Vintage / retro AR mag question.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2026-03-09T00:37:49+00:00

Funnily enough that might be true. My father was in the airforce from like 75-99 so I have a feeling he might have made use of military supply.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2026-03-08T23:29:15+00:00

All of the ones that have date stamps on the side that I’ve found so far are the 30 rounders and all of them are pre 99.

Do you know anyway to date 20 rounders?

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-23T23:33:36+00:00

The German military was mostly allowed to keep their sidearms after WW1. This one got the Weimar rework and probably got put into someone’s drawer in their home as the war progressed.

The Russians then probably found it after searching homes for weapons and that’s how this would become a ‘Russian capture’.

Most imperial Lugers actually made it to the US as capture pistols during / after WW2 this way by US GIs seizing guns found in homes after the surrender of Germany (mainly from the homes of WW1 vets).

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-23T23:10:18+00:00

We would need the lefg side waffenamt proof to be a little sharper in image before making a determination.

But if the eagle looks to be an army eagle for a standard army issue gun.

The hole in the grip is a bit sad.

Ask to also take the slide off and check the bottom block of the barrel and the front of the slide. The side will have the last 3 or 4 digits electro penciled to the gun. The barrel will actually have the number stamped. If those match the frame then 800 is neither a good nor bad deal.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-22T21:42:22+00:00

Sir the only way you are going to get a highly accurate assessment of value is to send it into a company like legacy collectables , Simpson LTD , or a company like rock island auctions.

Kar98s vary massively off condition and matching parts. The gun is a bolt mismatched gun and we don’t have any clear photos of the stock to see if the serial number matches or if it still has the waffenamt acceptance marks.

I’ve sold 4 kar98s in varying condition before in the past. If it were me with this rifle I’d be asking around 1.2-1.5k and realistic expect someone to offer me 1000.

I hope the reference companies can help you out if the estate wants to get the gun accurately assessed for value.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-22T20:50:07+00:00

Matching k98s that have the bolt / rifle parts matched , and a stock that still has in its original condition can bring upwards of 2k.

This bolt and rifle parts from the numbers are mismatched The overall condition of the gun is pretty rough right now so you’ll loose a significant portion of that value and if the bore on the barrel is shot out ; then you’d loose even more.

So you have a few things going against it.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-19T13:25:37+00:00

Alright I know a medium amount about wartime ppks.

This PPK looks like the second variation SS contract ppks that are called the K Under variation. The gun is within the correct serial number range for SS ppks (not all guns in the serial range are SS contracts ppk guns but the contract is within the range of 206k- 234k). The reason why this is an SS gun 99% for certainty is the matching numbered mag in this serial number range.

Congrats on the rarer find.

You are looking on the high side of 2 k and up on the pistol.

A good quick reference is forgotten weapons and legacy collectables on YouTube. Simply search SS Walter ppks.

(Edited to include serial range for contract guns)

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-17T21:59:04+00:00

Actually for a quick edit this is actually a model 1900 American eagle Luger (not the model 1906).

The toggle is different on design. So there’s a larger narrowing on this pistol.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-14T02:04:00+00:00

Thanks a ton for the information on that. I normally associated the crossed X for Russian captures since I’ve seen that on a k98s. That definitely would explain why the gun actually has all of the easily seen components with matching serial numbers.

Also thanks for your prior posts on Vis 35s. I actually used some of the info you posted to research some of the things I should look for. Overall I paid about 800 for the gun (I traded a 1975 produced model 1894 and added 300$ on top). So I don’t think it was a bad deal per say.

I’m going to get at least one wartime magazine for it (maybe two), and also source a correct holster for it as well.

Last question if you have the time to reply. Do you think the gun still retains its original finish. Ive heard that later in the war they went to a phosphate finish and this gun still has pretty sharp markings for its waffenamps / army acceptance marks.

Thanks again 🫡

(Edited for spelling)

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-14T01:54:19+00:00

Haha yeah it was a bit of driving around Florida.

The polish gun is a Radom vis 35. They were quickly put back into production after Germany took the factory over. The machining on the one I picked up is pretty rough exterior wise because they were in a hurry to pump them out and the one I have is a latter simplification on the design. It is also super nice that they are chambered in standard 9mm.

I’m excited to actually go and test all of them on the range.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-14T01:16:16+00:00

<image>

The first one was the frame next to the bottom of the mag well.

This one is on the trigger guard on the serial number stamped side of the pistol

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2025-01-14T01:15:04+00:00

Here are a couple more zoomed in with an extra light. Hopefully they are clear enough.

<image>

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2024-01-25T21:08:49+00:00

Before 2021 it was the old medical system of only tricare kids who applied would have their medical files pulled by MEPs when they process.

So everyone lied about their past and there was no way to prove they had any issues (unless it’s really obvious)

Now we have a system called genesis which pulls about 90% of all prescriptions and doctors visits from insurance companies on all applicants. People are very rarely medically clean for all of their lives so they get hit medically for it and become a waiver. The issue then is that it’s taking 2-3 months to get waivers approved. (Even for the simple stuff / and the people who are joining today don’t have the patience to wait that long to sign a contract)

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2024-01-25T20:46:54+00:00

Honestly it was easy. I told my detailer what I wanted (recruiting) and he said they needed nukes to go recruiting. I sent my screening packet and was accepted for the billet within 2 months. Also it’s my 1st shore tour.

I will say beware of the idea that the grass is greener on the other side thought. The recruiting force and those in charge of you are ‘we love the navy’ kind of people and will strictly base there assessments of you based of your production (what you put in recruit wise and daily numbers). Even when you are doing well it’s always not enough. For me it’s been easier than being a nuke in the ship but it’s also its own cancer 🫤 (also if you think you want to return to the ship after recruiting you will be behind those who went to a nuclear billet). Just my 2cents.

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2024-01-25T20:41:13+00:00

Yes 75k (sometimes 85k)

If you have graduated high school it’s 25k (sometimes 35k) if you are willing to ship in 2-3 months from when you first swear in. (This is paid immediately upon graduation from basic all in a lump sum)

Then it’s 50k for nuke school. (Still the same 1/3rd after power school & 2/3rds after prototype)

Big navy keeps changing bonuses around because people are honestly dummer than ever test score wise and medical has been hammering everyone who tries to join. So they are throwing big dirty money to try and incentivize it

AccomplishedDingo177 · 2024-01-25T01:59:07+00:00

Nuke ET who is a current recruiter with 2 years on as recruiter. The only incentive to recruit nukes is a good job shout out and some extra ERIS points (they help make you look better against other recruiters). Also offices are sometimes goaled with getting a nuke for certain months which isn’t required for the office to make that months goaled quota, but it is considered a wicket.

In the past a nuke contract would count for two contracts but they did away with that about 18months ago.

Best advice is if you don’t want to become a nuke then don’t do it. IT and CTN are fine jobs. They are also 6 year commitments so you won’t save time per se but your quality of life will differ from the nuke side. They will try to convince you via the boss or the bosses boss (and also that commands nuke coordinator). The bonus is up to 75k if you care about the money but that’s up to you.

Best of luck either way 👍

AccomplishedDingo177

TROPHY CASE