Crusty 'ol Luger
 

Hello, The boys over at my usual hangout, the 1911 Pistol Forum, recommended asking you guys about this one.

I recently acquired this pretty rough, "truck gun" condition Luger in a low-value trade (a Minibike )

It has no barrel markings, but I did take pics of all visible exterior stamps.

The magazine is a modern repro.

So what do you think I have here? I'm thinking it's a messed-with WW1 pistol, but not sure.

Thanks! ---------- MM

Welcome to the Luger Forum !

It looks like an Erfurt P.08 luger (1910-1918).
There are many that have no date stamp on the chamber.
It's been beat up, probably by people who didn't know how to take it apart.
It's worth cleaning up and oiling.

The full serial number should be under the barrel and in front of the frame over the trigger guard (that one seems to be missing or removed)

Look for more stamps on the barrel and small parts.
Erfurt put them everywhere.

It does look rough but take it apart and give it a good cleaning and if the bore is decent it should make a nice shooter.
Jim

I wonder if the file marks on the trigger plate are 'kills' ??

The beauty of an old shooter like this is your opportunity to try new things regarding finish,bluing etc.
Here's your chance to try all those things out that you would never risk on a collector piece or even a good shooter. Every move you make that 'works' for you is like a bull's eye at the range ... so much fun.

I am a sucker for the old Erfurt's too ... the stamps are like reading a history book.

Have fun magazineman and https://i.imgur.com/lGB5v.gif to the Forum. :thumbup:

I can't make out a serial number on the front of the frame.

Karl: "I can't make out a serial number on the front of the frame."
Looks like "8701", ahead of the take-down plate.

Does 8701 indicate a Build Year?

Perry,

The 8701 does not indicate the build year. The year should be stamped on top of the receiver but may have been removed. Assuming that the frame matches the rest of the gun (it is an Erfurt frame but I can't make out the serial number), the presence of the stock lug dates it to no earlier than late 1913. The unrelieved sear bar dates it to no later than early 1916. The acceptance marks on the side of the receiver are obscured but the first (left) mark seems to be a crown/D which is only documented by Still on 1913 dated Erfurt lugers made between 1913 and 1916.

KFS

But I'm like you Karl; even with high magnification, just can't make out the serial number on the front of the frame.

It would seem by what I've learned here that this is a WW1 Era military pistol. This suggests that it may have been used in the war.

Excellent! That's good enough for me. Thanks, Guys.

IT CERTAINLY HAS A HISTORY....

what that might be is the entertaining aspect...

Lifer X5 --------- I think that it's history is pretty obvious:

General Ludendorff was shooting this gun from the backseat of his Daimler staff car, randomly bouncing slugs all around Liege. While women, kids, & street dogs scurried for cover behind shoe-shine stands & Belgian waffle shops.

This seems to be it's most likely background.