[Jan C Still]

COMBAT ENGINEER, 1912 ERFURT, SN 4916, AND ACCESSORIES
Erfurt Lugers were manufactured from 1911 to 1918 by the Prussian Government owned Erfurt Arms Factory for the Imperial German Army. During 1912 Erfurt manufactured 21,000 Lugers in the (reported) 62 to 866b serial range. These were manufactured without hold open or stock lug.


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Figure 1. The 1912 Erfurt shown above bears serial number 4916. All Erfurt’s bear military style serial number placement (exposed) and Crown/gothic letter acceptance stamps on all parts (except springs).


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Figure 2. Top of 1912 Erfurt, serial number 4916.



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Figure 3. 1912 Erfurt, serial number 4916. Right side. This Luger is Bavarian unit stamped. A hold open has not been added. According to a May 6,1913 directive all P08's in service without a hold open were to have the hold open retrofitted. I have examined numerous Bavarian unit marked Lugers. All those that lacked the hold open at manufacture did not have it added. Apparently World War I started before the Bavarian’s had time to have the hold open added to their Lugers. Once the war started the troops and Lugers were scattered in battles on two fronts in a dozen countries and the hold opens were never added.




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Figure 4. Right receiver and barrel of 1912 Erfurt, serial number 4916. The barrel proof is delicate compared to the receiver proof.


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Figure 5. Front of frame and bottom of barrel, of 1912 Erfurt, serial number 4916. Erfurt’s most often display a halo around the barrel gauge and not around the barrel serial number. This Erfurt is typical, it has a halo around the 2 in the digits of the 8,82 barrel gauge.


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Figure 6. The grips bear the crown/gothic letter stamp and last two digits of the Lugers serial number, 16. Erfurt’s left the factory with matching grips.




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Figure 7. Proper early Erfurt magazine with two acceptance stamps.


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Figure 8. Front of 1912 Erfurt, serial number 4916.


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Figure 9. Details of unit marking. B.4.P.1.1. signifies: Bayerisches, 4 Pionier-Bataillon, Kompagnie 1, Waffe Nr. 1. This Luger is marked to Bavarian Combat Engineer company. In a data base of 823 unit marked Imperial Lugers only three are marked to Pionier units. It is a very rare unit stamp.

 

[Jan C Still]

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Figure 10. Erfurt manufactured the Luger, bayonet, extra magazine, and tool in this photograph. The Luger and bayonet are both marked to a pionier unit. The Luger is marked to a Bavarian unit and the holster is manufactured in Bavaria and is likely the holster that this Luger was issued with.



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Figure 11. 1912 Erfurt, serial number 4916, with holster.



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Figure 12. Open holster with proper Erfurt magazine and tool.


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Figure 13. Details of holster manufacturing logo: AWM/3/11 signifies: Artillerie-Werkstatt Munchen / Workshop 3, 1911.



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Figure 14. Back of AWM marked holster.


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Figure 15. Erfurt accepted tool. Most Erfurt tools are in the white.


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Figure 16. 98/02 Bayonet dated 07 with scabbard.



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Figure 17. Details of bayonet unit marking. B.T.VI.42. signifies: Corps bridging train and Pionier-Begleitkommando of the VI. Armeekorps, weapon no. 42.



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Figure 18. Crown Erfurt manufacturing logo on 98/02 bayonet dated 07.



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Figure 19. Note: how the Erfurt bayonet parts and grip screws bear crown/gothic letter acceptance stamps; which, is also typical of Erfurt Lugers (typical of Prussian Government owned Arms Factories).


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Figure 20. The saw blade bayonet is often called a Pionier bayonet. The blade was intended to be used as a saw or construction tool (not to inflict pain on the bayoneted enemy).



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Figure 21. The Luger and bayonet shown above were issued to Pioniere units. Shown is such a Pioniere unit during World War I, under fire, bridging a river.

 

[Guest]

What a splendid set! - I just love those sets with the various 'bells and whistles'. What about the condition of the holster - what can I say as well as it being AWM marked?

Well done Jan,
Albert

 

[lugerlou]

Jan

Another superb display of a impressive collection of fine old German craftmanship,good work.