Bill, Congratulations! You truely scored a good one! I have never laid eyes on a better stock boot assembly. Really very nice. I learned some things too in public and private discussions about your rig. I never stop being a student...This auction with it's good photo's was a good one to study.

Welcome to the Forum, you actually saved yourself some money by buying the best first!

Jerry Burney

Bill,
congratulations. When you receive your trophy I hope your examination of it fully meets your expectations. The last few minutes of the auction must have been nerve wracking for you. The wait to receive your trophy might be even worse.
Big Norm

Congrats Bill... may I request that you communicate with the seller an additional request that his original photos be authorized for permanent display on this forum in the Members Gallery about what an Artillery rig SHOULD be... all current and future Luger enthusiasts will thank you.

Bill,

As one of the competitors for this matchless example, let me offer my sincere congratulations. And, should you ever fall out of love with that piece, I would be willing to pay a substantial premium to purchase it from you.

Tom A.
bidding as Fongdgoy

Bill,

Congratulations for the winning bid on this very nice artillery rig and it was a pleasure to show the comparion between two guns only 700 apart.

Hello Bill,

Congratulations on winning a very fine M1917 LP-08 rig. Do not be surprised by the competition that you received from Tom - he was paid by the seller to jack up the price or he was just becoming damn greedy (just joking)!!

I have read the various comments and also noticed the 'microscopic' details that various members have demonstrated, and I would like to add some comments which might be helpful.

The magazine pouch was usually issued in the same colour as the field belt according to the German Army regulations. In the early years of WWI, the pouches were normally brown color and they became darker to black colour towards the end of the war. It was generally the same change with the holsters of the LP-08 rig which the earlier holsters are in brown and the later ones in black. It appears that the holster on your rig (dated 1915)was previously brown and somebody in the past may have darkened the holster with black polish. It is acceptable to encounter holsters dated 1915 on pistols dated 1917. You are lucky to obtain an original strap in top condition which was the first article to break when carrying the rig.

The pistol is absolutely correct, although a few members may have questioned the carved '9' on the grips. In my opinion, the shape of the '9' does not follow the regulations that were issued for Mauser C96 (Red 9) pistols used during WWI, and I suppose that the '9' markings on this LP-08 rig were carved in the grips after WWI. It is possible that this rig was not used during the war and it may have 'escaped' Germany to another country until it was brought to the US. If the grips are unnumbered, that should not concern you because everything on the pistol remains consistent.

The sight adjustment tool is a modern copy, and there is a discussion on this forum regarding original tools (one of which I have in my collection).

If you wish to eventually build a complete LP-08 rig, you should 'hunt' for a second model TM-08, a loader, a TM-08 canvas carrier and an original manual (all of which I have with my LP-08 rig).

Cheers,
Albert

Albert --

I would agree the "9" was not factory work, but I would assume the "9" on this gun was applied in the field during the War.

1) It's interesting to notice all of those LP08 having "9" grips are 1917. If the "9" was applied after the War, the closure on 1917 is hard to explain.

Here is another 1917 sample: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...?Item=95975446

2) According to "Mauser Archive" (Jon Speed, 2007), the first batch of 30,000 9m/m C96 was delivered in 1917. Research shows early 9m/m C96 has either no "9" at all or field "9", and those field "9" varies in size, shape, and location.

Red nine LP08s were branded at the unit level. These grips only appear on 1917 dated LP08's.
Units after receiving the early deliveries of 9mm C96 pistols were instructed to mark the grips with nines due to confusion with the many thousands of 7.63 Mausers already in service. At the same time the C96 directive went out to the units tens of thousands of LP08's were being delivered to infantry units for the first time. Soldiers being soldiers and officers being officers confusion must have struck in some units and LP08s were marked as well

Bill,

Congratulations on a beautiful ( the best I have ever seen) LP.08 rig. You waited years to find it, and now it's yours. It must be a great feeling.

I have to admit that I am envious, but you deserve it for being much more patient than I could have been.


Albert,

I don't think that the holster was polished black. It is dark brown, caused I believe by someone oiling it. Possibly mink oil or some other type of leather treatment. Note the light streak on the boot, as if it was applied with the strap in place.

Ron

Just for my information, I would like to take this opportunity to ask one question. I noticed on this example that the stocks cup had a manufacturers mark and a date. I have looked at a few of my cups and don't see a comparable manufactures mark of them. Are these marks supposed to be on the cup? I've noticed the same thing on magazine pouches. Some have the manufactures marks and date and some don't.
Big Norm

Some have the manufactures marks and date and some don't.
Big Norm
That is correct. Maury & Co. is the only marking I have ever seen on Artillery leathers. I have also seen it on Holsters.
Jerry Burney

Norm, if mag pouches don't have markings they are possibly fake. Like Jerry wrote, Maury&Co is the only known manufacturer to marke boots and overstraps. I have also seen a Maury&Co marked shoulder strap. I think I have four Maury&Co marked boots and also a couple of overstraps. Among those in my collection there are two different versions of the stamp.
I have also seen Maury&Co marked Pickelhauben.

George, I forgot about the beautiful strap marking...Those are rare!

Jerry Burney

Thanks Jerry and George. I strained my eyeballs as much as I could on this cup and I could only barely make out 'effe'. Maybe thats the cities name and not the manufacturers name.
Big Norm

Norm, Offenbach is what's usually there.
Jerry Burney

Hi Bill must add my Congratulations to the growing list. Thats one hell of a RIG you bought . I mysef have a few of these but that's one one the nicest ones I have seen. BiG Norm would love to see that Erfurt must be real sweet on the eyes. These treasures it seems are quickly dissapearing . To own any of these is a real pleasure. " A Thing Of Beauty Is A Joy Forever "

Gunman.
love those Lugers. You took your best shot at it, but things got carried away. My fun guess was $5K and maybe low $6K because of Jerry's admiration of the leather. Boy, was I wrong. Oh well, sometimes its more fun to be good looking than smart.
Big Norm
_________________
I'm naturally blond. This brown wig is just my attempt at artificial intelligence.

Bill,
just as an after thought, don't forget to look at your straps for markings. Maybe you got something not mentioned by the seller. Namely, the manufactures marking that Jerry mentioned. Maybe you got real lucky.
Big Norm