Erfurt 1911 - My first Luger
 

Hi, I am new here and I just bought my first Luger (Erfurt from 1911). I bought it for $650 from a retired army general in Nicaragua.

I've wanted a Luger all my life. I don't know much of their production history. Can you guys tell me if I scored a great one? The gun appears to have all matching parts.

Sorry for the crappy pics (I didn't take them).

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6949/dsc00724ay7.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3994/dsc00723by0.jpg


http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3994/dsc00723by0.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc00718dm2.jpg

The person who I bought it from also says he has another Luger from 1936, but it has a LOT of use. He said that I could also take that one if I am not satisfied with the Erfurt.

Should I keep the Erfurt?

more of the Erfurt:

http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?i...sc00718dm2.jpg

welcome to the forum. Please put pictures directly onto the forum.


More information is needed; does it have all matching parts, internal also? magazine is wrong, should be wood, but that is not a big deal.

There were less than 10,000 1911 erfurts made.


ed

sorry about that, next time I will post directly.

The thing is that this Erfurt and the other 1936 Luger this person has are probably the only Lugers I will be able to buy in my life. There are no Lugers in Nicaragua, with the exception of these two. I don't know how he got them, probably because he was an army general and had some kind of connection.

I don't have any more info on the Erfurt right now and I can't take pics because I am away from home. I will try to contact him about the 1936 Luger, but he once told me that the Erfurt is in better condition.

The price is close to what you'd pay for a "shooter" luger in the USa, if not paying more here.

I think no matter what you did well. I'd rather have the 1911 than the 1936, but if you can get both?


ed

I might be able to get both. I am going to wait for the pics he is going to send me in a few days.

Any reason why you would have the 1911 Erfurt than the unknown 1936?

I like pre WW2 stuff, also the 1911 is most likely more rare.


I don't have my books here; but I bet there were a lot more 1936's made...

Barney, are there any markings on the front grip strap? What is the serial number?
Thanks, George

Hey George,
I don't remember the serial number, but I think there are markings on the front grip strap and there are actually markings all over the gun.

I am away from home right now and I can't look at it, but as soon as I get back I will update this thread with really goods pics.

In my opinion you did great on the 1911 Erfurt. They are rare and very desirable pistols. The one you have looks to be in good shape, plus it is matching (as much as I can tell). The Erfurt's value is about twice what you paid.
Further, If I were you I would also try to get the 1936 Luger. They are not making any more and they are getting far and few between. Even if the 1936 is not in that good a shape, or it is just a shooter not a collectable, it is still a Luger. If as you say not many Lugers where you are, you may never get a chance to buy another.

The pistol shows some signs of East-German reworking, although more detailed descriptions (like barrel markings) will be needed. If it was a DDR rework, this might explain how the pistol ended up in Nicaragua, as DDR surplus was regularly used to supply countries in need of not-too-obvious Eastern-Block military support.

It just adds to an interesting history. This pistol saw service before WW1, during WW1, in the Weimar era, during WW2 and after WW2 and made a journey though the most important conflicts of the last century.

I'd try to get both guns :)

I agree with GvG, that the barrel band & front sight base don't appear to be of Erfurt mfg. But as stated above, even good "shooter" PO8 are selling here in the $650 range. TH

The barrel is an East German replacement in my opinion, but that just means that it will last longer since it is newer than the pistol. I think you got it for great price. The magazine, while not the correct type for an erfurt Luger, is an FXO extruded steel type that were made during WW2 and afterward by the East Germans (if post war it should be marked with 1001) and that is the best type ever made and it will last a lifetime if kept clean and you don't damage it.

Bchamorro:
If this pistol has been all the places it seems to have been, where in the world could you buy more history and intrigue for $650? You could spend a lifetime looking into the history of all the conflicts this piece served in.
Bob

whcoyote,

Amen.