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Hey Guys,
My Dad was telling me he had a chance to buy a 1938 Browning Luger several years ago and passed on it. He was wondering what it's worth today?
Anyone mess with those that can give me a ballpark? He said it was mint in the box. Looked like it had never been fired. Just curious.
Thanks !! :thup:
As far as I know, friend, the Luger is about the one gun that Browning never did take a whack at building, either in the USA or through their affiliate plant in Belgium (FN).
Likely, what your Dad would have bee offered would have been a Browning PISTOL using the Luger CARTRIDGE, which would be the 9mm Para. The Browning model of the gun likely would have been GP or HP, often called the Hi-Power. They are a much-improved Colt/Browning semiauto pistol with a 13-shot magazine: the FIRST modern double-stack magazine in use. They came out in 1935 amd were built in large numbers by BOTH sides in World War Two.
One thing about those critters: they are REALLY nice. I think a new one (they are still in production) runs about a thousand bucks, but likely a wartime one, new in box, would command a substantial premium, especially if it were one of the early Canadian-made ones with the long-range rear sights.
Hope this helps.
.
My Dad insists it was a Luger and in a wooden box. The box said Luger and the gun said Browning. Maybe he is wrong, but he usually doesn't make mistakes where guns are concerned.
A34,
Did the gun that your dad was considering look like the first photo below-Luger. (P.08)
OR
Photo #2 Browning HP Model 1935.
David
Values depend on many variables...it is all based on the specific pistol.
NOTE;
The third photo shows a 1938 chamber dated code S/42 Mauser manufactured P.08 (Luger)
First one.
A34,
Because you don't have the gun it becomes impossible to respond to your question regarding value. eg. $600-$7,000 depending on what it was???
D.
I suspect the Browning marking on the box is what has created the confusion.
It would not be the first time that this has happened.
Browning had nothing to do with the manufacture of the Luger pistol.
As already pointed out above, Browning didn't make Lugers. The companies listed below made them. Perhaps he was mistaken on the make.
# DWM (Deutsche Waffen & Munitionsfabriken)-- Karlsrube, Germany
# Erfert, Royal Arsenal-- Erfert, Germany
# Spandau--Spandau, Germany
# Simpson & Company-- Suhl, Germany
# Mauser--Obendorf, Germany
# Krieghoff, H. Krieghoff Waffenfabrick-- Suhl, Germany
Several foreign companies were licensed to make Lugers:
# Vickers Ltd-- Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, England
# Waffenfabrick Bern-- Bern, Switzerland.
The only two Lugers dated 1938 would have been either a Mauser or Kreighoff, and neither would have had any connection to Browning. The Mauser could have either been military or commercial.