ugly erfurts

I agree with the comment that the early Erfurts were very comparable with the military contract DWMs of the same period. I have near mint Erfurt (1917) that is different story. It had many machine marks and even some "dings"...that are under the original finish! It appears that it had perhaps one application of the rust blue finish rather than multiple coats. The finish is a gray hue with a hint of blue tone.

All of that said, I have never seen a pistol that sets off a display of WWI German combat feldgrau uniform etc...like that one...it very much conveys a "WWI German Look".

Erfurts were the only German Luger to be manufactured at a "Royal Arsenal" and in that sense were made by the goverment rather than contracted.

Erfurts were made in less quanity than either DWM or Mauser.

It's funny to me that WWII German Rifle collectors pay a premium for rough forged,machined "kriegsmodel" Mauser K98k's (sometimes several times what nice early ones bring)but the late war Erfurts from WWI seemed to get less favorable press.