1917 Erfurt
 

I got this 1917 Erfurt a few weeks ago. It has been buffed and reblued so I know it is a shooter. I have not checked the firing pin or the hold open but the rest of the gun is matching. It has plastic ivory grips and a Mec-Gar magazine, both obviously not matching. The gun is #3761 with what looks to be an " I " without it's dot. It has had the unit markings buffed off the frontstrap with the only thing readable a faint "1". It has the crown/b, the crown/RC and the "flaming bomb" in several places. I understand that the crown/RC are repair/refinish stamps. What is the meaning of the "flaming bomb"? In the left side picture of the breech block ( picture #7 ) there are several stamps, one over the next. What is the meaning of all these stamps? The right side has the crown/B and the crown/RC. The gun has British import marks under the barrel. The gun shoots well and has not malfunctioned since I got the Mec-Gar mags. Any input or comments are welcome. I can post other pictures if anyone would like to see more. Joe

Ron Wood from Gunboards.com was kind enough to tell me that my "flaming bombs" were British import marks. The hold open is matching to the gun as is the firing pin. Anyone with any thoughts? Joe

No comments from anyone? Joe

I'm sorry Joe, you seem to know all there is to know about this piece. It's a handsome looking gun, and if the bore is in decent shape , it should make a good shooter. Best regards, Norm

Oh, sorry!!! (Did you mean us dummies in the peanut gallery as well???) :D ;)

I commented on the grips in another thread; if they are Melvin Tylers, they might say so on the inside...I haven't checked, but I'd bet there is a small collector's niche for his grips...The process of how/what they were made was supposed to be secret, but I can recall someone speculating that they were made from leftover Ivory sawdust/scraps/filings, perhaps from high-end piano keys, and mixed with epoxy to make 'faux' Ivory grips... :rolleyes:

And if you were to place a price on this Luger, even as a 'shooter', I'd say an Erfurt should go on the high end of the scale... :thumbup:

Than you both. I was beginning to worry my attempt at humor about the grips and mag had come over as rude. The grips are just plastic. I have a friend making some walnut ones. It does shoot well and I am having great fun with it. Since it is my first Luger I don't think I will ever sell it. I am finding Lugers fascinating. Joe

Whenever I see "Tons" (or "Tonnes") on the barrel + proof marks, I immediately think 'British'...AFAIK, they're the only ones who stamped the proof in tons of pressure...(I could be mistaken)... :rolleyes: