My 1914 erfurt

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by abukafura

I exchanged correspondence with Reinhard Kornmeyer in 1997 regarding the meaning of these grip strap markings. He was of the opinion that they could NOT mean Garde Kurraisier Regt Satff because there were not that many pistols in the staff HQ of such a unit (mine is numbered 122). I am not endorsing his view, only repeating it. He cited references at the time which seemed to validate his point. Don Maus told me in a note in Auto Mag that he believed this marking was for Gendarmierie Korps of Hesse. Also, Reinhard also cited a third Luger with grip strap markings of G.K.100

Herman, I agree with Herr Kornmeyer that 122 seems like a mighty high weapon number for a regimental staff but I think that coincidence may play a strong hand in arguing that it is a Regimental staff marking.

Based on my collection of unit marked Lugers added to Jeff Noll's I detect a pattern of issue by unit type. I have dozens of cavalry unit marked Lugers dated 1910 recorded but no cavalry staff weapons recorded until 1913 and then only three, two DWM's to Uhlan regiments and one Erfurt sn 321a marked G.K.29.

The 1914 dated Lugers in my list include six staff marked pistols, three DWM and three Erfurts. Among the three Erfurts two a G.K. stamped, yours and the one shown above and their serial numbers are rather close(2224 and 2446) leading me to believe they were stamped in 1914.

Just playing the odds.