Erfurt LP.08 unit markings
 

A friend has an matching Erfurt LP.08 double date 1914/1920 that is unit marked, with a matching mag. I am trying to convince him to sell it to me. I am unsure how to value it.

I'd appreciate your help in explaining the unit markings:
"M ,(anchor symbol), 422, N"

Thank you.

The M is for "Marine" (Navy), the N is for "Nord" (North) and indicates issue to the North Sea Fleet. The weapon or rack number is 422. As it isn't a normal Navy Luger, it likely has an interesting story behind it. I'm guessing that it was used by the Weimar Republic Navy due to the "1920" property stamp.

There are individuals on this forum who are more knowledgeable than I about Navy Lugers.

A 1914 Erfurt LP.08 alone is really cool - I think they only made them that one year.
The Navy markings are even better.

It's not a Navy, so I'm not sure if would show on Norm's list - probably not.

Hope you can get it. Looks nice. Got a serial number ?

Yes, serial # is 918. I understand that there were approximately 23,000 Erfurt LP.08s made in 1914. So this is an early one. I hope I can talk him into selling it, and at a reasonable price. :jumper:

That would be tough to place an outright value on. It seems that any post WW1 markings generally devalue a pistol to a minor degree. In other words, an Erfurt artillery LP08 will sell for more typically if the '1920' property mark wasn't there. However, the flip side of that is that Navy anything typically adds a premium to a pistol. For example, a matching 1936 Mauser luger will fetch a certain price range, but add a period Navy marking to it, and that adds to the value...sometimes significantly.

This pistol is an odd, but seemingly legitimate combination of the two. Erfurt artillery lugers have been selling for right around $3k...some higher, some lower depending on condition.

Here's a nice one that recently sold. Probably $3300 or so after shipping & taxes.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/986056494

I like odd pistols such as this and would pay up for it. Matching magazine (if legitimate) is also a nice plus. I would say that's easily a $3500 or better gun to the right buyer.

Eugen,
If available to you, get Jan Still's "Axis Pistols" and review p143-152. Note table 6 on p145, titled "Weimar-Early Nazi Navy, P.08 Property and Serial Numbers, Showing the Transition from M/Anchor (M/AN) to Eagle/M (E/M) Markings." The lower the N property number, in this case N422, the earlier in the Nazi Navy period it will fall. The example I own is an Artillery (uncut bbl), 1918/1920, M/AN, N1044. Jan Still shows a 1935-year approximation for N993 which is a G date Luger (s/n 3697d). So, mine is slightly later in time. The N422 you are looking at is well before this, probably early 1934 to guess. Hope this helps.
Clark

What a delightful pistol.

As an update, I regret that I couldn't convince my friend to sell the Erfurt. Maybe later he will change his mind. :cool:

I appreciate all the helpful and encouraging comments from everyone.