[Guest]

I am attending an auction this Sunday (April 1916). To be sold is a Luger stamped ERFURT 1916. But it is also marked on the side "GERMANY". And on the other side what appears to be "NOT ENGLISH MADE". The gun is serial numbered 2865. All small parts look to be stamped 65. The mag is wood at the end and is also stamped 2865. There are numerous small stamps near the barrel and on it. Can someone please help me identify this pistol...was it made for the military or commercially made? And what would the value be? I have collected a few WWI and WWII weapons, and would love to add a Luger to my collection. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks! Steve Petry

 

[lugerlou]

Steve

Your pictures did not come through but to reply to your description it would appear that the 1916 Erfurt was captured by the British and stamped with British proofs before making it back to the USA later in life.

Is the small barrel stamps like small square boxes with captions of tons for test marks.

The luger would be a military pistol. The British capture proofs should not detract from the value, it simply adds history to the pistol.

 

[Edward Tinker]

Steve, you have a space and also the # sign, and it screws up the pictures, rename and then they'll go through!

AND WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!

Lugers are great guns, but it is easy to get taken, auctions the guns will sell either waaaaay to high or rarely too low...

Ed

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies. I will fix the photos. The Luger does not have the British "ton" stamp. This one I am familiar with, as it is stamped on my Savage Enfield. Again, thank you for the help. Steve

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[lugerlou]

Steve

Not to sure what those markings are on the luger. Looks as if they were not struck properly as that area of the receiver is extremely hard.

Perhaps you will get other reply's, but personaly I would wait for a better example to show up.

 

[Edward Tinker]

If you can get it for less than $400, and preferably for $250-$300 then go for it. But I bet you it will go for $700-$800, as auction folks get stupid for guns and prices go way up. I betcha...

 

[Guest]

Thanks! I have had someone tell me the "Germany" stamp was an export stamp the Germans used on commercial made Lugers....? Any truth to this? And does anyone know if pistol is military or commercial? And I take it these marks hurt the value. Thanks again, Steve

 

[tomathvl]

Steve,
As Lugerlou stated it was a military pistol. Erfurt was a Imperial German Government Armory. The gun has been reblued and has no collector value, it's classified as a shooter. The Germany stamp was used to export guns and had nothing to do with whether it was military or commericial. If you're looking for a collector piece, pass on this; if you're looking for something to shoot I'm with Ed. if you can get it for less than $400 it would be OK.
Tom

 

[keoki7]

The "GERMANY" stamp was applied to guns that were sold into the US. This practice applied to commercial Lugers as well as military Lugers that filtered into the commercial market after the war.

 

[Guest]

Can you pleae explain how you can tell the pistol was reblued? When I saw it in person, I didn't think it had been, as there were some spots that were worn. Thanks again. Steve

 

[Olefogey]

Steve,
The easiest way to tell is that edges that are supposed to be sharp and crisp, are rounded.Additionally there is blueing over rust pits on the receiver and side walls. Some of the numbers/lettering appeared to be polished off...especially the one in 1916!!! If you have acopy of Still's Imperial Lugers, you could compare some pristine examples vs. the one you want to bid on.

Dave

 

[tomathvl]

Steve,
Also, the parts that should be straw color have been blued over.
Tom

 

[Guest]

I'm learning! Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Well, you were all correct. The Luger sold for $1200! And while looking it over, I also discovered the matching mag, was not so matching. The wood bottom was sanded and re-stamped. I could still barely make out the old numbers.

 

[Guest]

The proofs were buffed so hard during refinish that it is hard to tell if they are Birmingham or London proofs. They will be found on the barrel, receiver, and breech block and conform to the British Proof Act of 1925-1955 and are an indication that the pistol was sold commercially in England. The Proof Act of 1955 did away with the NOT ENGLISH MAKE, and added the bore dimension, case length, and proof load in tons.
The pistol may have originally been destined for the United States by a British arms merchant following WWI. It it came through England, it had to be proofed in one of the British proof houses to be sold commercially even though it was going to the U.S.

 

[Guest]

The pistol was stamped, "Not English Made" ...which then would mean it was exported before 1955? The paper work was with the gun, including the postage which indicated the gun came from Stoeger in 1964.

 

[Edward Tinker]

It would have been an interesting gun, but there are other guns out there just waiting for a new home with ya pete.

 

[Guest]

The pistol was proofed in England between 1925 and 1955. It could have been imported into the United States at any time between those dates, or could have remained in England until just prior to 1964, or Stoeger could have obtained the pistol in a trade prior to 1964. Again, all the proofs indicate is that the pistol was proofed to be sold commercially in England between the dates given.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the lessons. But Ed was right on target...people are crazy for guns at auctions. This is especially true in western South Dakota where I live. The auctioneer was a friend of mine. On the same auction he sold two guns for me. I had an extra Yugo SKS and Enfield...recent imports that cost me $100 & $130. They sold for $260 a piece! So if people are going to overpay, I just as well give them something to bid on! Again, thank you for everyone's help and hopefully in the future I will be back when I find the right Luger.