i went to a firearm auction today...came home with a remington 513t rimfire match rifle and a p08 luger (to keep my 06 company).

the lugers...and a bunch of broomhandles...came out of a deceased doctor's estate.

it seems the good doctor bought some of the lugers out of mel torme's estate.

the fellow setting next to me paid $7500 for a luger, then opened up shattick's book on lugers. there was a picture of that very luger (identified by serial number) when it belonged to the mel torme collection.

value, in that book, was placed at $25,000-35,000 for this particular luger...a rare model with round count indicator grips (less than 50 made).

who would have thunk it? mel torme...a gun nut?!?! i always liked mel. not for his singing so much, but for his laid back personality and sense of humor. now i think i like mel just a little more!

i doubt my luger was from mel's collection....as most of the ones identified as his were more pricey...but, you never know! heheh!

hehehehehe...who knows if you go to "Night Court", maybe just maybe Harry Anderson will let you off!

Mel is not my style, I have always been more of a Dave Brubeck "Take Five" kind of guy.

john,

 this auction also featured many colt saa revolvers. they ranged from the inexspensive to those that sold for $5000+.

 additionally, there were many fn built hi-powers on the block. i really wanted to snag one, but the prices were on the high side on my wallet.


 i cleaned up the luger. it still appears to be all matching except magazine. refinished over very light pitting on two areas of the frame. all other components look to be in good shape. the rifling is very worn...i wouldn't be surprised if this thing couldn't hit the wide side of a barn from the inside.

 i will have obershutze give me his opinion of it next time we are at the range.


 the remmington 513t appears to have seen little use. it is hardly worn, finish is near 95-96%. redfield 57 receiver micrometer sight is clean and true.

 after tearing the remmy apart to inspect the safety mechanism and adjust the trigger, i can see why folks prefer to collect winchesters. the winny 75 (the equivalent model in winchester's line) is a much better made rifle.

 i have another 513t on order from the cmp. i won't see that one for a few weeks!

i got the cheapie at $550. if nothing else, it's a fine speciman of a blaster grade long bbl. 08.

several fetched $800-1000 that were non-matching and had rougher finishes. i relly think i lucked out into this one, but i'll reserve judgement untill ober and a few on my more knowledgable german militaria collector friends can advise me better.

the broomhandles were awesome. other than a few fake/repop leather-wood rigs (to be expected nowadays), they were stunning and downright exspensive.

as i stated, hi-powers were fetching a buck more than what i thought they should be bringing...but after i watched 8 or 10 of them bring big bux...who knows? maybe fn hi-powers are suddenly worth $800-1000???

there were some real deals on low and mid-line bolt guns! brownings, in particular, were not carrying off the prices i thought they would. unless it was was a high grade bdl or senero...prices were downright flat to screaming BONUS! several guys carted off fine deer rifles with scope, sling and the box for under $300.

as a side note, winchesters brought their usual high value prices. whether beater or pristine, old or new, rare or common, the winchester name commanded the gavel.

colt pistols also seemed to bring their value with regularity.

fruit, have you tried adjusting your trigger?

after i pulled the wood off, i adjusted the trigger in 5 minutes and (listen to my blasphemy!!!) i actually think it's better than my winchester 75 triggers (did i just say that?!?!)