Rare 1918 Erfurt
 

A 1918 Erfurt , all matching except magazine. Ser# 3167 n. Overall condition is approx. 85% thinning late war rust blue. Grips are in near mint
condition. A good indication that the blue wear is attributable to a poor initial "hurry up" job. The metal is surprisingly well finished considering that most 1918 Erfurts are pretty rough.


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I have been searching for one since my first read of Still's Imperial Lugers.

The rare part is that it is unit marked to the 474th Infantry Regt. 1st Machinegun Company weapon 50. Only 0.2% of 1918s were unit marked. See Jan Still's Imperial Lugers. These are virtually non-existant. In fact I was suspicious when I first saw it, fearing a "boost job".

Jan Still and George Anderson have stated that it is the first they have seen. The order to cease unit marking was issued in 1917. Also, it is stamped on the backstrap, as opposed to the front, as per regulation.

I got it at a shooter price. Another quest has ended. Now on to the next...


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Ron

Ron, That's just fantastic! I think a booster would choose a much shorter unit mark! Don't you hate it when you find something your looking for? Now you don't have it to look for anymore! What's next?
Good job..Jerry Burney

Hi Jerry,

"What's next?"

"Next" is all planned out. A sweet little old lady is going to knock on my door and offer me her late husband's cased presentation 1902 Carbine in mint condition, for $135.00 because she doesn't like guns, and doesn't want it in her house.

Gotta go... a flock of pigs just flew over. :D

Thanks Bud...

Ron

That is a great gun! Congratulations on attaining membership in the "0.2% Club", quite an accomplishment. They had to stamp it on the backstrap so they could use the stock lug to get it all on there...that is a loooong unit mark!

Hey Ron,

Thanks! It's a good possiblity that the long unit mark is why it was stamped on the backstrap.

Ron

"Very nice find Ron"

I don't know about that, you can stamp alot of stuff on the front strap. I have an LP08 marked on the front strap "R.J.R.222..I.Btl.M.W.A.bt1" all with standard size letters and numerals.
Ron, yours is a great find.

Ron,

To keep your new 1918 company...here is a holster challenge for you...

See my last posting at the bottom of this thread. Better photos of my 1918 holster are posting in a photo album in the Member Gallery as well...

But knowing you, you probably want "matching" graffiti on your holster for your 1918 pistol...;)

http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11792

Richie,

Thanks!

Geo,

I guess it wouldn't take up the entire front strap. I didn't know about the Minenwerfer LP08. How long have you had it? I'm hoping that a Reichswehr Minenwerfer unit luger will crawl out someplace.

Pete,

I"ll keep my eyes peeled. Sounds like s fair deal.

Thanks...

Ron

good catch Ron, congrats! :cheers:

Ron Some people have all the luck. Nice find!! Bill

Ed and Bill,

Thanks! It was more or less luck, and I literally stumbled on to it.

Ron

Ron,
nice find. What made them think that this was a shooter? What are those marks on the middle toggle just in front of the "ERFURT" stamp? They look like maybe a small 'P08'.
Big Norm

Hi Norm,

They didn't sell it as a shooter. I just managed to buy it at a shooter price. The marks are a Crown/ B (Erfurt proof) and a C/RC stamp.

Ron