In seek of advice on potential pistol purchase

[Steyr Man 146]

AH I got the beretta 34 so I opt Sauer that is me though

[Aragorn243]

Serial number on the "post war" Sauer looks to be prior to the German military acceptance. What has me confused is the proofs are crown over N

I believe you are right on the Beretta's both are 1935's, I don't think this auction house knows much about guns. They do have both listed as 7.65 caliber. The first was manufactured in 1939. I can't find the proofs anywhere to confirm which branch used it and it just has the BP proof and proof house markings, not branch acceptance marks.

[Aragorn243]

Thank you all for your advice, I took much of it very seriously. I sadly report that I came home empty handed but not for reasons I initially expected. The prices were not extremely out of line, in fact one of them was probably a real bargain.

Some new information came to me the morning of the sale with the sales sheets and a further examination of the Walther PP.

The JP Sauer police issue was refinished, something that had not been disclosed prior to the sales sheet and was not something I picked up in my examination. For that reason I passed on it. It sold for $500.

The two Berettas were as suspected 1935's not 1934's and I already have a 1935 so I dropped them from my want list.

The Walther PP was probably the most interesting piece. I was wondering why this gun had no proof marks of any type on it. None, anywhere. I suspected commercial and wanted a second look and wanted to check the grip straps. Sure enough, this was a RFV pistol which are pretty rare. They are also somewhat out of my area of interest not being military. Police is one thing but bank security is another. In any case, I figured this would be way over my budget and it was although I actually had enough to cover it at $625. This was very likely a steal for whoever ended up with it but it's still a lot of money for someone with picky wants like I have that it did not meet.

That left me with high hopes for gun number 5, the military issue JP Sauer. And this of course had to sell for more than predicted and above my budget, also at $625.

The final JP Sauer was a commercial version that again, outside my area of interest. If it went low enough, I would have bid but it did not, $500.

The Italian Beretta sold for $450 and the German Beretta sold for $550, both maybe a bit high but not ridiculously so.

Other pieces that I did not inspect or really have interest in went for decent prices. A chromed Luger sold for $600 and a nice Russian capture Luger sold for $775 which are decent for shooter grade Lugers.

All in all, it seemed like the military arms sold for about the going rate which was pleasant as my usual experience is the Auction from Hell which generates idiotic 30-50% premiums over the going rate. The vast majority of guns sold sold on site. Only a few online bidders won auctions. There was a 10% buyers premium which was pushing the envelope a bit but I'll go back to this one.

[capt14k]

I would have grabbed the PP.

[martin08]

No pistols to take home. Sometimes, that is the way things go. The experience of the homework has value.

[Singer B]

Participated in an auction last month and these were the results for those who are watching milsurp prices:

1930 MN 81/30 serial #39xxx, all matching, refinished stock - $250

1922 7mm Spanish Mauser M1916 with type 1 sight, excellent condition (maybe too nice?), matching numbers except for the cocking piece and safety lever- $250

1930's Type 38 Arisaka 6.5mm, used condition with "kill" tallies on the stock, ground mum, all matching except the safety knob and magazine floor plate - $350

Most everything else went where I expected it including an early Hi-Power at $1000, a Colt Trooper Mark 3 at $850, a Mauser Luger at $1500, Remington 03-A3 at $750. The weird one was a SW MP-22 went for $1000 when you can buy them new for around $600?

[Aragorn243]

They had a Browning Hi-power at this auction I had no intention of getting involved with. It was $1000 before the auction even started. Sold for $1750.00

[martin08]

Some High Power pistols can be quite collectible.