[Guest]

A 1914 Erfurt is now on consignment at the gun store and I'm wondering if this might be a good deal. The finish looks to be around 85% and the straw less than 10%. The finish looks to be turning brown in some areas, is this possible? The grips look great and serial no. matching that I can see without taking gun apart. There is a brown holster that goes with the gun that is in very good condition. I can't quite make out the mark on the back of the holster but it may be a crown over 3 short vertical lines (very worn, this is all that I can see). There is a take down tool that is unmarked and two wood bottom magazines with s/n 668 that matches the gun. I haven't checked the bore or disassembled the gun. Price is $995. Your opinion please. What do you think?

 

[Dwight Gruber]

Johnny,

Take the gun apart and assure yourself that all the numbers are, indeed, matching. Assume, until you can get a knowledgable collector to examine tham, that the magazines are force-matched or forgeries. Many collectors believe the large crown-over-III signifies the Bavarian Third Army Corps. Yes, it is possible for the finish to start turning brown.

1914 Erfurts are quite rare, it is estimated that they manufactured only 7,000 standard P-08 that year. If it was a gun store in -my- neighborhood, I'd offer $150 less and snap it up in a cold heartbeat no matter what the answer was.

--Dwight

 

[keoki7]

Johnny, the last 1914 dated Erfurt P08 I had sold for $2200 sight unseen. As Dwight says, "snap it up" if it is all correct and numbers match.

 

[taudelt]

Johnny...... Welcome to the board. I'm sending along a couple of pictures of an early Erfurt mag for you to look over. Notice the proof marks on the top and bottom of the mag base. I believe a 1914 would have similar markings. Would be really great if you found one with both original matching mags.......

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[Pete E.]

Johnny,

You may want to look for the small Erfurt proofs on each of the grip screws and on the inside surfaces of the wooden grip plates. Last two number of the serial number on the grip plates would be great, as well.

Regarding the holster : Ron Wood had posted this photo of a Bavarian Corps. holster on the Luger Forum a while ago. Does the one you are considering look similar ? If yes and in good condition, that holster, alone could be worth $ 300-400...so the luger would be an even better buy !!!

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[Guest]

I'll be honest with you, I'm a little stunned at the comments I've seen here. I had no idea this particular model and year would bring this much. I only own three other Lugers that I'm pretty sure would grade at 93-95% so when I saw this 1914 Erfurt with a somewhat dull finish I wasn't impressed. I think I'll go take a closer look at it today. I'm so cautious about buying these guns, if I suspect they aren't correct I walk away.

 

[Guest]

Okay, I'm back from the gun store and I went ahead and bought the Erfurt for $900. I gave it a close detailed inspection and it looks like the gun is 100% matching. However my tired old eyes can't quite make out the stamp on the firing pin even with my magnifying glass. The grip panels also match and there is a proof mark on each. There is a proof mark on one of the grip panel screws but not the other. Both screws look original to the gun as they both have that aged patina. I took a close look at both mags and both are proof marked with serial no's. matching the gun. I'm not a expert but the mags and serial numbers sure look original. The holster is in really nice shape. the stitching is tight and the leather looks very nice with that aged look of old leather. I don't know what takedown tools are suppose to have stamped on them for this model. I didn't see anything on this tool so I suspect this may be a repro. I owe a small balance but after I pick it up I will post pictures here if any of you would like to see it.
I'm very happy with this purchase and want to think all of you who took time to post comments here.

 

[keoki7]

Johnny, don't sweat the take down as I believe one would only expect an Erfurt made tool to be proofed. Just because the pistol is an Erfurt, is no reason to expect the tool to be an Erfurt.

I would expect both grip screws on a 1914 to be proofed but wouldn't lose any sleep over the lack of one.

Looks like you are doing good work.

 

[taudelt]

Johnny.... Good to see that you are an owner. I would enjoy seeing the gun and a pic of the 2 mag bottoms would be appreciated.