Any opinions on the general dollar value increase you would give to an otherwise fair condition (but original) WWII German pistol solely due to accompanying authentic bring-back papers? Does the type of pistol matter to you in that case?
Any opinions on the general dollar value increase you would give to an otherwise fair condition (but original) WWII German pistol solely due to accompanying authentic bring-back papers? Does the type of pistol matter to you in that case?
That is a question with a ton of variables. Plus it depends on your personal preferences.
As what I consider being a "low end" collector meaning I buy what I can afford which is generally low end, I'm not real likely to pay a whole lot extra for papers. I like having a functional example of a firearm, being mint, having papers, being a rare example are not high priorities for me.
All things being equal, say there were two pistols nearly identical, and one had no papers for $800 and one had papers for $900, I'd spring for the extra papers. But if they added 25% markup, I'd go for the $800 pistol. Some guys claim 25-40% markup for papers and to me, just not that important. 10%, sure.
As for type, it would have to be one I still needed. I won't buy a pistol just because it has papers to have the papers.
And for the record, I have nothing in my collection, firearm, bayonet or gear that has official papers. I have a couple of things from Desert Storm that have notes from the people who brought them back but that's it.
Last edited by Aragorn243; 02-24-2024 at 08:36 AM.
I bought a good conditioned Mauser P.38 which I would consider a $9-1,100 value. I gladly paid $1,250.
The son of the Veteran is a Catholic Priest and had no heirs to pass it down to. He provided a hand written note of his father's service record.
Nice piece...to think I was around that area, on duty just across the border. I could have walked into the armory and shaken hands with the originator. Most of our guys were retired by then.
Regards, Jim
I asked this same question a few years ago when I was negotiating the purchase of a Type 38 with the original bring-back papers pre-covid. The rifle was in ok shape, had an intact Mum and an original bayonet but would need restoration work. The general feedback I received was that the papers added about $100 in value. The seller wouldn't budget from $1000 and I wouldn't offer more than $750. The papers would have been a pretty cool addition if I had been able to swing the deal.
if they are original papers and not a copy , that means correct paper and live signatures ,it adds a fair amount in my eyes , just because a weapon does not have a import mark in no way guarantees it as a BB trophy , the papers do , allot of weapons were imported prior to 1968 before the new regulations on Serial numbers, importation regs among other things were added to firearm regulations , you could purchase surplus firearms from the back of magazines , Army Surplus chains for example , i purchased a Walther PP thats papered some 25-30 years ago i think i gave $500 but i cant swear to it with my memory these days , but i remember i paid over what the market value was for the pistol
add the fact the infrequency you see legit papers with the weapon anymore i would say the premium % added has to be greater than when i bought mine , the pieces themselves have increased in value/collectability , over time papers get lost , separated from the weapon from unknowing family members after death , house fires , floods , vermine , natural disasters , moving loss or damage , there are many factors that claim original papers over time making the surviving examples more rare or at least uncommon in turn adding value , think about it , in one year it will be 80 years since the end of WW2 , along time for a iece of paper to not only survive but remain with the piece it is documenting