po8 Commercial

Doubs · 07-31-2002, 01:33 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Lugerdoc:
<strong>I'm of the opinion that Erfurt had a lot of "notched" receivers left over from their initial run of Artilleries in 1914, and used them up at random on their later military PO8 production. Tom H.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Tom, the answer is found in Jan Still's book "Imperial Lugers". In late (Nov, IIRC) 1916, a directive went out to Erfurt (not sure about DWM) to manufacture all new Luger receivers with the notch for the Artillery barrel rear sight. Exactly what they had in mind is not clear.... possibly another run of Artillery Lugers or possible future rebarreling of existing guns. A few 1916 Erfurts will be found to have the notch and it's fairly common on the 1917 and 1918 dated Erfurts. Not all Erfurt Lugers produced after the directive, however, are notched and many 1917/1918 models will be found to have the standard receiver. For whatever reason, DWM didn't participate in the production of notched receivers except for their needs to produce the Artillery model. IOW, standard barrel model DWM Lugers in 1917/1918 will not have the notch.

I have an Erfurt "Commercial" .30 Luger exactly as described by nein11. All numbers match except the mag and the barrel which is not numbered. The date has been ground off of the receiver which is notched. From the machine marks, I judge it to be a 1917 or 1918 but can't say that for certain. I'll try to post a picture later this evening.

07-31-2002, 01:33 PM	#6
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,750 Thanks: 838 Thanked 1,816 Times in 598 Posts	[quote]Originally posted by Lugerdoc: <strong>I'm of the opinion that Erfurt had a lot of "notched" receivers left over from their initial run of Artilleries in 1914, and used them up at random on their later military PO8 production. Tom H.</strong><hr></blockquote> Tom, the answer is found in Jan Still's book "Imperial Lugers". In late (Nov, IIRC) 1916, a directive went out to Erfurt (not sure about DWM) to manufacture all new Luger receivers with the notch for the Artillery barrel rear sight. Exactly what they had in mind is not clear.... possibly another run of Artillery Lugers or possible future rebarreling of existing guns. A few 1916 Erfurts will be found to have the notch and it's fairly common on the 1917 and 1918 dated Erfurts. Not all Erfurt Lugers produced after the directive, however, are notched and many 1917/1918 models will be found to have the standard receiver. For whatever reason, DWM didn't participate in the production of notched receivers except for their needs to produce the Artillery model. IOW, standard barrel model DWM Lugers in 1917/1918 will not have the notch. I have an Erfurt "Commercial" .30 Luger exactly as described by nein11. All numbers match except the mag and the barrel which is not numbered. The date has been ground off of the receiver which is notched. From the machine marks, I judge it to be a 1917 or 1918 but can't say that for certain. I'll try to post a picture later this evening.