Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger - The Firearms Forum

pazzo · 12-26-2006, 09:23 PM

what's something like this worth?
and what would be the story on this Luger? it doesn't tell me much on it. is it even real? are there 'fake' Lugers??
thanks a lot

Light Coat · 12-26-2006, 11:44 PM

Luger is plenty good; can't see enough of the approval markings to tell you more than it being a DWM from 1914. Can't give you much "price" information without knowing if all of the parts are properly marked with the last two digits of the serial, that it is in its original chambering and that the blueing is original and not damaged on an unseen angle. A "shooter" quality Luger is about $600 here at this time. Magazine also counts as a "part" on a Luger and will have a serial. Holsters, cleaning tools, spare magazines (original ones), and things such as capture papers affect the value also.

wonderwhippet · 12-27-2006, 10:29 AM

From the looks of it, this Luger is more than "good," it appears to be in excellent condition. Yes, if all the numbers match and the bore is nice, the Luger is worth at least $1,000. If the magazine also matches, you can add another $300 or more to the value. A really nice piece with original finish.

As for the Colt, it's very common, not collectible, just a nice housegun worth
$200 or so.

pazzo · 12-27-2006, 03:44 PM

all the #'s match...
cool, so that's $1000 USD, which is... about $1150 CAD?? not bad i guess?

johnston3407 · 12-27-2006, 08:16 PM

What is the Winchester behind the Colt?

Light Coat · 12-27-2006, 09:00 PM

$600 is jsut a starting point like I said. Depending on the other factors; the price can well exceed $1000 on a Luger. I cannot tell if the finish is original or not from the computer and I tend to stay on the defensive as far as that relates. If you would take a picture of the small markings that are in a line on the reciever; likely crowns with letters beneath them, I can give you a very exact idea of the precise heritage of the Luger. DWM was a conglomerate which had several plant codes that will illuminate the exact maker and possibly a month of production.

pazzo · 12-28-2006, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnston3407

What is the Winchester behind the Colt?

Ithaca model 72

pazzo · 12-28-2006, 03:13 AM

i hope this helps... there's not really any other markings!

Light Coat · 12-28-2006, 10:23 PM

Produced in the first few months of 1914 at Bohler Stahl under DWM. Actually about a $1500 Luger. Double check the magazine; if it matches to a "T" you can add about $500 onto the book price. If insuring the pistol those are the numbers you need to pay close attention to. If you are in the selling market they are a good starting point to begin negotiations at.

pazzo · 12-29-2006, 01:02 AM

wow! thanks a lot for that valuable info.

Do you happen to know what model it is?

pazzo · 12-29-2006, 02:20 AM

it says in my Illustrated Directory of Guns (p.230 top), and referring to my gun, that "This .38 Special w/ a 4" barrel was made specially for the Railway Express Agency."
there's another pic on the bottom of p.229 showing what looks like the same gun, only where mine (p.230) says (read pic below) on the barrel, the other one (p.229) reads: Police Positive .38 Special.

so is mine actually a .38 special, or just a .38? the text in that article says that this Colt also came in a .38 Model. but when looking at the text referring to my gun, it says it's a .38 Special for the Railway Express Agency...

sorry for the confusion

Light Coat · 12-30-2006, 07:40 PM

Slipped up a bit on that explanation. It is made of Bohler Stahl at DWM. Bohler steel is a high grade weapons steel. Luger is just the standard model for WWI. It would be considered a model 1914 if someone wanted to be overly technical.

pazzo · 12-30-2006, 10:30 PM

thanks

12-26-2006, 09:23 PM	#1
pazzo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vacouver Posts: 33	Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger what's something like this worth? and what would be the story on this Luger? it doesn't tell me much on it. is it even real? are there 'fake' Lugers?? thanks a lot -->

12-26-2006, 11:44 PM	#2
Light Coat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Middle of Nowhere, KS Posts: 466	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger Luger is plenty good; can't see enough of the approval markings to tell you more than it being a DWM from 1914. Can't give you much "price" information without knowing if all of the parts are properly marked with the last two digits of the serial, that it is in its original chambering and that the blueing is original and not damaged on an unseen angle. A "shooter" quality Luger is about $600 here at this time. Magazine also counts as a "part" on a Luger and will have a serial. Holsters, cleaning tools, spare magazines (original ones), and things such as capture papers affect the value also.

12-27-2006, 10:29 AM	#3
wonderwhippet Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,584	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger From the looks of it, this Luger is more than "good," it appears to be in excellent condition. Yes, if all the numbers match and the bore is nice, the Luger is worth at least $1,000. If the magazine also matches, you can add another $300 or more to the value. A really nice piece with original finish. As for the Colt, it's very common, not collectible, just a nice housegun worth $200 or so.

12-27-2006, 03:44 PM	#4
pazzo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vacouver Posts: 33	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger all the #'s match... cool, so that's $1000 USD, which is... about $1150 CAD?? not bad i guess?

12-27-2006, 08:16 PM	#5
johnston3407 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Coast of Mississippi Posts: 592	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger What is the Winchester behind the Colt?

12-27-2006, 09:00 PM	#6
Light Coat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Middle of Nowhere, KS Posts: 466	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger $600 is jsut a starting point like I said. Depending on the other factors; the price can well exceed $1000 on a Luger. I cannot tell if the finish is original or not from the computer and I tend to stay on the defensive as far as that relates. If you would take a picture of the small markings that are in a line on the reciever; likely crowns with letters beneath them, I can give you a very exact idea of the precise heritage of the Luger. DWM was a conglomerate which had several plant codes that will illuminate the exact maker and possibly a month of production.

12-28-2006, 03:13 AM	#8
pazzo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vacouver Posts: 33	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger i hope this helps... there's not really any other markings!

12-28-2006, 10:23 PM	#9
Light Coat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Middle of Nowhere, KS Posts: 466	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger Produced in the first few months of 1914 at Bohler Stahl under DWM. Actually about a $1500 Luger. Double check the magazine; if it matches to a "T" you can add about $500 onto the book price. If insuring the pistol those are the numbers you need to pay close attention to. If you are in the selling market they are a good starting point to begin negotiations at.

12-29-2006, 01:02 AM	#10
pazzo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vacouver Posts: 33	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger wow! thanks a lot for that valuable info. Do you happen to know what model it is? Last edited by pazzo; 12-29-2006 at 01:24 AM..

12-29-2006, 02:20 AM	#11
pazzo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vacouver Posts: 33	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger it says in my Illustrated Directory of Guns (p.230 top), and referring to my gun, that "This .38 Special w/ a 4" barrel was made specially for the Railway Express Agency." there's another pic on the bottom of p.229 showing what looks like the same gun, only where mine (p.230) says (read pic below) on the barrel, the other one (p.229) reads: Police Positive .38 Special. so is mine actually a .38 special, or just a .38? the text in that article says that this Colt also came in a .38 Model. but when looking at the text referring to my gun, it says it's a .38 Special for the Railway Express Agency... sorry for the confusion

12-30-2006, 07:40 PM	#12
Light Coat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Middle of Nowhere, KS Posts: 466	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger Slipped up a bit on that explanation. It is made of Bohler Stahl at DWM. Bohler steel is a high grade weapons steel. Luger is just the standard model for WWI. It would be considered a model 1914 if someone wanted to be overly technical.

12-30-2006, 10:30 PM	#13
pazzo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vacouver Posts: 33	Re: Colt .38 special 'Police Positive' and Luger thanks