Erfurt Artillery serial number range
 

I have a frame from a 1914 double date Erfurt. The rear sight on the toggle has been dove tailed in, and If memory serves me correctly the sights are actually machined out on the toggle and are not removable. I've been wondering for years if it was once an artillery gun. How could I tell? Is there a list of serial numbers that I can compare the frame number to?

Thye rear sight is actually part of the rear toggle link on the original 4" guns, and most all the Erfurts, 4" and 8", had the cut-away for the Artillery sight. I don't think that we can tell if the gun was originally an Artillery via the serial number. It may well have been an artillery but was later converted when it was double-dated. Never heard of the Germans dove-tailing a rear sight in, however.
But let's see what the more learned collectors have to say.
dju

david, why would it be converted when 'double dated"?

when the 1920 was put onto the gun, it was simply a govt marking - has nothing to do with any refinish, repurposing, or DWM

1914 P08s generally do not have a receiver that has been relieved on the top front. If yours has the relief cut it is or was an artillery.

Well, the receiver does have the relief cut for the rear sight and has a replacement barrel with a rather tall front sight. Sadly the gun was reblued and buffed....too much. The ledges that would hold the sear bar spring are gone and it simply falls out. :crying:

However I do have a DWM 1918 receiver with no barrel, and IT has the relief cut. I'll build an artillery if I can. :D