1914 Erfurt L.A. 88 unit marking
 

I recently obtained a 1914 Erfurt Luger. Front handle strap has "L.A. 88" mark. "L.A." is twice the size of "88". Wooden handle on the magazine also has "1" with "2" beneath then larger "1". Serial Number is 4686. 4 inch barrel. Face of trigger smooth, checkering on grips has minor wear, blue looks 90%. Generally great condition. I must sell as part of an estate sale. any help?
thanks
rich

Rich, welcome to the forum.

Can you provide pictures?

You most likely have a police luger (which I collect ;)), the #1 or 2 on the base is a giveaway for the magazine, while the L.A. 88 stands for Landjagerei (rural police) Aurich weapon #88 (provided it is a police gun)


Value depends on condition and originality, low of $400 (if buffed bad or nickled) to around $1200


Does it have a sear safety like the picture here?

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/2139_ebt.jpg


Ed
weimar_lugers@verizon.net

Rich
"L.A. 88" may signify Feld-Luftschiffer-Abteilung 88, Stab (The captive air ships) I would be interested in purchasing it.
Jan
Phone 907-364-3406

Ed and Jan,
thanks for the help. it does have a sear safety as pictured. no dings that i can see. i will post photos when i can figure out how to do it. it has matching serial numbers. face of trigger is smooth. otherwise checkering looks good. there appears to be a rejection and recondition proof mark on the side. if i can figure out the pictures i will send them. you both disagree, who's right?

1949 Erfurt Photos
 

I figured out how to post the photos. not photos as good as yours. hope you can see the marks, if not, i will try again.
http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_0320.jpg
http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_0325.jpg
http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_0326.jpg
http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_0321.jpg

Rich, your unit marking could possibly be a Weimar police marking as that's where the pistol ended up seeing service but...

It started out life as an Erfurt LP08 or artillery and the unit marking loosely conforms to Imperial German Army unit marking guidelines. If it is an imperial marking it would indicate Luftschiffer Abteilung, Waffe nummer 88. Or Airship detachment, weapon number 88. My gut feeling is that the airship marking is what it is. Congratulations.

George, Ed and Jan
Thank you for all of your help. This firearm is part of an estate that I am legally obligated to sell to raise money for the elderly woman who is the heir. I want to try and obtain the best possible price. The firearm is in Ely, Nevada, a small town 2 hours drive from Elko, 5 hours from Reno, 4 hours from Vegas, 4 hours from Salt Lake, etc. What in your opinion is the best way to get maximum price? Auction over internet? Local auction? Thank you in advance for your help.

Rich, IMHO your pistol was made toward the end of WW1 when Erfurt arsenal was using up some LPO8 receivers on their production of normal production PO8s (9x100mm barrels). It may have gone directly into police service at the end of WW1 and the sear safety was added in around 1933. I doubt that this one ever saw service on an observation balloon. Lugerdoc

A few notes:

The Feld Luftschiffer crew consisted of a very large ground crew. This compares with the one or two observers that actually went up in the balloon.

In November 1916, an amendment was made to the dimensional tables for the P.08. This provided for a tangent relief cut in the front of P.08 receivers, thus enabling them also to be used for the Long P.08. Some late production 1916 dated Erfurts have this cut and almost all 1917 and 1918 dated Erfurts have this cut. Interesting that Erfurt did not make LP.08 after 1914. (Page 78 and 79 Central Powers Pistols)

Details of all the marks on the this P08 would be of interest. A detailed photograph or the markings on the right receiver might help estimate the time of manufacture. (Page 442 and 443 Central Powers Pistols)
Jan

Jan et al, I would say that the lack of an acceptance stamp on the rail in front of the side plate dates this Luger to having been made in 1914.

The grip strap marking is definitely that of the Landj�¤gerei of the Aurich administrative district. Is there any evidence on the barrel of the stamp PTV over an eagle? It would probably be on the right side near the receiver.

I have lightened a couple of the photos to show things better. I don't think there is a PTV/E on the barrel, at least not the right side.
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._nc2b04686.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_0325.jpg

I have lightened a couple of the photos to show things better. I don't think there is a PTV/E on the barrel, at least not the right side.
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload..._nc2b04686.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/img_0325.jpg

I have looked closer at the markings on the right side of the receiver and there may be a TP stamp above the first Imperial acceptance. This marking for the Berlin Police Armory was introduced in 1935. There is also a police sunburst/C to the left of the other stamps.