I looked at one Spandau Luger many years ago and do not in any way consider myself qualified to judge their credibility on the basis of that one look. However, I can pass on what other knowledgeable collectors that have examined Spandau’s, have stated.
“The National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association convention, Midland Odessa, Texas, authenticated 6 Spandau Lugers at the show. Value $20,000 to 25,000." (Lugers of Ralph Shattuck page 27)
Who at that Convention authenticated the Spandau’s? How did the Convention authenticated the 6 Spandau Lugers at the show? I think that a lot of the NAPCA members/Luger collectors at that Convention would be very surprised to discover that they somehow were involved in authenticating the extremely questionable Spandau Lugers.
David Ginsburg is a prominent Luger collector/former AUTOMAG member that specializes in Simson and Erfurt Lugers (see page 35, Weimar Lugers). He attended the NAPCA Convention at Midland Odessa,Texas. He told me that the only proponents of the Spandau Lugers at the Convention were the Spandu owners. He examined the Spandau Lugers at the Convention and told me that in his opinion they were all replicas.
Its my understanding that Kenyon, in a more recent AUTOMAG CONVENTION in Tennessee, expressed the opinion that all the Spandau Lugers were fakes (This information is second hand. I was not at that Convention and stand to be corrected if I made a misstatement).
Shown on page 79 of Imperial Lugers is Spandau Luger, serial number 12. It was not at the NAPCA Convention at Midland Odessa, Texas. Its owner, Steve Fox, is a long time seasoned collector with a sterling reputation. He is a very credible collector. I discussed his Spandau with him recently. He purchased it many, many, years ago, he believes that it is correct. Don Rousseau told me that over his collecting lifetime he has examined a number of Spandau’s, including that of Steve Fox. He stated “ If any of the Spandau’s are correct its Steve Fox’s (November 29, 2003).
Jan