Erfurt Magazine - Proof Marks
 

I've purchased a magazine with a wooden base and no serial # hoping it would be DWM to complete my 1908 commercial rig. I did some research (after the purchase!) and it looks like it is an Erfurt since it is proof marked with imperial crowns (2 total) and crimped square - not half-moon.

Did Erfurt make commercial parabellums since the magazine it is not stamped with a serial #? What would be the correct gun for this magazine?

The magazine is in really nice shape and almost looks like unused - fitment is not issue for the DWM, correct?

Thanks for your advice!

One thing to consider is that magazine bases are easy to remove. Over the years these things migrate from one magazine assembly to another depending on the desires of the owners. The Royal Arsenal at Erfurt was a government plant that probably never made a commercial gun. DWM mag bottoms for comercial pieces don't have gun numbers on them--though they may have other markings.

Sounds like you have an Erfurt manufactured armorers replacement mag. Erfurt was a goverment arsernal, and never made commercial market weapons. It should work fine in almost any luger. The other possibility is a reproduction bottom, with added proofing, or it has been scrubbed of its number.

Andre',

Erfurt-manufactured armorer's replacement magazines, with two proofs and no serial number, are "universal donors" to complet a WWI Luger rig. For your commercial Luger you will want a DWM magazine with an unmarked base, or one stamped GERMANY.

--Dwight

That's good information - thanks a lot. Maybe I should start looking for a nice Erfurt missing a mag...:)