Bought my first Luger! Erfurt 1917
 

Hi everyone,
Well, I found a fairly decent Erfurt Luger, 1917, all matching numbers (hard to read the number on the mag - but it does look the mag matches).
I'll try to post pictures in a moment when I figure it out.
I'm sure it is not the last Luger I'll get!
Would love to hear your opinions on it, and also help me decipher all the markings on it.
Thanks!

My attempt at pics...

Should I be worried that no one commented...? :/

It looks like a very nice old war horse. No signs of refinish or modifications. A very nice Luger; if only it could talk.
Welcome aboard.
dju

Looks like a good old original to me. The proof /inspector marks are normal ones. Need pictures of the bottom of the mag and the sides. If Erfurt should have a crown/letter proof on the bottom below the serial number. Do all the internal numbers match? Especially the holdopen and trigger.
I believe your right receiver marks are from left to right:1. Receiver hardened satisfactorily mark. 2. Pistol ready for test firing. 3.Test firing satisfactory. 4 proofmark. I think this is right. Welcome to the crazy world of luger collecting. Bill

As Bill said, it looks like a good old gun to me. I am a bit surprised that a 1917 Erfurt does not have the notch in the reciever that is usually found on all Erfurts after 1914.

Hi can you confirm the nunber on the side plate?? Tks Eric

Hi Eric,
I am unsure which part is the slide plate - is that the square panel on the left of the gun? If so, the number reads "72".
Also - to Ron's comment - which notch would Erfurts have, that mine seems to not have in the receiver? I'm very new to Lugers, so not sure of what I should be looking for.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Phil, welcome!

When fitted with an 8" barrel that incorporated a rear tangent leaf adjustable sight, a small notch about 3/32" deep and wide was cut into the very front, top of the receiver. this would allow the back end of the sight leaf to be declined enough to reach its zero position. After 1914, as Ron points out, all Erfurts had the notch cut during production to allow for such a barrel and sight; however, not all were fitted this way. so, to encounter an example without the notch, dated after that, seems anomalous. Hang in there for other comments which may answer the question of how this is so.

Pistol is a good ol' gal!

Didn't we, on a different thread, sort of conclude that not quite ALL Erfurts had that cut-out? Seems like one of the gurus said that some did not, but I don't remember any rhyme or reason as to which do, and which do not. No series of serial numbers or tell-tale years was given.
dju

David, I am not the guru of which you speak, I am more of a vast wasteland of information :D , but I can confirm that in my very few years of studying Lugers (about 50), I have seen and handled a few Erfurts that didn't have artillery rear sight notch in the receiver ring...