know and I can send you a scan of the book page if you like.
As for worth, you might check with the Luger Forum guys for advise on stripping and value.
Stonecove

 

[n4zov]

For all things Luger:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/index.php?s=

http://www.lugerforum.com/

 

[windjammer]

The Luger is not mine. It belongs to my barber. There is nothing after the S/N. It had to be plated in Europe.

My barber brought it home when leaving Italy at the wars end.

The gun looks as new.......Not a mark on it.

 

[s&wchad]

I'd love to see it too! See if he'll let you take some photos. Since it's not for sale, the value doesn't really matter.

Plated guns are way too common around Detroit because of the auto industry we once had. Back in the 1950's and 60's, the gun were cheap and the plating was compliments of GM. I'm sure it seemed like the thing to do at the time. Maybe this one was compliments of Fiat!

A friend picked up a bumper chromed nazi proofed Hi-Power in with a collection of guns about a year ago. I think he finally got $550 out of it and counted his blessings. It had wonderful original grips and the gun was pretty nice before it was dunked.

I sometimes regret passing on a chrome plated 1911 from the estate of the "Honorable Coleman A. Young, ex-mayor of the fair city of Detroit". It had a plated surface as smooth as a dirt road and homemade grips cut from a chunk of clear acrylic. There were 30 or 40 guns in the collection (all overpriced) and a local dealer was handling the sale. All guns came with the original registration card with the Mayors name on it. The 1911 was relatively inexpensive and it was so ugly it was great. I thought about putting it in a glass case with the registration card, a photo of "Hiz Honor" and a crown shaped air freshener!